Engagement and Communications Specialist

This position can be based in Kenya, Rwanda or Ethiopia.

About the Program:

The Resilience and Adaptation Mainstreaming Program (RAMP) is managed by WRI's Adaptation Finance team. RAMP builds the institutional capacity of vulnerable country governments to better manage climate change risks and access adaptation finance. It helps build capacity in ministries of finance, planning and economics in climate vulnerable countries, and it does so in full partnership with local universities and institutional technical partners such as the World Bank, UNDP, NDCP and others. RAMP’s pilot countries for 2023 are all in Africa, and include Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. WRI’s Adaptation Finance team is part of the Climate Resilience Practice, which is under the Center for Equitable Development.

We work with governments, academia, and the private sector to build climate risk management and adaptation solutions into all investment, budgeting, and policy decisions. We also work with the IMF, World Bank, and other DFIs on diagnostics, tools, and financing. Finally, we work with civil society organizations and local communities to better leverage and manage climate funds to build climate resilience. For more details, please explore these links on Adaptation Finance, the Climate Resilience Practice, and the Center for Equitable Development.

RAMP is also fully integrated into WRI’s Africa program, especially its third strategic pillar called Institutional and Economic Transformation.  We maintain a regional hub office in Ethiopia and offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.

**Job Highlight:
**
As an Engagement and Communications Specialist, you will assist with executing RAMP’s engagement strategy across our countries in Africa. This includes supporting day-to-day partner engagement; virtual and in-person events; providing recommendations for speakers, agendas, and formats; developing and assisting with communications and promotion; managing invitees; and managing logistics. Your capacity to communicate well with a diverse range of stakeholders, as well as your experience with international development issues and interest in climate change adaptation will be critical to succeeding in this role. You will be the “go-to” team member for engaging stakeholders in a broad and growing coalition of universities, governments, and NGOs. As such, you will be expected to make independent decisions in complex situations. In addition, you will support RAMP’s communications efforts. This will involve implementing the communications strategy, boosting engagement on social media channels, developing content for country story articles and blogs, and working with WRI’s core and country communications teams. You will report to the Climate Adaptation Associate to be hired in early 2023 and based in Nairobi. You will also be managed by the Adaptation Finance Senior Associate of the Adaptation Finance team in the Climate Resilience Practice and by the Director for Climate Resilience in Africa. You will be supported by the WRI Climate Resilience Practice and the Africa regional climate team, both of which are made up of seasoned climate adaptation, resilience, and finance professionals.

**What will you do:

Engagement and Events Organization (40%):**

• Support the RAMP team in executing its engagement strategy for African ministries of finance, universities, and NGOs in 2023countries and any additional countries RAMP may expand into
• Work with other team members to organize virtual and in-person international events, including conferences, workshops, webinars, high-level meetings, and more routine program quarterly meetings
• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government, academia, and civil society, and private sector
• Liaise with Africa regional team on engagement priorities and progress, particularly to ensure coordination/alignment with regional strategy
• Recommend approaches for engaging key decision makers and thought leaders
• Serve as a point-of-contact for key stakeholders and ensure timely outreach and responses to requests
• Manage invitations, speakers, agendas, and day-of support for key events. · Support and expand constituent management system, including data entry, record analysis, and reporting

Communications (40%):

• Coordinate, write and edit communication products such as targeted emails, regular email updates and newsletters, in close collaboration with WRI communications staff
• Create branded presentations for events, webinars, etc. and support audience mobilization · Develop content for country story articles, blogs, and other written products

Administrative Support (20%):

• Procure and oversee relevant events-related contracts and services (venues, translation, printing, catering, etc.)
• Support travel and expense reimbursements arrangements for participants
• Schedule and support facilitation of regular external stakeholder meetings and dissemination of key action items
• Support organization and upkeep of project management in Asana as necessary

What will you need:

• Education: You have a completed bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy, International Development, Environmental Science, Economics, Communications, or another related field
• Experience: You have 3+ years of relevant full-time work experience
• You have demonstrable communication skills, including written and oral communication and presentation experience
• You have experience developing and executing a communications strategy
• You have experience organizing virtual and in-person events
• Knowledge of the current state of climate change adaptation, policy, and finance at the international or or national levels (particularly in Africa) is desirable
• Experience working with diverse audiences, such as global and national policymakers, researchers, and non-native English speakers is desirable.

**Potential Salary:

**Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of March 28, 2023. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US.
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organisation with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work.
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI.
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

About Us:

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. We are 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. We 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.     
The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our Human Resources team carefully reviews all applications.