Title: Communications Associate
Program: Feed the Future Local Food Systems
Reports to: Sr. Communications & Knowledge Management Manager
Location and Travels: Nairobi
Grade: 5
About TechnoServe
TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. A non-profit organization operating in 29 countries, we work with enterprising men and women in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We have helped millions create lasting prosperity for their families and communities by linking people to information, capital, and markets.
Founded over 50 years ago, TechnoServe has been named the #1 non-profit for fighting poverty by the Impact Matters charity ratings agency.
TechnoServe believes achieving prosperity requires full and free participation from women and girls. Our Gender Policy and our commitment to programmatic excellence requires that we involve, empower, and benefit both women and men, both at the level of our beneficiaries and at the level of our staff.
By joining our team, you will benefit from a respectful working environment of women and men who believe in each other’s professional development.
Program Overview
The Kenya Feed the Future Local Food Systems (LFS) activity aims to foster an inclusive, locally led food systems premised on profitable and diversified farms and agri-food businesses that are resilient to shocks and deliver safe, affordable, and nutritious food to low-income consumers year-round. In collaboration with local actors, LFS will identify and address the root causes of inefficiencies within the food system, testing and scaling innovative solutions.
Central to this approach is leveraging key food system nodes, such as food processors and first- and last-mile service networks, to enhance the production and flow of nutritious food to underserved populations. In addition, the activity will increase economic opportunities for women and youth, encouraging market actors to adopt gender- and youth-responsive business practices that challenge existing norms and empower marginalized individuals.
The activity will implement solutions including:
- Improving the resilience of vulnerable populations
- Building the capacity of food system enterprises
- Catalyzing investment into local agricultural market systems
- Establishing strong and transparent relationships between food system actors
- Improving the availability and affordability of nutritious food products, especially for women and children
- Expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, especially for youth and women
The Role:
Kenya Feed the Future Local Food Systems is looking for a highly skilled person to join its Communications team and support achieving the program’s overall goal as guided by the Project’s Communications Strategy.
The Communications Associate will implement the communications strategy, and branding & marketing plan. This includes building and maintaining a positive profile for FTF LFS’s work through impactful media and outreach across key external online and offline communications channels.
The role also involves developing compelling stories and events to strengthen LFS’s brand while ensuring regular and efficient sharing and exchange of information through effective internal and external communications to enhance FTF LFS’s brand and visibility.
The success of strengthened strategic communications within LFS will be measured in terms of the brand’s deepened engagement and the support of key stakeholders in building partnerships that enhance delivery and impact across Kenya.
Primary Duties And Responsibilities
Strategic Communication:
- Support in coordinating the inputs from various thematic units, partners to develop consolidated reports, social media posts, factsheets, presentations, and other written documents for both internal and external use.
- Plan and produce multimedia and audio-visual content, including infographics, short, compelling videos, photos storytelling, and blogs for the program’s digital channels, while engaging with staff and collaborates to generate on-demand content.
- Support with identifying and working with influencers among staff, partners, and the broader public across the themes of agriculture, climate change, environmental action, and food market systems.
- Support the planning and delivery of virtual events organized by the program, such as launches, webinars, and X spaces, and manage the setup and live streaming of hybrid events.
- Support the development and production of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and other resources.
- Assists in writing and editing various text-based external communications materials, including stories, press releases, speeches, articles, web content, and social media posts, in alignment with external communication plans and objectives.
- Support in monitoring trends and tracking engagements on the program’s digital channels (social media, website, reports) and analyzing relevant communications data and insights to inform work plans, content curation and quality assurance.
Knowledge Management:
- Support the development and design of communications and knowledge products, including but not limited to success stories, blogs, learning papers, case studies, factsheets, etc.
- Liaise with the MERL and Knowledge Management Associate to harness data and insights to inform the design of evidence-based content suitable for the various digital channels, particularly posts for social media.
- Support the planning and delivery of learning events and other knowledge-sharing events organized by the program.
- Support developing yearly work plans with MERL and Knowledge Management Team members.
- Carry out additional tasks as requested by the Communications and Knowledge Management Manager and the Collaborations Learning & Adaptation Director.
Academic And Professional Qualifications
- Degree in a relevant discipline, such as Communications or another related field.
- At least two (2) years of communications experience in related programs.
- Good photography, videography and graphics design skills. Proficiency in using various graphics and infographic design apps (E.g. Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) is highly desirable.
- Ability to use video editing software tools to produce short videos.
- Ability to use photography to tell compelling stories
- Experience writing, editing, and proofreading printed or online content for diverse audiences.
- Experience using social media as a professional communications tool.
- Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds demonstrates respect for and understanding of cultural differences.
- Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations required.
Technical & Behavioral Competences:
- Sound analytical skills
- Honesty and professional integrity
- Ability to work in challenging environments and deliver on tight timelines
- Excellent interpersonal, networking, negotiation, and facilitation skills
- Budgeting and financial management of team activities and priority-setting
- Ability to take initiative and work independently
- Willingness to be able to travel for extended periods within Kenya.
