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Africa Lead Position: Communications assistant, East and Southern Africa

Location: Nairobi, Kenya (with in-country and periodic international travel) Period of Performance: August 01 , 2016 – September 30, 2018 (funding dependent) Background: The USAID Building Capacity for African Agricultural Transformation (Africa Lead II) Project is a five-year effort to support and advance the agricultural transformation in Africa as proposed by the African Union Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP), while simultaneously contributing to the Feed the Future goals of reduced hunger and poverty, by building the capacity of men and women African leaders, institutions and stakeholders to develop, lead, and manage the structures needed for the transformation process. This project has three components:

• The establishment of institutional/organizational architecture to lead African agriculture transformation at the national and regional levels, operating at the highest level of effectiveness;
• The operationalization of capacity to manage policy change and alignment process; and
• The effective participation and leading when necessary, of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the CAADP process.

The Opportunity: Africa Lead seeks a communications assistant to join the regional communications and knowledge management team based in Nairobi, Kenya. Due to the broad nature and complexity of issues and institutions addressed by Africa Lead, the position requires creative and conceptual thinking, organization, and a dedication to detailed planning. The position requires a strong writer and experience working on digital media communications systems in a professional setting. Qualifications, Background and Experience: The Communications Assistant will be responsible for coordinating with the regional program team to develop, publish, and disseminate knowledge products using various communications technologies. The position will contribute to the production of communications and knowledge products by: performing issue research and conducting program participant interviews; writing, formatting, and editing communications materials; publishing and distributing content on web platforms and social media, and assisting the communications and knowledge team in various strategic communications projects. Specific qualifications include:

• 3+ years of work experience in the field of communications and/or agriculture sector advocacy
• Proven ability to develop high quality publications (both print and media), including reports, presentations, and other materials.
• Demonstrated experience in project and/or communications campaign management
• Website management and/or experience with web based content management systems
• Experience in social media writing and campaign management
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office mandatory
• Knowledge of and experience using graphic/editorial design programs (Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office) a plus
• Preferred education: Bachelor’s degree or higher – areas of study preferred for position:  journalism, communications, or related field.  Commensurate work experience will be considered in lieu of degree.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, creative problem solving, conflict and ethical management skills
• Fluent English language skills required, fluency in Swahili a plus

Duties and Responsibilities: Core responsibilities coordinating with the regional program team to develop, publish, and disseminate knowledge products using various communications technologies. The position will contribute to the production of communications and knowledge products by: performing issue research and conducting program participant interviews; writing, formatting, and editing communications materials; publishing and distributing content on web platforms and social media, and assisting the communications and knowledge team in various strategic communications projects. Core responsibilities include :

• Conducting in-depth research and writing for the development of knowledge products,
• Formatting and branding of technical reports and collateral material using Microsoft Office based software; Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint; and Adobe Creative Suite
• Conduct interviews with a journalism style approach in order to develop impact stories
• Draft and finalize impact stories on a regular basis
• Write, produce, and send email newsletters

Additional duties include but are not limited to:

• Assist with the writing, editing, and design of knowledge products including, communications plans, project progress reports, and success stories
• Assist with the tracking of all communications team activities and proposed activities
• Manage regional editorial calendar for knowledge product production and publishing
• Write, edit, and update website content for regional office
• Assist the communications and knowledge team to implement the ALII ESA strategic communications plan
• Assist with stakeholder outreach by planning and writing content for  traditional media, social media, and events
• Help in the research, design, coordination, and development of communications materials such as video, web, print, and various other formats
• Possible East Africa regional travel may be required

Supervision: This position will report to the East and Southern Africa regional communications and knowledge manager but will collaborate closely with other communications team staff and other regional staff as necessary to ensure the smooth implementation of activities. PERFORMANCE CRITERIA: Africa Lead II is a performance-based project, highly dependent on individuals and team core competencies. Each staff member will participate in a semi-annual evaluation and receive feedback. Based on this evaluation, decisions related to promotion or salary increase will be made. If you believe you qualify for this job, kindly submit a cover letter, your CV, and 3 writing samples to by August 01, 2016. 

AFRICA LEAD SEEKS A DONOR COORDINATION SPECIALISTS IN EAST AFRICA

Africa Lead requires a Donor Coordination Specialist to provide administrative, knowledge management and coordination support among development partners as well as Kenyan stakeholders in government, private sector and civil society. The deadline for applications is June 20. Donor Coordination Specialist - advert

Africa Lead Nairobi Office Inviting Local Vendors to Supply Goods and Services

Africa Lead announces a prequalification call for vendors to supply goods and services to our Nairobi Office.  If your firm deals in calling cards, office supplies,  IT equipment, printing, courier, care hire, maintenance and other business  services,  Africa Lead invites you to submit your bid no later than 12 April 2016 at 12.00 noon. Full information follows. Prequalification Advert 4.1.2016  

