Communications Associate

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Communications Associate to organise and manage the internal and external communications activities of the CASCADE project and improve its visibility locally and globally. This role will be offered on a 3-year fixed-term contract, subject to availability of funding. You will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

About GAIN

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. In particular, we aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

About the Role

GAIN and CARE Kenya have partnered to implement a project known as Catalyzing strengthened policy action for healthy diets and resilience (CASCADE) whose goal is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition amongst women of reproductive age and children under 5 in Kenya. The programme has two strategic objectives: it aims to increase access to and consumption of healthy diets, as well as increasing the resilience of households to economic and climate change-related shocks across in three counties in Kenya. The project aims at doing this through contribution to the improvement of the food and nutrition policy environment in Kenya.

Reporting to the Kenya Communications Manager, the Communications Associate will work with the GAIN Kenya Communications Manager, the CASCADE team and the global Communications team to develop and implement a communications strategy that will guide the programme’s internal and external communication in addition to Supporting communications and advocacy activities of the programme at county and national levels

Key Responsibilities include.

• Organize the internal and external communications activities of the CASCADE project.
• Work with the GAIN Kenya Communications Manager, the CASCADE team and the global Communications team to develop and implement a communications strategy that will guide the programme’s internal and external communication.
• Support communications and advocacy activities of the programme at county and national levels.
• Develop country level co-branded advocacy/communication materials (flyers, leaflets, fact sheets, success stories, media kits, photographs, video clips, documentaries, radio programs).
• Planning and execution of programme communication strategy – 2022, and for the coming years.
• Work with the policy and advocacy teams to synthesize research reports into high level highlights and policy briefs that guide decision making.
• Support the Policy and Advocacy Manager in coordinating both physical and virtual events and coordinate information and knowledge needed for various platforms.

About You

The ideal candidate should have proven experience in managing internal and external communications preferably within a project setting, ability to work with a global communications team while developing and repackaging materials developed by the programme such as lessons learned and best practices across consortium partners. Prior experience working alongside advocacy teams is preferred.

The postholder should demonstrate competence in conceptualizing and executing social media campaigns and developing digital media content with ability to network and coordinate the media fraternity in advocacy and policy processes. Ability to synthesize research reports into high level highlights and policy briefs that guide decision making in addition to working in an environment with multiple stakeholders from private and public sectors.

You should have strong (written and verbal) communication and analytical skills leaning towards policy and advocacy communication. Candidate should have an education background in a relevant field such as university level degree in communications, knowledge management, business and marketing, food technology, economics, or related field.

About our Offer

The starting salary on offer for this role is from KES 2,083,128 – KES 2,377,296 per annum, depending on experience.

GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance.

We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.

GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Our Working Culture and Environment

We provide a flexible working environment that includes a combination of home and office working opportunities through our global hybrid working policy. This encourages our staff to have a healthy work-life balance and increases staff motivation, enriches employee wellbeing, and improves performance and productivity.

All of our positions are based in one or more of GAIN’s designated offices as stated on our job advertisements. Successful candidates will be based in one of GAIN’s country offices and must have the existing right to live and work within a reasonably commutable distance of the relevant city / cities in which the role is advertised. Please note, that GAIN does not sponsor working visas and relocations.

GAIN reserves the right to withdraw an offer of employment for candidates who are considered to be ineligible under the above conditions during or after the recruitment process.

This advert closes on 19th October 2022. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is committed to equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. We are keen to reflect the diversity of our society at every level within our organisation and therefore welcome applications from talented and committed people from all backgrounds, representing the diverse societies we operate in.