Key skills

Strategic Communication

Content Development

Media Relations

Crisis Communication

Social Media Management

Public Speaking

Stakeholder Engagement

Additional/Preferred Skills

Digital Content Creation

Social Media Strategy

Crisis Communication

Data Visualization

Audience Analysis

Brand Storytelling

Media Relations

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Communications

Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing

Master's Degree in Communications

Master's Degree in Public Relations

Master's Degree in Marketing

Certified Public Relations Specialist

Officer - Communications Specialist

ICRISAT seeks applications from dynamic Mali nationals as Officer - Communications Specialist within the Communications Program. . This position will be based in Bamako, Mali. The incumbent will play a central role in enhancing the visibility of ICRISAT’s work in West Africa by developing and disseminating compelling content that builds awareness and promotes the organization’s impact, research achievements, and partnerships to diverse target audiences. These include policymakers, research partners, media, farming communities, and the general public with a special focus on funders. The position will support strategic communication, media engagement, digital presence, and knowledge sharing aligned with ICRISAT’s mission to improve livelihoods and food systems in dryland regions.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions a prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandate crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on the drylands and in protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit - www.icrisat.org

Responsibilities:

Content Development & Storytelling:

  • Identify, document, and develop human interest stories, success case studies, impact features, news articles, and blogs from field activities and research programs.

  • Work closely with scientists, project leads, and field teams to translate technical information into accessible and engaging formats.

  • Produce multimedia content (photos, short videos, infographics) to enhance digital storytelling. 

Media Relations & Public Engagement:

  • Develop and sustain strong relationships with local and regional media outlets; serve as the primary press liaison with key organizations, journalists, and correspondents; and manage press inquiries, including tracking and responding in a timely manner.

  • Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, and background briefs.

  • Organize media visits and coverage around key project milestones and events.

Digital & Social Media:

  • Help manage and grow the Institute’s social media platforms in line with ICRISAT’s global digital strategy.

  • Curate and publish timely, relevant content tailored for online audiences.

  • Monitor trends, engagement, and analytics to optimize outreach and visibility.

Event Communication Support:

  • Support communication needs for conferences, field days, workshops, and policy dialogues.

  • Provide branding, messaging, and media coverage support before, during, and after events.

Internal Communication & Coordination:

  • Collaborate with HQ and other regional communication teams to ensure consistency in messaging and branding.

  • Contribute to organizational reports, donor updates, newsletters, and communication strategies.

  • Assist with knowledge product dissemination in collaboration with research and M&E teams.

  • Work with the Director of Communications and Communication Officers in other countries and at HQ to implement the Center’s overall communications strategy, particularly through forward planning of activities.


  • Any other duties as assigned by the Country Director.

Essential Criteria:

  • Master’s degree in communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Development Communication, or any related field.

  • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in communication roles, ideally in international development, agriculture, or research organizations.

  • Demonstrated ability to write clear, engaging, and accurate content for diverse audiences.

  • Experience producing and editing communication collateral including videos, brochures, posters and other visual communication.

  • Proven ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and stakeholders across time zones.

  • Good English writing and verbal communication skills and fluency in French

  • Solid digital literacy including knowledge of social media platforms, CMS tools (e.g., WordPress), and graphic design tools (e.g., Canva or Adobe Suite).

  • Willingness to travel within the country and region as needed.

Desirable Criteria:

  • Proficiency in French and English is mandatory, and any other local language would be an added advantage.

  • Experience working with agricultural research institutions, Government, CGIAR centers, NGOs, or donor-funded projects.

  • Skills in photography, basic video production/editing, and storytelling for development.

  • Understanding of issues related to climate change, food security, gender, and sustainable agriculture in West Africa.

  • Knowledge of monitoring communication impact through analytics and reporting.

General:

This is a contractual role for a period of 24 months (2 years), renewable based on the performance of the incumbent and the institute’s continuing need for the position.

How to apply:

The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. Shortlisting will start from 01 March 2026. All Applicants should apply with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining a progressive and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or whether they have a disability.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.