Communications and Engagements Coordinator – Energy Access, Africa
JOB DETAIL
This position will be hybrid requiring a few days per week in office. You can be based in Nairobi, Kenya; WRI Africa Regional Office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.
About the Program:
WRI has been working in Africa for more than 30 years, supporting local partners and Africa governments to advance forest protection, landscape restoration, and sustainable cities. In recent years, we appointed our first vice president for Africa, established a regional hub in Addis Ababa, and created a region-wide strategy, aligned to our global strategy (2023–2027). Our vision for Africa is an inclusive transformation so Africa’s people and landscapes flourish. WRI Africa generates actionable knowledge across three strategic pillars: vital landscapes, thriving and resilient cities, and institutional and economic transformation. WRI’s Energy Program: made up of over 90 experts across 9 WRI offices, the program collaborates with policymakers, cities, companies, utilities, regulators, and development institutions to secure a clean energy future for everyone.
We aim to transform the energy systems through four main interventions: Decarbonizing Energy Consumption, Securing Clean Energy Supply, Delivering Energy Access for Equitable Development and Minerals, Materials & Land. Our energy work in Africa is focused on stimulating demand for electricity consumption in the development sector (particularly in the health and agriculture), and supporting national and sub-national governments to develop integrated and inclusive energy plans, informed by data and analysis. We also support national governments to develop their clean energy transition pathways that are based on analytical evidence. We collaborate with financing institutions and other development partners to identify practical interventions that can help unlock domestic and international finance and investments to accelerate just energy transition and access for the region.
Job Highlight:
Reporting to the Senior Communications Manager, WRI Africa, with dotted reporting line to WRI Africa’s Energy Access Lead and WRI’s Lead for Energy Access Explorer. You will contribute to the delivery of the “Energy Access for Equitable Development (EA4ED)” and the Energy Transition pillars. It will help develop and execute a comprehensive communication and engagement strategy for the EA4ED pillar’s work, including supporting one of WRI’s flagship data initiatives – the Energy Access Explorer, as well as a strategy for amplifying and positioning the program’s work on Productive Use of Renewable Energy. You will also support development and execution of a communications strategy for the Energy Transition work. You will be supported by a global team including WRI colleagues in Africa, India, and Washington DC. You will also work with partners around the world to contribute to the acceleration of Energy Access for Equitable Development, and energy transition goals.
What you will do:
Communications (40%):
- Develop and implement a communications plan for WRI Africa’s Energy Access for Equitable Development work, as well as for the Energy Transition work
- Coordinate and support the development of effective outreach material including high-quality presentations, publications, newsletters, blogs, photographs, videos, testimonials, webinars, social media, etc
- Coordinate and support the development of audience-specific knowledge products
- Maintain active communication with focal points in partner countries and organizations
- Ensure that the project website is updated
- Copyediting and review of key messaging and research documents and provide comms inputs to project & donor reports
Engagement (20%):
- Coordinate and help develop and implement the engagement strategy
- Schedule and participate in convenings to maintain existing network and establish new partnerships
- Coordinate and manage follow-up surveys and correspondence
- Maintain network contacts and engagement tracker spreadsheets
- Facilitate communication between partners and the public through dissemination of research and data, publications, media outreach, and digital communications
Media Relations (15%):
- Coordinate with mainstream media to display and amplify WRI Africa’s Energy Access for Equitable Development work
- Draft press releases and coordinate the release of media advisories to promote research
- Coordinate project media relations including identifying opportunities for media coverage, responding to media requests, and arranging interviews as appropriate
- Organize field visits for media and coordinate events coverage
- Maintain a list of media coverage and media contacts
Events (15%):
- Coordinate the production of webinars with relevant program teams
- Coordinate communication support for program events, including social promotion and coverage, photography, media outreach, production of communication products, and post-event communication reports
- Contribute to WRI Africa’s list of events to ensure effective and efficient coordination of communication support
- Manage media during events
Institutional Communications (10%):
- Contribute to WRI Africa’s communication initiatives such as compiling content for international days, blogs, the release of flagship reports, and newsletters.
What you will need:
- Education: You have completed a Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Public Relations, International Affairs, Political Science, Business Management, International Development, Environmental Sciences, or other social sciences
- Experience: You have 5+ years of relevant full time work experience, preferably with international development organizations, knowledge institutions, or media
- Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills
- Creative, detail-oriented, and highly organized individual with a strong interest in partnerships, coordination, and communications
- Ability to identify opportunities for communication activities
- Experience in storytelling and writing human-interest stories
- Experience in designing and organizing events
- High level of comfort with Microsoft Office 365 (proficiency with SharePoint, Excel, Power point), web-based communications, and internet research
- Languages: You will be proficient in written and spoken English, with any additional language is a plus
- Requirements: Existing work authorization is required at the time of application. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.
Potential Salary:
Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume with cover letter by 23 January 2024.
You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.
What we offer:
- A competitive salary
- Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
- The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities
- A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
- The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
- Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
- Generous leave days that increase with tenure.
About Us:
Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, aswell as a growing presence in other countries and regions.
The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.
Our mission and values:
WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, and Respect.
Our culture:
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.
Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.
