Communications Assistant – East Africa Job Opportunity

Are you a communications professional looking to contribute your skills to development programmes while supporting an international organisation's communications work in East Africa? This opportunity is designed for someone with a background in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or a related field, combined with practical experience in digital media and content development.

The Communications Assistant – East Africa will provide support to Hivos' global communications team and work with colleagues across the organisation. The position covers both corporate communications and programme communications, with the larger share of the role focused on supporting two programmes operating in Kenya.

During the maternity cover period, approximately 30% of the position will focus on corporate communications support, while 70% will be dedicated to programme communications. This makes the role particularly relevant for someone who enjoys storytelling, digital content, event support, media engagement and turning technical programme information into material that ordinary audiences can understand.

A Position With Two Main Areas of Focus

The role combines organisational communications with hands-on support for programme activities.

On the corporate side, the Communications Assistant will help strengthen Hivos' positioning, visibility, branding and storytelling in the East African context. This will involve supporting communication materials and activities while ensuring that content follows the organisation's established brand guidelines, tone of voice and values.

The programme side will take up most of the employee's time. The Communications Assistant will work with the teams and partners involved in the EU SWITCH Kenya Green – Tujenge Pamoja programme and the Rural Women Cultivating Change programme.

Both programmes have different areas of focus, giving the position a broad range of communications work to support.

Supporting Programme Stories and Impact

A major part of the role will involve helping identify, document and draft stories that demonstrate the impact and changes emerging from the programmes.

The Communications Assistant will work with the RWCC and Tujenge Pamoja teams to identify stories that can be communicated to wider audiences. These stories may need to be developed into suitable content for different communication platforms.

The role therefore requires strong writing and editing skills, as well as the ability to understand programme information and turn it into clear and engaging material.

For someone working in communications, storytelling is an important part of this opportunity. The successful candidate should be able to take programme updates and develop drafts that are accessible to readers without losing the important information behind the work.

The Programmes You Will Support

EU SWITCH Kenya Green – Tujenge Pamoja

One of the key programmes supported through this role is EU SWITCH Kenya Green – Tujenge Pamoja.

The programme supports Kenya's transition towards an inclusive and circular green economy. Its work involves MSMEs led by women, youth and marginalised groups.

The Communications Assistant will provide communications support around this programme, including helping document activities, identify stories and create communication materials.

Rural Women Cultivating Change

The second major programme is Rural Women Cultivating Change, commonly referred to as RWCC.

The programme focuses on strengthening the rights, leadership and economic resilience of rural women through areas such as agroecology, sustainable food systems and leadership.

The Communications Assistant will help capture and communicate relevant stories and developments from the programme while supporting communication activities connected to its work.

Creating Content for Different Platforms

The position is not limited to written articles. The successful candidate will assist in producing communication assets for digital, print and multimedia platforms.

This may involve drafting social media copy, preparing photo stories, editing content and helping organise materials for publication.

The Communications Assistant will also help maintain Hivos East Africa's social media presence and support community engagement across its digital platforms.

Practical experience with professional social media profiles, including Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, is therefore important.

Candidates should understand that different platforms may require different approaches to presenting information. The ability to create clear, engaging and appropriately formatted content will be useful in this role.

Turning Technical Information Into Readable Content

Development programmes can involve technical information that may not always be easy for a general audience to understand.

One responsibility of the Communications Assistant will be to help translate this type of information into accessible and reader-friendly draft content.

Strong writing ability will therefore be central to the position. Candidates should be comfortable reviewing information, identifying the key message and developing a clear draft that communicates the subject effectively.

Editing and formatting skills will also be important when preparing communication products.

Events, Campaigns and Field Activities

The Communications Assistant will also provide communications and operational support during programme events, field visits, campaigns and learning activities.

This requires good organisation and the ability to keep track of different activities taking place across the programmes.

The employee will work with programme teams and partners to help ensure that communication requirements are handled effectively during relevant activities.

The role will also involve supporting consistent donor and partner visibility across communication materials.

Corporate Communications Responsibilities

Although most of the role is focused on programmes, corporate communications will account for approximately 30% of the position.

The Communications Assistant will help implement Hivos' global corporate communications strategy within the East African context.

This includes supporting communications around regional events, campaigns, international days and important organisational milestones.

All outgoing communication products will need to remain consistent with Hivos' brand guidelines, tone of voice and values. Attention to detail will therefore be important when reviewing and preparing materials.

Working With Media

The position also provides exposure to external communications and media support.

The Communications Assistant will monitor relevant conversations, trends and media mentions that could strengthen the visibility of Hivos' work in East Africa.

The employee will also support the preparation and distribution of materials such as press releases, media briefs, talking points and media kits.

Maintaining an organised database of journalists, editors and media organisations in East Africa will be another responsibility.

Candidates interested in media relations should therefore be comfortable handling contact information, communication materials and media-related tasks in an organised manner.

Visual and Multimedia Communication

Basic creative skills are desirable for this opportunity.

Candidates with basic proficiency in graphic design tools such as Canva or Photoshop, or experience with basic photo and video editing software, will have skills relevant to the role.

The Communications Assistant may help assemble and format communication products including programme briefs, fact sheets and presentation slides.

This means the role combines writing with basic visual communication and digital content production.

Staying Organised

Strong organisation will be necessary because the position involves multiple programmes, communication channels, deadlines and ongoing activities.

The successful candidate will help keep editorial and communications calendars updated and on schedule.

They will also maintain organised communication files, including photographs, videos, publications and other digital assets.

Regular updates on assigned tasks and clear documentation of ongoing workflows will be important, particularly because the position is a maternity cover role. Proper documentation will help ensure a smooth handover when the contract period comes to an end.

Education and Professional Background

Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing or a related field.

The position requires between one and two years of experience in communications, digital media or public relations.

Internship or volunteer experience within an international NGO or development environment can count towards the required experience.

This makes the opportunity potentially relevant to early-career communications professionals who have already gained practical exposure through employment, internships or volunteering.

Skills and Qualities Required

The successful candidate should bring a combination of communication, digital and organisational abilities.

Important requirements include:

• Strong writing, editing and formatting skills.

• Ability to turn programme information into clear and engaging content.

• Experience managing professional social media profiles.

• Familiarity with content management tools.

• Basic graphic design or photo/video editing skills is desirable.

• Strong planning and organisational abilities.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines.

• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.

• Swahili proficiency is highly desirable.

The candidate should also demonstrate alignment with Hivos' stated values relating to gender equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights.

Who Should Consider This Opportunity?

This position is suited to a communications professional who enjoys combining writing, digital content, storytelling and organisational support.

It could be particularly relevant to someone who has gained experience through communications work, digital media, public relations, journalism or marketing and wants to apply those skills within a development-focused environment.

Applicants should make sure their CV demonstrates their practical writing and editing experience, social media skills, content production abilities and experience managing deadlines. Where applicable, candidates should also highlight exposure to NGOs, development programmes, media work, graphic design or multimedia production.

With most of the role dedicated to programme communications and a smaller portion focused on corporate communications, the position offers a broad set of responsibilities across storytelling, digital engagement, media support, events and organisational communications.

Candidates who meet the education and experience requirements should ensure that their applications clearly demonstrate how their communication skills and previous experience relate to the responsibilities outlined for the Communications Assistant – East Africa position.

Application

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