Closing Date: 8 October 2024
WRI Africa is hiring for a Communications Manager for the Congo Basin
This Communications Manager for the Congo Basin is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in WRI Africa office. The role can be based in Cameroon (Yaounde), Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), or Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa).
About WRI
Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. WRI is working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. WRI have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.
About the Program:
WRI work in the Congo Basin contributes to the creation of a political and regulatory environment that promotes sustainable forest management and the conservation of biodiversity. WRI support national and local actors to produce, manage, and use spatial data to guide sustainable forest management, including artisanal concessions, restoration of degraded areas, governance of the wood-energy supply chain, and sustainable agriculture practices.
Job Highlight:
As the Communications Manager for the Congo Basin, you will design and implement communications and engagement strategies, lead media relations, and manage communication services for events. You will curate communications products for various channels, such as websites, social media, blogs, and publications, and work with program staff to develop relevant messaging (in French and English) to promote program activities to increase overall visibility. You will be supported by program and communications staff working in Africa. You will also work with WRI’s Core Communications Team to coordinate outreach and identify opportunities. You will collaborate with WRI’s Congo Basin country teams, and the WRI-African Communications Department on all aspects of your work. You will report to the Senior Communications Manager for Africa and the Congo Basin Strategy and Engagement Lead.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Communications and Engagement (60%):
- Develop and implement communications and engagement strategies
- Coordinate and support the development of audience-specific knowledge products
- Support the program team in promoting relationships with key stakeholders by coordinating outreach events and disseminating communication and knowledge products
- Translate WRI’s analysis and policy recommendations on forests into compelling stories through high-quality presentations, publications, blogs, photographs, videos, testimonials, webinars, social media, etc
- Enhance WRI’s visibility in the Congo Basin by promoting WRI and partner research, analysis, and activities through online communications, media outreach, events, and other means
- Maintain a contact list of partners
- Ensure that program websites and social media page s are updated
Media Relations (10%):
- Work directly with WRI’s Forest Program communications team to identify, pitch and inform media stories related to forest management, and related topics
- Coordinate program media relations including identifying opportunities for media coverage, responding to media requests, and arranging interviews
- Coordinate media outreach including drafting press releases and press kits, managing press invites, and the release of media advisories to promote research
- Maintain a list of media coverage of your program/projects
- Maintain a list of media contacts with your program
Events (15%):
- Contribute to webinar concepts and coordinate the production with relevant program teams
- Coordinate communication support for program events, including social promotion and coverage, photography, media outreach, production of communication products and post-event communication reports
- Contribute to WRI Africa’s list of events to ensure effective and efficient coordination of communication support
Institutional Communications (15%):
- Contribute to WRI’s communication initiatives such as compiling content for international days, blogs, release of flagship reports, internal newsletters and translating materials
Requirements:
- Education: You have a completed bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international affairs, political science, business management, international development, environmental sciences, or other social sciences
- Experience: You have a minimum of 6 years of relevant full time work experience, preferably with international development organizations, knowledge institutions, or media
- Skills: Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in both French and English
- Creative and highly organized individual with a strong interest in partnerships, coordination, and communications
- Ability to proactively identify opportunities for communication activities
- Self-motivated with an ability to juggle multiple priorities, handle assignments independently, and work under tight deadlines
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, resiliency, flexibility, and drive
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in teams and encourage knowledge sharing to achieve organizational goals and preferred experience of working in coalitions and other collaborative partnership models
- Experience designing and organizing events
- Willingness and ability to travel within the region and internationally
- A history of working with national and pan-African organizations and with international institutions is strongly preferred, as is experience working on climate, water, cities, forests, or other development topics
- Languages: French and English required
- Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization
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