AHN Communications and Media Officer

Location: Nairobi, Kenya – with extensive travel to ASAL counties

Reporting to: Policy and Advocacy lead

Duration: Full time 2-year contract term (with possibility of extension based on performance and funding)

Remuneration: competitive package offered – based on value, skill, and experience

About ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN)

The ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN) is a platform driven by local and national NGOs dedicated to fostering a humanitarian system that supports more locally led action. Since its establishment in March 2019, AHN has grown to include 30-member organizations working across ten Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties in Northern Kenya.

AHN brings together a diverse collective of expertise spanning the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding (HDP) nexus. This includes specialized knowledge in cash and voucher programming, women’s rights, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Reporting, and Learning (MEARL), Complaint/Redress Feedback Reporting Mechanism (CFRM), media and advocacy, food security, livelihoods, nutrition, climate change adaptation, WASH, gender-sensitive budgeting, governance, logistics, large-scale emergency operations, and community mobilization.

At AHN, we are committed to advocating for the localization of humanitarian efforts, facilitating open information exchange, and engaging key stakeholders. We hold ourselves, stakeholders and duty bearers accountable to ensure that our collective actions deliver effective aid to communities in need. Our aim is to amplify local voices, empower local leadership, and create sustainable, long-term impact through advocacy, capacity building, and proactive policy engagement across the HDP nexus.

Job Summary

The Communications and Media Officer will manage the network’s media relations and communication strategies to enhance visibility, support advocacy efforts, and ensure clear, impactful messaging. This role will involve creating diverse content, managing media relations, coordinating event promotions, and overseeing AHN’s online and social media presence. The Communications and Media Officer will collaborate with AHN’s partners to align communication activities with the network’s goals and ensure consistency and high-quality in all external messaging.

Key Responsibilities

• Content Creation: Develop and produce high-quality content, including press releases, articles, newsletters, social media posts, blog posts, videos, case studies and reports that effectively communicate the network’s mission, activities, and achievements.
• Media Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with media outlets and journalists. Coordinate media coverage, prepare media kits, handle media inquiries, and draft talking points for AHN representatives. Ensure communications contacts and relationships are managed. Strategic Communication: Design and implement communication strategies to support the network’s advocacy, outreach, and visibility goals. Ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels and align with AHN’s localization and humanitarian action agenda.
• Lead the Implementation of Communication Strategy: Oversee the execution of AHN’s communication strategy, ensuring alignment with the network’s priorities. Collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure the communication strategy is effectively integrated across programs and campaigns.
• Support to Network Members in Capacity Building: Provide support to AHN network members in building the capacity of their communication units or departments. Facilitate training and knowledge-sharing sessions to enhance their ability to effectively communicate their work and strengthen media engagement.
• Website and Social Media Management: Oversee the network’s online presence, including adapting content creation, scheduling, and management of posts for social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and email campaigns. Regularly update the AHN website with news, reports, and relevant content, Adapt content for websites, social media, email campaigns, etc., ensuring each format is optimized for its specific audience and channel.
• Event Promotion: Plan and coordinate promotional activities for events, campaigns, and initiatives. Manage media coverage, communications, and visibility for AHN events, ensuring high engagement and participation.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Track media coverage and public sentiment on AHN’s work. Prepare reports on media activity, communication impact, and audience engagement. Use data analytics to refine strategies and measure success.
• Internal Communication: Support internal communication efforts by creating clear and engaging materials for staff and stakeholders. Facilitate information sharing within the network and ensure that internal messages align with AHN’s overall communication strategy.
• Travel and Field Communications: Support field-based communication efforts, including the collection of case studies, human interest stories, and photographs from ASAL counties. Lead communication during field visits to capture and share local humanitarian efforts and successes.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Media Studies, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
  • Training or certification in graphic design or digital media (preferred).
• Experience:
  • Minimum 3-5 years’ experience working in a communications function within a fast-paced environment
  • Experience in crafting compelling stories in various forms for diverse audiences.
  • Proven experience in media relations, communications, or public relations, preferably within the NGO or humanitarian sector.
  • Experience in ASAL counties or similar contexts is an advantage.
  • Strong editorial skills an eye for detail.
  • Collaborative spirit to work with various teams both internal and external to deliver excellent output.
• Technical Skills:
  • Strong understanding of social media platforms, content management systems (CMS), and digital communication strategies.
  • Proficiency in graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva etc.), photography and video editing tools, and basic web design.
  • Ability to work under pressure and tight schedules while delivering quality output.
• Competencies:
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a talent for storytelling and translating complex issues into engaging clear content.
  • Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and travel extensively within ASAL counties.
  • Knowledge of the aid sector, humanitarian journalists and media, networks, and organizations, local humanitarian leadership, community-led advocacy communications, and localization in the humanitarian context.
  • Good working knowledge of both new and traditional media and ability to adapt content across contexts
  • Willing to share own expertise with others in the network, both formally and informally
  • Ability to adapt and apply learning to future work by actively abandon things that aren’t working