Communications Officer Job at The World Bank

The World Bank’s strategy to help end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity in Africa takes shape across an array of programs tailored to the circumstances and needs of each country. Working with governments and other partners, the Bank is supporting delivery of basic services, extending safety nets, financing infrastructure, assisting small farmers, and improving business conditions.  Investments in human capacity and in strengthened institutions underlie many of the development strategies.

Africa's recently robust growth rates are slowing due to lower international prices for oil and other commodities on which a number of countries depend. Meanwhile, stability and security concerns shape the Bank's work in eighteen countries categorized as Fragile and Conflict-affected States (FCS), where programs aim to accelerate state rebuilding and lower economic disparities among regions and groups.

Kenya’s economic performance remains solid, with the relatively strong growth rates. Meanwhile, the government is advancing a devolution policy, emphasizing strengthened local government and greater citizen participation.

The current International Development Association (IDA) portfolio in Kenya, one of the largest,  amounts to $6 billion invested in 29 national projects and 8 regional projects. The projects are mainly focused in the areas of transport, energy, water, urban, health, public sector management and social protection. Given the critical economic role that Kenya plays in East Africa, the Kenya office is a center for a range of development activities, functioning as an informal hub for the surrounding country offices.  The Bank office in Nairobi is not only one of the largest, but one of the most visible in all Africa.

Africa External Communications and Partnerships (AFREC) employs an extended team of professionals in World Bank Headquarters and across country offices to support the overarching goal of advancing inclusive growth in Africa. AFREC uses the full array of communications tools and methodologies to build awareness and understanding, and mobilize support for development goals. Work programs cover dissemination through traditional and online media, relationship building, analysis of political and project risks, and design of programs to manage those risks. A strategic renewal within AFREC emphasizes closer alignment with operations in the region, and coordination with the Bank’s External and Corporate Relations network, to ensure that AFREC services are critical to regional and corporate priorities, and that they employ state-of-the art communications tools to disseminate information, build understanding, and connect the Bank to a variety of actors involved in poverty reduction and development.

Recognizing that Africa’s economic and social context is rapidly changing, and that communications technologies have revolutionized the ways that information travels, AFREC is building a team of dynamic and innovative professionals prepared to use traditional and digital tools, including social media and multi-media production, to shape the debate on development priorities and trade-offs.

The Communications Officer will be based in the Bank Office in Nairobi, strengthening the communications program there, with particular attention to providing strategic communications support to complex development projects the Bank supports in Kenya and using social media platforms for strategic outreach and feedback on the Bank's engagement in the country. Working with AFREC professionals in the region and in Washington, the Communications Officer will also support corporate communications priorities, including dissemination of World Bank flagship publications, executive visits to the region, and the Bank's Annual and Spring meetings. 

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Communications Officer plans, develops, and implements effective communications and outreach strategies to support the WBG’s corporate, internal, and operational priorities, using the full range of modern communications tools including social media, digital publishing, and multi-media production.  It is critical that the communications officer be equipped to gauge risks associated with complex projects and to design and implement strategies to minimize those risks.

• Strategies: Responsible for significant portions of planning, design, and implementation of strategies to promote effective communications with external and internal audiences on Bank-financed operations, research products, and campaigns. Helps determine the most effective content and communications interventions to address particular challenges.

• Risk management: On high-risk operations in the country, must monitor perceptions, track shifts in opinion, and respond to inquiries, while publishing and updating key facts about project goals and milestones. Must be able to interact with operations staff and project teams, organizing meetings with media and civil society as appropriate.  Must be able to take the pulse of the country and advise country teams, with analyses on the political economy, especially during election years, and regular monitoring of the media. 

• Relationships: Must be prepared to identify opinion leaders and influential organizations in Kenya, and guide a strategy of engagement with these various stakeholders, which might range from parliamentarians to faith-based organizations to business associations. Responsible for convening stakeholder groups for consultations and structured dialogues around projects, knowledge outputs, and country development priorities.

• Products: Responsible for planning and delivering a range of written products on the Bank's operational goals, results and knowledge. Outputs range from traditional press releases and Op-Eds to web features, brochures, Q&As, briefing notes, and speeches. Responsible for updating the World Bank's internal and external websites for the country.

• Events: Coordinates communications activities and events ranging from press conferences to large seminars and town hall meetings, involving external and/or internal audiences.

• Representation: Must be prepared to represent the Bank, and Nairobi office, before external and internal audiences, explaining WBG policies and operational goals.

• Technical and advisory support: Advises Bank managers and project teams on trends, news developments, or changing circumstances that may impact the WBG and its work, and helps determine strategic responses. Provides regular communication support to WBG operational teams and government implementing agencies to assure that project goals are well-explained and that affected stakeholders are engaged at all stages.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Communication Strategy and Execution in International Development: Demonstrates a working proficiency to lead the planning, development, and execution of a communication strategy for moderately complex projects. Leads research efforts to identify and map project stakeholders or intended audiences; leads media and audience outreach, identifying audience needs. Independently implements communication strategies for moderately complex projects and can use feedback from evaluation tools to strengthen programs. Helps others develop this competency. A key skill in this area will be the adoption of digital strategies and marshalling of social marketing techniques to respond to the online communications environment that is increasingly embraced by Kenyan audiences. 

• Broad Business Thinking: Capable of distilling an in-depth understanding of the long term implications of decisions, both for Kenya and for the Bank. Involves the key players in identifying operational needs, challenges and immediate solutions. Ensures that decisions are supported by relevant stakeholders and can explain the business case for decisions.

• Client Understanding and Advising:  Looks at issues from the client’s perspective and advocates for clients. Works with others across the VPU to define client needs and develop the best approaches to meet them. Asks probing questions to understand unmet needs. Focuses on achieving sustainable results for clients, and proposes solutions to mitigate risks.

• Content Development and Editing: Takes full responsibility for the development of content for dissemination. Can ensure the development of communications products meeting WBG standards on structure, clarity, and persuasiveness.

• Social Media, Information Channels, and Communication Tools:  Demonstrates working knowledge of current media channels and tools, including social media. Modifies communication strategies and products to leverage innovative communication tools and channels.

• Relationship Management, Political Awareness and Diplomacy: Builds strategic relationships with critical internal and external constituencies, fostering partnerships that strengthen support for development objectives and mitigate reputational risks. Maintains and leverages high-level communication networks and contacts within key constituencies. Provides guidance to other internal WBG groups on how to best manage critical relationships.

• Lead and Innovate: Contributes new insights into development challenges and fashions solutions to complex problems. Adapts as circumstances require.

• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries: Appropriately involves others in decision-making and communicates with key stakeholders. Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved. Actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches, displaying a sense of mutuality and respect. Integrates WBG perspective into work.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

For further details and to apply, please go to www.worldbank.org/careers and under “current job openings” seek vacancy number 160038. Deadline for applications January 28, 2016.