Communications and Policy Engagement Officer

• Master’s degree in communications, media, international relations, or related field.
  
• At least 10 years’ experience in science and development communications in the development sector or a related field, including at least three years at an international level.
  
• Excellent writing and technical editing skills, especially in policy-oriented publications and media products.
  
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills.
  
• Technical skills in publications design, website management, and social media management.
  
• Ability to dialogue effectively with a wide range of audiences/constituencies and to represent the organisation with authority and credibility.
  
• Excellent understanding of public policymaking and legislative processes, and the role of research in these processes.
  
• Proven skill in translating research and evidence into effective advocacy strategies that have achieved policy change at a national or international level.
  
• Proven success in developing and delivering effective country, regional, or international policy engagement and influencing strategies.
  
• Proven understanding of African socio-political contexts and global developments, and how this influences decision-making in the areas of health, population, and development.
  
• Competency in facilitating national and international advocacy activities.
  

Communications, Visibility, and Profiling

• Design and oversee the implementation of AFIDEP’s communications and policy-influencing strategy.
  
• Oversee the development of a recognisable AFIDEP brand as a leading policy institute in promoting and enabling evidence uptake in development efforts in all sectors.
  
• Les the writing and publication of the Institute’s institutional reports, including the annual report, newsletters, website postings, social media content, and the African Development perspectives
  
• Support evidence synthesis, packaging and use in six areas, namely: population dynamics and the demographic dividend; health and wellbeing; transformative education and skills development; environment and climate change; governance and accountability; and economic wellbeing.
  
• Identify and develop relationships with key media outlets to stimulate increased use of evidence in public policy debates.
  
• Disseminate evidence and encourage critical debate on development issues based on evidence.
  

Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation

• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with funders governments, academic institutions, research institutions, implementing agencies and funders at national, regional and global levels
  
• Build relations with potential end users of evidence and other institutions that generate and promote the use of research evidence.
  
• Contribute to AFIDEP’s fundraising plans through concept and proposal development.
  

Capacity Strengthening

• Support internal and external capacity strengthening efforts aimed at improving the communication and utilisation of research evidence in decision-making in development efforts.