Bilingual Communications Specialist

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Bilingual Communications Specialist to join our dedicated and talented team in Africa on our mission to create business solutions to poverty!

MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Bilingual Communications Specialist will provide support for the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund (the Fund)’s Communication work in collaboration with its external communications partner based in Africa.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the specialist will act as a liaison with all the Fund’s partners, particularly the communications partner, and will serve as the Fund’s subject matter expert on communications. The role holder will also be the custodian for the successful implementation of the Fund’s communication strategy. This role requires exceptional presentation, oral, and writing skills with meticulous attention to detail, an ability to work well in a fast-paced environment to meet deadlines, assist other MEDA team members with presentations and write ups on short notice, excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to adapt to change. To ensure success, the specialist must be bilingual with high fluency in spoken and written English and French. The successful candidate will be innovative, organized, and self-motivated with a keen interest in driving strategic messaging to key internal and external stakeholders of the Fund to amplify its impact.

The position requires the successful candidate to work closely with the MEDA Comms team, the Fund’s team of technical experts, and the Fund’s consortium partners in order to enhance, implement and regularly evaluate strategic communications plans and strategies which support and progress the Fund’s mandate and vision and presence in the ecosystem.

• Job Status: Full-time, starting in January 2025 to March 31, 2027
• Location: Accra, Ghana | Nairobi, Kenya | Dakar, Senegal
• Reporting Manager: Director of Operations
• Language Skills: fluency in written and spoken English and French

RESPONSIBILITIES

Communication Strategy implementation and delivery (25%)

• Work with the Communications Partner of the Fund to implement the Fund’s communication strategy
• Exercise oversight over strategy implementation pace and advise on key communications approaches that need to be adopted by the Fund to improve its communications work,
• Engage regularly with the Communications Partner in the maintenance and optimization of the Fund’s communication footprints within the ecosystem.
• collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to build positive relationships and reputation for the Fund.

Content and brand asset development, documentation (20%)

Work closely with the to develop content ideas and review such content to ensure alignment with the Fund’s work and strategy. The following will be key tasks:

• Support various communication and branding initiatives that form key components of the Fund’s communications strategy.

• Review the design and production of content for different channels and platforms, such as websites, social media, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, videos, and presentations.

• Support the efficient utilization of social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Website, blogs), SMS ‘text-messaging, graphic/multi-media software (Adobe Suite) and other technology-based communications solutions

• Help to monitor and evaluate the impact of the Fund’s communication activities and campaigns using various metrics and tools and communicate this as needed, in consultation with the Communications Partner

• Ensure adherence to the Fund’s and the Foundation’s brand guidelines, ensuring that the Fund produces high-quality and error-free communication assets.

• Assist with running the Fund’s website, ensure it is updated, and report on website traffic and monitor SEO performance.

• Support the creation of Op-Eds and other communication materials to help inform the ecosystem about the Fund and its impact

Ecosystem engagement support (20%)

• Support MEDA and the Communications Partner to develop and implement a cohesive ecosystem communications strategy
• In consultation with the Communications Partner and Director of Operations, work with the Learning Partner of the Fund to determine what information to disseminate to the ecosystem
• Support the Communications Partner with the amplification of learnings within the Fund and help to advise on the relevant channels to use for such amplification

Project Management (15%)

• Serve as the key liaison between MEDA and the communication partner and manage tasks and resources to achieve planned communication outcomes
• Support the Director of Operations to provide regular Communications updates to the Foundation
• Coordinate with the communications partner to prepare detailed quarterly performance reports summarizing the communication work done during the quarter
• Coordinate with partners to inform them about key communication pieces produced for the Fund and share them appropriately to enhance internal awareness of Fund developments
• Track budget utilization and alignment of communication partner to ensure efficient use of the Fund’s communication budget
• Establish regular check-ins with the Communications Partner to address any challenges they may face in meeting targets

Other Duties (20%)

• Participate in Fund and partner engagement meetings and perform other assigned duties as may be assigned.
• Explore opportunities for cross-partner promotion and content creation
• Provide general support to the MEDA’s communications team and other departments as needed.
• Participate in internal learning meetings, Operations Committee (OC) meetings ensuring that MERL lessons and issues are discussed with relevant teams.
• Carry out additional tasks and responsibilities required as a result of the project's evolving needs.

Any other duties and/or requirements as assigned

REQUIREMENTS

Education: Minimum a master’s degree in communications, international development, or a relevant field.

Experience: At least 5 years of relevant experience in communications design and implementation with relevant communication material samples upon request; previous experience working with an international non-governmental organization (INGO) (highly desired)

Additional Qualifications

• Previous experience in print, video, television or radio production (desired)
• Well versed with utilizing information technology and various social media platforms, as well as managing web-CMS, SMS campaigns and technology-based communications solutions (highly desired
• Superior writing skills with ability to translate data into information and stories
• Fluent in written and spoken English and French

Job Requirements for All MEDA Staff

Organizational Policies and Procedures

• Ensure and adhere to all MEDA management, professional, finance, audit, legal, human capital, security, corporate and other policies as required
• Prepare quarterly and other required internal reports and planning documents
• Complete and participate in all training as required

Organizational Culture

• Appreciation, understanding and commitment to MEDA’s mission of creating business solutions to poverty
• Demonstrate MEDA’s Core Performance Values: Collaboration, Respect, Entrepreneurship and Accountability

Image and Engagement

• Adherence and demonstration of MEDA image according to MEDA values
• Comply with board approved brand strategy
• Promote MEDA thorough speaking engagements, media appearances and convention as required

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis when received. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.

Only successful applicants will be contacted.

MEDA is an equal opportunity employer and accommodations are available during all phases of the recruitment process. We ask that any applicants requiring accommodations make their needs known in advance.

Keywords

Bilingual CommunicationsSpecialistCommunication StrategyContent DevelopmentEcosystem EngagementProject ManagementInternational DevelopmentSocial MediaCommunication AssetsBrandingMonitoringEvaluation