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Africa Communications Manager

Center for International Forestry Research

Center for International Forestry Research

Marketing & Communications
Nairobi, Kenya
Posted on Aug 22, 2025

1. Strategy.

  • Manage Communications operational plan aligned with CIMMYT’s mission, vision, and strategic goals to build reputation and maximize the policy and development impact of its research across the African Region.
  • Provide strategic communications to support resource mobilization efforts in the region, ensuring global impact.
  • Work on impactful donor communications plans with the Donor Relations and Fundraising Support services team as part of donors’ cultivation plans.
  • Represent the organization at high-profile regional and international forums, such as UN assemblies and COP events, to amplify CIMMYT’s mission and impact."
  • Provide input into Chapter global strategy and operational plan.
  • Keep abreast of the latest communication trends and technologies, ensuring that the organization is using the most effective tools and strategies.
  • Manage and implement crisis communication plans to ensure that the organization is prepared to respond to negative events, in coordination with the Global Head of Communications.

2. Creative Hub.

  • Ensure consistent brand expression and powerful visuals through regional creative services.
  • Ensure the creation of high-quality content for various channels, including internal communications, executive communications, websites, social media, email, and publications.
  • Establish and enforce editorial policies and procedures, in line with C&O global policies and procedures.
  • Translate CIMMYT’s mission and projects in concrete, tangible story lines with high human interest.
  • Ensure that the company's brand voice is consistent across all regions and communication channels.
  • Manages workflows, including project scoping, prioritization, and scheduling, to ensure timely execution of all requirements.

3. Media Relations.

  • Coordinate with Media Relations Manager all activities involving programs or projects from Africa, including media events, speeches, interviews, press releases or any other activity related to media management.
  • Develop engaging content for media channels, such as press releases, news articles, feature stories, and interviews. Craft compelling narratives that highlight CIMMYT's impact, research breakthroughs, and human-interest stories.

4. Social & Digital Communications.

  • Manage digital communications to support global communications goal of positioning CIMMYT as a leader within food and agriculture within the African Region.
  • Lead innovation in social and digital communications in the region by driving digital transformation, implementing AI-driven content strategies, and managing campaigns; oversee the development of enterprise-wide communications systems and platforms to strengthen reach and impact according to the global communications strategy.
  • Manage and curate content calendars to optimize content for different platforms and formats Plan and execute social and digital campaigns to achieve specific objectives related to Africa’s programs and projects.
  • Prepare quarterly reports including CIMMYT’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for social media, media, website, and publications.
  • Monitor and evaluate CIMMYT’s communications and outreach digital platforms and regularly provide analysis and recommendations for improvements.

5. Internal Communications.

  • Support strategic decisions on internal communications channels and tools, including townhalls, intranet, newsletters, etc.

6. Executive Communications.

  • Coordinate with the Executive Communications Manager all activities related to the Executive team and programs/projects developed in Africa.
  • Manage systems to ensure quality assurance and streamline event engagement for leadership team members.
  • Provide guidance and support to senior leaders on communication matters, including media relations, crisis communications, and public speaking.

7. Regional Communications.

  • Ensure all regions contribute to building reputation and maximizing the policy and development impact of CIMMYT’s impact across the main target regions, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

8. Administration.

  • Develop and Manage workflow and plans of CIMMYT’s Communication unit for Africa and ensure all output and deliverables are produced cost-efficiently and according to predetermined timelines, guaranteeing internal clients’ satisfaction.
  • Create a high-performing team that strives for excellence and supports the CIMMYT mission for impact with a culture of shared accountability and results orientation.
  • Develop and constantly update a global roster of cost-efficient, high-quality freelance editors, translators, designers, web programmers, and other specialists.
  • Mentor and empower the Africa communication team to pursue innovative approaches and set demanding metrics for engagement that deliver results in a fast-changing, competitive external communications environment, and build the organization’s brand and contribute to succession planning.
  • Develop and manage the communications budget/SAS Africa, ensuring resources are allocated effectively.
  • Conduct recruiting and onboarding processes to expand the team as needed. ·
  • Promote values and behaviors, to uphold CIMMYT’s culture in the organization.