Job Title: Advocacy and Strategic Communications Specialist
Location: Nairobi Contract: One-year renewable Responsible
To: Director JCAM Justice and Ecology Office (JEO) Working language: English (a knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is an advantage)
Start date: January 2022 Salary: Negotiable
About JENA
The Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network of Africa (JENA) is a diverse community of faith-inspired Jesuit NGOs, also known as Social Centres, related Jesuit Institutions, individual Jesuit peace and development activists and scholars driven by a vision of a just, poverty-free, peaceful and ecologically regenerative Africa. JENA operates under the aegis of the Justice and Ecology Office (JEO) of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM). Working collaboratively with communities whose voices and life-ways have been marginalised and who may experience an intersection of multiple forms of injustice, our member organisations are dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustices around Africa empowering marginalised voices, communities and groups, and facilitating policy innovation. Member organisations of the Network work together internationally to achieve a greater impact through collective efforts. In all JENA’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to unlock their potential, exercise their rights and manage their own lives.Background
JENA has a secretariat in the JCAM JEO in Nairobi. The secretariat works with 22 affiliate and close to 30 partner Jesuit organisations in 22 countries. It is a continental network representing Jesuit organisations in various countries in Africa, undertaking grassroots programming and local, regional and international advocacy work. This role will support the growth, influence and advocacy capacity of the JENA as a network and of Affiliates of JENA. About JENA International Advocacy and Communications. The JCAM JEO running the JENA Secretariat in Nairobi will lead on international communications, campaigns, fundraising communications, network development, advocacy, digital and media to deliver JENA vision and mission by:• Delivering a smart advocacy agenda that increases profile and understanding of the sustainable development issues in Africa that JENA champions.
• Leading on and coordinating regional and global campaigns that inspire action on poverty and the protection of the planet
• Leading effective external communication and brand awareness, by building organisational and network capacities in communication
• Supporting the growth of a strong regional and global network of Jesuit organisations working for the eradication of poverty and the protection of the planet.
• Through our various campaigns, our Post-2015 and other programmes, we will support local populations and their organisations to have their say in global and national decision-making processes.
Job Description
The JENA Advocacy and Strategic Communications Specialist will be responsible for implementing advocacy and communications activities that contribute to business development and support ongoing JENA programs. Under the guidance of the JEO Director, the JENA Advocacy and Communication Specialist will work with the JENA Secretariat Team, JENA members, and JEO counterparts in the various Jesuit Conferences to promote and increase JENA leadership in and contributions to the social justice movement in Africa and world over.Responsibilities
Advocacy
• Assist in development of strategies to promote JENA leadership and contribution to the promotion and of justice and poverty eradication in Africa:
• Oversee the development and implementation of the JENA strategic communication and advocacy strategy;
• Conduct interviews with key stakeholders for mapping and landscape analyses related to key social justice and ecology issues, drafting reports and key findings;
• Present JENA’s experience, tools and reports to external stakeholders and partners, and representing JENA at selected meetings, taskforces, panels and workshops;
• Participate in organizing and facilitating meetings and trainings with partner INGOs and NGOs, government representatives, grassroots advocates, and community members to develop coordinated advocacy strategies and consensus messages;
• Contributing to the preparation of advocacy and informational materials and tools on major social justice issues identified by JENA;
• Writing, reviewing and editing training and other programmatic tools as well as activity reports.
Strategic Communication
• Define and implement communication activities aiming at profiling and positioning JENA for programmatic opportunities and placement in the social justice and development community in Africa: • Work with the JENA Secretariat to manage the JENA brand in Africa and internationally and develop communication products to promote JENA visibility; • Maintain the JENA data base and ensure the information on the JENA external and internal websites is continuously maintained.
• Support the JENA Director to promote synergistic operations of JENA and implement the JENA Strategic Roadmap;
• Provide day-to-day management and coordination of JENA communication activities;
• Communicate and advocate for JENA capabilities within the donor community and public at large;
• Provide talking points and key messages to the JENA Director and JENA Secretariat Staff for key JENA visibility events and meetings. Prepare pitch notes, support preparation of speeches and presentations including preparing appropriate video clips and photographs;
• Provide talking points and key messages to the JENA Director in times of crisis.
• Work with the JENA Director to develop and execute the JENA strategy and annual plans which support and link to the Society of Jesus global priorities;
• Understand various project objectives and activities and develop communications strategies that roll-up into an overall communications strategy for the JENA Secretariat office, working closely with the JENA Director and secretariat staff;
• Increase the profile and disseminate JENA’s work and messages through planning and implementation of all country communication activities, including writing and managing the production and dissemination of fact sheets, success stories, publications, press releases, press briefings, articles, letters to the editor, blogs, and formal reports etc;
• Spearhead articles/news items for media and magazines;
Capacity Building to JENA members and stakeholders on Communication Strategies:
• Provide capacity building to JENA members and stakeholders on communications strategies and media relations and work to improve the quality of communication products developed;
• Support consultants and companies engaged for outsourced products;
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned
• Person specification
Education / Qualifications and knowledge
MA Degree in relevant subject area (preferably international development, communications, economics or relevant social science) or equivalent work experience.
Experience
• 5 to 10 years’ experience
• Experience of supporting a membership-based network, engaging organisations and individuals to work collaboratively.
• Experience of delivering engaging and creative internal communications strategies and approaches.
• Experience of working with people at a distance using a range of communications platforms.
• Experience of project management.
• Experience of intranet management.
• Experience of working in a multicultural setting.
Skills and abilities
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation (oral and written) skills and attention to detail.
• Research, writing and editing skills.
• Proven relationship building skills and ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with a wide variety of colleagues in other departments, Regional Development Centres and Country Offices.
• Proven ability to multi-task, be flexible and meet deadlines.
• Problem solving skills, with a focus on finding effective solutions.
• Commitment to team working.
• Good IT skills including all Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work on own initiative and be proactive.
• Willingness and capacity to travel.
Essential
Willingness to commit to JCAM Safeguarding Policy (available on JCAM website) and undergo a police background check.Desirable
• A close knowledge of the structures of the Catholic Church
• Knowledge of social media.
• Interest in the international development sector.
• Experience of online training.
How to apply
Application letters, Curriculum Vitae (CV), photocopies of Academic Certificates, National Identity Cards or Passports, and a short sample writing (maximum 1,000 words on a related topic. See: https://www.jenaafrica.org/) should be mailed or emailed to the Executive Assistant to the President (socius@jesuits.africa) on or before Thursday, 30 December 2021, at noon. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.