COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is an African-led and Africa-based international research institute engaged in multidisciplinary, evidence-informed policy research. Our researchers are contributing to the body of evidence about the critical issues in population health and wellbeing impeding Africa’s development in order to provide strong direction and recommendations to policy- and decision-makers at all levels. Our commitment to Policy Engagement, Advocacy, Knowledge Management and Learning is a critical component of our evidence generation and knowledge translation model. We recognize that institutionalizing a culture of evidence requires stronger capacity – both within APHRC and among the stakeholders with whom we engage in order to deliver development impacts.

The Immunization Advocacy Initiative (IAI) runs on the belief that a stronger civil society, equipped with technical skills in using evidence to drive advocacy priorities, can be an effective lever of influence on government decisions to fund a stronger and more resilient health system, with equitable and inclusive coverage of routine immunization as a foundation for that system. Through the project, civil society networks in Kenya, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire will receive capacity strengthening in using evidence for advocacy as well as financial support to carry out advocacy-oriented activities at national level to both generate demand for vaccination and to encourage sustainable funding of those vaccination campaigns. APHRC seeks to recruit a Communications Officer who will coordinate the initiative’s communication efforts.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Advocacy, Research and Knowledge Management

• Maintain institutional contacts with civil society sub-grantees;
• Develop and design policy briefs, fact sheets and other advocacy collateral in cooperation with IAI’s network of civil society;
• Follow immunization policy discussions and political priorities whilst sharing the information with the IAI network;
• Research on innovative methods to monitor policy influence and keep track of progress made by the country networks through their advocacy efforts;
• Coordinate meetings and workshops for civil society and other relevant stakeholders at regional level; and
• Organize and facilitate events- training workshops and stakeholder meetings.

Communications

• Ensure consistency of IAI’s communication tools in accordance with the branding guidelines and national advocacy strategies. These include the website, publications and newsletters;
• Coordinate input and develop content for the IAI webpage in collaboration with civil society organizations;
• Develop and manage a quarterly IAI newsletter to partners and publications;
• Update internal staff on project activities through the weekly bulletin; and
• Manage media relations- drafting media articles, interviews and facilitating media visits.

Records

• Maintain appropriate records-electronic and paper- on IAI activities; and
• Conduct monitoring and impact evaluation of advocacy and communications activities.

 Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations or related field;
• 5 years of post-qualification work experience in communications and public relations in an international organization;
• Knowledge of graphic design and desktop publishing, including Microsoft Publisher, and Adobe or Corel suites;
• Visual media skills including use of still and video camera; ability to develop video storyboards and basic editing;
• Proficiency in MS Office, content management systems and social media platforms;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written;
• Proficiency in French will be an advantage.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by email to jobs@aphrc.org with the subject ‘Communications Officer’ by February 17, 2020.  Only short listed candidates will be contacted.  Cover letters should be addressed to:

The Human Resources Officer

African Population and Health Research Center, Inc

APHRC Campus, Manga Close, off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru

P.O Box 10787-GPO, Nairobi

Website: www.aphrc.org

APHRC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the protection of children