Manager, Communications (AFIYA)

Job Summary

The Accelerating Financial Resilience & Insurance for Young African Women in Agrifood Systems (AFIYA) program is a multi-country initiative that seeks to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable young women smallholder farmers and agri-preneurs across eight African countries. AFIYA complements and amplifies existing Mastercard Foundation country programs by embedding innovative insurance and financial inclusion solutions within established initiatives and trusted delivery channels. AFIYA’s core ambition is to enhance the financial security, climate resilience, and entrepreneurial capacity of young women in agriculture, enabling them to sustainably participate in and benefit from agrifood systems.

Job Details

The Manager, Communications will lead the design and delivery of communications for the Accelerating Financial Resilience & Insurance for Young African Women in Agrifood Systems (AFIYA) programme.

The Communications Manager will ensure that the programme:

• Communicates its objectives and progress clearly to partners and stakeholders.
• Documents programme implementation and impact over time.
• Captures lessons on building inclusive agricultural insurance markets.
• Supports engagement with policymakers, industry actors and programme participants.

The role requires a strong storyteller with the ability to translate complex technical work into accessible narratives, while also coordinating communications across a diverse set of partners and stakeholders.

Reports directly to - Senior Manager, Advocacy, Campaigns & Partnerships

Reports indirectly to - Director, Strategic Communications and Engagement and Principal, Innovation for Resilience

Indirect reports - Consultants engaged on projects

Contract Type - Full-time, Permanent

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1. Programme communications strategy and delivery

Lead the development and implementation of the AFIYA communications plan. This includes:

• Oversee communications streams including programme awareness, impact storytelling, thought leadership, youth outreach, and media engagement.
• Map and prioritise key audiences (i.e. programme participants, insurers, policymakers, partners, and development actors) and ensuring communications activities are tailored to their needs and interests.
• Develop and maintain key programme communications materials (programme overview, infographics, digital content, videos, and briefing materials).
• Manage the AFIYA programme presence on FSD Africa’s digital platforms.
• Ensure communications activities are aligned with programme milestones and implementation progress.

The role will support communications activities that help partners and stakeholders understand the programme and its objectives, particularly around agricultural insurance, climate resilience, and financial inclusion for young women. 

2. Impact storytelling and content development

Lead the development of compelling stories and content that document AFIYA’s work and impact.

This includes:

• Identify programme participants, partners and innovations whose stories can be documented over time.
• Produce written, visual, and multimedia content highlighting programme progress and experiences.
• Work with country teams and partners to capture stories from the field.
• Ensure stories elevate the voices and experiences of programme participants in line with Mastercard Foundation communications principles.

3. Knowledge capture and programme learning

Support the documentation and communication of programme lessons, working closely with colleagues in the Strategic Communications & Development Impact teams. Key activities include:

• Capture insights from programme implementation, including product development, insurance adoption, and policy engagement.
• Produce learning briefs, insights, and synthesis materials that document programme experiences.
• Translate technical findings into accessible materials for broader audiences.
• Support the development of knowledge products that share lessons with policymakers, insurers, and development partners.

4. Partner communications coordination

Coordinate communications across programme partners and stakeholders. Key responsibilities include:

• Develop shared messaging frameworks and communications guidance for programme partners.
• Support partners to communicate consistently about the programme.
• Coordinate opportunities to highlight partner contributions and programme progress.
• Ensure communications outputs align with donor brand and approval processes.

5. Media engagement and outreach

Build relationships with media and outreach platforms to support programme visibility. This includes:

• Engage journalists covering agriculture, climate resilience, and financial inclusion.
• Coordinate media briefings, interviews, and field visits.
• Support outreach initiatives through platforms reaching youth and farmers (i.e. broadcast media and youth-focused platforms).

6. Events and stakeholder engagement

Support the planning and delivery of programme events and convenings. Responsibilities include:

• Organise programme-related workshops, convenings and partner events.
• Support participation in sector events and industry forums.
• Coordinate communications materials for programme engagements.

7. Consultant and production management

Manage external suppliers supporting programme communications. This includes:

• Writers, designers, videographers, and media producers.
• Production of digital, video, and broadcast content.
• Coordination of storytelling and media activities across programme countries.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Specialist Level for all the competencies listed below:

ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning, self-starting, taking initiative, driving change and leading development
 

ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results
 

PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values, viewpoints, or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others
 

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of experience preferably in Communications, Journalism, Agriculture, Development Studies, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least 6 years professional experience in communications, storytelling, or knowledge management roles.
• Experience working in agriculture, rural development, food systems, or climate resilience programmes.
• Strong understanding of the challenges facing smallholder farmers and agrifood systems in Africa, particularly in relation to climate risk, financial access, and rural livelihoods.
• Strong writing and storytelling skills with experience producing content for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to translate technical programme outputs, research findings, or policy work into clear and accessible communications materials.
• Experience managing communications activities across multi-partner programmes or complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working with media, digital platforms, or broadcast channels (television, radio, or digital storytelling) to reach rural or youth audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage external consultants and creative suppliers (writers, designers, videographers, media producers).

Desirable

• Experience working on gender and youth issues in agriculture or rural livelihoods.
• Experience in communications related to financial inclusion, insurance, or financial sector development.
• Experience working with development partners or donor-funded programmes.
• Experience engaging with policymakers, regulators, or industry actors.
• Languages: French, Swahili and/or other African languages.

Personal attributes

• Self-starter with strong initiative and problem-solving ability.
• Resourceful and able to work independently while coordinating with multiple teams.
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-moving, multi-stakeholder programme environment.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: 

FSDAi is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.

About Company

FSD Africa

https://fsdafrica.org/

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone. FSD Africa Investments, provides early-stage, risk-bearing, catalytic and patient capital to inventive commercial organisations in order to stimulate capital flows in support of green economic growth benefiting people and planet. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.