Africa Lead Annual Report (October 2014-September 2015)

Africa Lead turns 3! Our work in support of transformational leaders in Africa is embarking upon its third year. Read how Champions for Change across Africa in the public, private, and civil society sectors are engaging in processes that are propelling the Africa Union's commitment to agricultural transformation forward. AFRICA LEAD ANNUAL REPORT - OCT 2015

African Union, Africa Lead Agree to Collaborate on Support for Malabo Declaration and New Alliance

The African Union Commission’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC/DREA) recently signed a letter of agreement with Africa Lead, a top program of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative. The Letter of Agreement between the two organizations commits to the selection and seconding of professional staff to AUC/DREA for up to three years to assist in facilitating the continental commitment to transform agriculture. The 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods was signed by leaders of the 54 African Union member states last July. The Malabo Declaration includes country commitments to ending hunger; decreasing poverty through inclusive agriculture growth and transformation; boosting intra-African trade in agricultural commodities and services; enhancing resilience to climate variability and other shocks; and a commitment to mutual accountability for actions and results. The letter was signed by Dr. Janet Edeme (pictured at left), Officer-in-Charge of the African Union Commission/Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, and Dr. David Tardif-Douglin (pictured at right), Chief of Party for the USAID Africa Lead program, on September 9 in Bethesda, Maryland. Three of the seconded staff will support the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition Initiative. The Alliance is a partnership that brings together the capacities and interests of a diverse group of stakeholders. These include African governments, the private sector, civil society, donors, and other development partners. They are allied to facilitate inclusive growth in agriculture and address key constraints to private investment and increased smallholder productivity and market access. Work to be performed under the agreement will focus on advancing the implementation of the New Alliance Initiative in the context of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) at national, Regional Economic Communities and continental levels. This support includes overseeing coordination with different stakeholder groups on the New Alliance in the current 10 member countries—Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Benin, and Nigeria. The New Alliance team will also oversee the drafting and review of major global New Alliance reports. AUC/DREA is a department within the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is charged with the promotion of sustainable agricultural and rural development across the continent and improved food security for Africans. Africa Lead II is a five-year program of the U.S. Agency for International Development to support and advance agricultural transformation in Africa. Simultaneously, Africa Lead II contributes to the U.S. Feed the Future goals of reduced hunger and poverty by building the capacity of Champions—defined as men and women leaders in agriculture—to develop, lead, and manage the policies, structures, and processes needed for the transformation process.

AFRICA LEAD SEEKS THREE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS IN EAST AFRICA

Africa Lead is seeking to fill three Program Management Specialist positions. Each one will manage specific portfolios of programs in Kenya, Tanzania, and East Africa regionally. Full details are on the following announcement. The deadline for applications is September 17. Programs Management Specialist - advert (revised)

CAADP NON STATE ACTORS COALITION (CNC) SEEKS COORDINATOR

The CAADP NonState Actors Coalition (CNC), a Pan-African initiative of community-based and private sector groups dedicated to informing and expanding engagement in African agricultural transformation, is establishing a formal secretariat and seeks a coordinator. The coordinator will be based in the host organization's office (ACORD) in Nairobi, Kenya. To learn more about this opportunity to coordinate this varied and powerful coalition to advance CAADP’s mission through amplifying the voice of nongovernmental actors, see the accompanying announcement and job description. The deadline to apply is 7 September. ADVERT CNC Coordinator JOB DESCRIPTION CNC Coordinator

** NEW ** ANSWERS REGARDING CALL FOR MEDIA PROPOSALS IN TANZANIA ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Questions about the RFP previously posted by Africa Lead for youth and media product development on farming and agribusiness in Tanzania have been answered. The RFP, Budget Template, and questions and answers are posted in our Opportunities section: http://www.africaleadftf.org/news/request-for-proposals-rfp-tanzania-youth-and-media-activity/ Reminder: The deadline for proposals is 4 September, COB Tanzania Time

** NEW ** ANSWERS REGARDING CALL FOR IMPACT EVALUATION ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Questions about the RFP previously posted by Africa Lead for an impact evaluation of a new reality TV program, "Don’t Lose the Plot" have now been answered. The RFP, Budget Template, and Questions and Answers are in our Opportunities section: http://www.africaleadftf.org/news/request-for-proposals-rfp-east-africa-reality-tv-program-impact-evaluation/ The deadline for proposals is 4 September, COB East Africa time  

SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN AFRICAN AGRICULTURE: JULY 2015 UPDATE

Champion for Change networks, regional, national and county governments, civil society organizations, and commercial agribusinesses are the forces of change that Africa Lead supports. For an update on our recent activities, check out our latest Quarterly Report (April–June 2015). The report and Executive Summary can be viewed here. To enable interactive features in the full report, download the PDF. Africa Lead II Qtr Report Apr-June 2015 Annex I-II Africa Lead II Qtr Report Apr-Jun - Title & Exec (7-31-15)