Overseas Volunteer Opportunity: Kenya

Communication Advisor

Contribute. Discover. Grow. Volunteer with CDF Canada.

Eligibility criteria:   Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada 

Location:   Nairobi, Kilifi, Machakos, Kericho, Kakamega, Homabay, Makueni, Kajiado and Narok.

Start Date:   Exact timing will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Duration:   3-6 months, in-country and online support

Language Requirement:   English (Mandatory)

Reporting to:   Country Program Officer

The Project – VOICE for Women and Girls

The VOICE for Women and Girls project is a seven-year initiative (2020 – 2027) aimed at strengthening the performance of developing country partner (DCP) organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 women and men from marginalised communities, in particular young women (target: 60% women and girls), in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi with a focus on action areas of the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), namely:

• Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, and
• Growth that Works for Everyone.

The Project responds to the needs identified by women and men of cooperatives and the entire members in the countries of operation and is designed to increase the capacities of individual producers and primary co-operatives to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Supporting institutions, including apex co-operatives, co-operative colleges, and government/regulatory institutions will also be engaged to increase the capacity and prioritization of vulnerable groups.

The Partners you will work with

The African Confederation of Co-operative Savings and Credit Association (ACCOSCA)

The African Confederation of Co-operative Savings and Credit Association (ACCOSCA) is a Pan-African confederation of national associations of savings and credit cooperatives societies. Having been established in Kenya by Co-operative leaders from across the continent in 1968, ACCOSCA has worked with various stakeholders in promoting the usage of the Co-operative Business model in a manner that would organically contribute towards the stimulating economic growth and development of a Country. Since its revitalization program at the Malawi General assembly in 2007, ACCOSCA has been leading the continent toward promoting financial inclusion in the local communities.

Currently, ACCOSCA has developed programs aimed at empowering and promoting cooperatives in Africa and is collaborating with various government bodies, development agencies and research institution in her service delivery to promote financial inclusion in Africa. Overall ACCOSCA aims at: Promoting the establishment of an institutional framework for mobilizing personal saving and credit cooperatives, Capacity Building, Technical Assistance, Information exchange, and Research on topical issues and addressing them amicably.

Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK)

Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK) is a public institution that provides education and training with an emphasis on Cooperative development. The mission of the college was defined and stated as, a national training institute involved in the training personnel of co-operative societies and unions as well as middle cadre government officers who help in the supervision of activities of the movement on behalf of the Ministry in charge of Co-operative Development (COCK Annual Report, 1983). CUK also works with small and medium entrepreneurs Co-operative Enterprises in Kenya to build their capacities and enhance their sustainability.

What you will do – Activities and deliverables

The Communications Advisor will be reporting directly to the Country Program Officer, who is coordinating all project activities at the country level. S/he is also expected to work hand in hand as well as groom the local partners, ACCOSCA and CUK on communications.  On a regular basis the volunteer is expected to travel to the project sites to document project activities for publication.

The volunteer will work directly with the local partners and cooperatives in developing communications strategy and increasing their visibility at national level through social medial channels such as twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.

Objectives

The Volunteer is expected to support build the capacity of the local partner and targeted credit unions to provide innovative services that responds to the need of their members and primary co-operatives to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Furthermore, the role will support the project overall communications as well as support other volunteers to capture and tell their volunteer journey during their mandate in Kenya to contribute towards increasing awareness of the volunteer program and international development among Canadian population.

Deliverables

Co-op support

• Develop and implement an effective project communications strategy for the country and support cooperatives to develop their strategies.
• Develop write and edit, and distribute communications materials/content, including publications, press releases, website content, case studies, success stories, speeches, and other social media content that communicates the projects’s activities, outputs and/or outcomes.
• Support in establishing and maintaining social media platforms for project visibility
• Promote communications materials through appropriate social channels
• Contribute to reporting and capacity building activities
• Maintain digital media archives including photos and videos
• Maintain records of media coverage and collate analytics and metrics.
• Ensure that all communications and marketing material align with organisational and donor requirements
• Track analytics and create reports detailing successes and failures of communications campaigns
• Work with communications and program team members to conceptualize and implement communications strategies and campaigns
• Develop escalation protocols for managing communication crises, should they arise
• Support other volunteers documentation of thier volunteer journey
• Other duties as assigned.

Project Management

• Document all program related information and share with the country Program officer.
• Stay in constant communication with the CPO, partner’s focal person and the co-op managers to obtain the needed information regarding the co-ops.
• Prepare and submit weekly deliverables to the program officer and discuss what you require to complete those tasks .
• Complete monthly reports and times sheets and submit to the volunteer coordinator.

Your qualifications

Education:

• Degree in communications, journalism, or related field from a recognized institution.

Experience:

• Experience with group facilitation and training 
• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and international volunteering
• Proficiency in design and publishing software.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, content management systems, and social media platforms.
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity 
• Excellent organizational and report-writing skills 
• Strong interpersonal and team working skills.
• Written and oral fluency in English
• A sense of proportionality in determining practical approaches to requirements with a focus on substantive value add and beneficiaries.
• Ability to work with a diverse team and stakeholders and experience managing internal teams toward a common objective.
• Ability to develop training and resource materials as well as facilitate capacity building sessions at community levels and partners in development work.
• Ability to work with the marginalized, be flexible to travel to and work with the rural cooperatives, remain cool-headed when there are unexpected challenges and withstand the tests of a rapidly changing environment with resilience and resolve.
• Proactive self-starter with the ability to work independently; need strong ability to set priorities, solve problems, and be resourceful under pressure.

Support package

This is a voluntary assignment. CDF Canada supports volunteers through the provision of a comprehensive package designed to cover a modest and healthy lifestyle, while allowing for effectiveness in the placement:

• Monthly allowance.
• Return-trip international and/or domestic airfare.
• Visa-related costs (if needed).
• International health insurance.
• Vaccination and health-related costs (if needed).
• Interpreter and/or translator (if needed and depending on the position and duration of the assignment).
• Pre-departure support and orientation.
• Support and orientation during the assignment.
• Debriefing upon completion of the assignment.

E-volunteering

Depending on the nature of the placement, volunteers are encouraged to provide e-volunteering support to our local partners before or after their placement.

Engaging Canadians

CDF Canada provides technical and logistical support to young and experienced professionals through volunteer assignments to apply and acquire new skills and knowledge in international co-operative development. We ask each volunteer, regardless of the duration of their mandate, to share their experience during and/or at the end of their assignment either in the country of assignment or in Canada. The experience can be shared by providing stories of human interest and photographs that can be used for social media outreach; Participate in events/conferences or other public engagement activities to share their experience to motivate others.

Application Process

Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume, by applying directly on our recruitment webpage. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Successful candidates will be required to obtain a police-check from their local police or RCMP detachment. All applicants are thanked for their interest in CDF Canada; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.