Communications Specialist-East Africa Land Border Programme

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.  In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.  Now, and for the future. 

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is seeking a Communications Specialist for an FCDO-funded Land Border Programme.  Irregular migration and associated criminal activity in East Africa remain a complex and escalating challenge which leads to significant exploitation of vulnerable people on the move.  The planned East Africa Land Border Programme will take a multifaceted approach – integrating ‘prevention’, ‘prepare/protect’ and ‘pursue’. An important purpose of this programme is to support the pursuit of human traffickers and smugglers who are exploiting vulnerable populations on the move.  Initial interventions will take place in the Kenya border regions, with planned and phased expansion to Uganda, Ethiopia and possibly Somalia border areas. 

General Position Summary

The Communications Specialist will be responsible for leading the development of a Stakeholder and Communications strategy (SCS) and overseeing its execution for the East Africa Land Border Programme. They will provide two primary functions: 1) leadership in the development of communications-related programme activities and processes, including media and community-based campaigns, development of surivor stories and testimonies, policy briefs etc and 2) developing external communications on programme learning, progress and impacts for the donor and other stakeholders. Within these will be responsible for the development of messaging, talking points, editorial pieces and internal/external storytelling, management of video production and online presence maintenance, and managing thevisibility of East Africa Land Border Programme’s work among different stakeholders. The Specialist will also support the conceptualization and preparation of the programme’s thought leadership events, in collaboration with programme leadership.

The Communications Specialist must be astute and experienced in managing the communications of sensitive and political projects, developing differentiated communications to multiple stakeholders and managing public relations including responses to any press.

Essential Job Responsibilities

1) Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead the development and implementation of the East Africa Land Border Programme (EALBP) Stakeholder and Strategic Communications Strategy, ensuring alignment with programme objectives and donor expectations.

• Develop clear, consistent messaging and communications products tailored to different stakeholder groups, including government counterparts, consortium partners and the donor.

• Respond to external inquiries and support unified consortium messaging on sensitive programme issues.

• Provide strategic communications advice to programme leadership on risk-aware visibility and stakeholder engagement.

2) Evidence, Learning and Content Development

• Support the preparation of high-quality evidence, learning and communications products for the donor and other stakeholders, ensuring appropriate tailoring, policy alignment and presentation.

• Work closely with the MRELA and programme teams to document programme progress, learning and impact in a clear and accessible format.

• Working with the MRELA team, develop and maintain a structured approach to capturing and disseminating programme learning in line with programme priorities and confidentiality requirements.

• Contribute communications content to regular programme and donor reporting processes.

3) Sensitive Content, Campaigns and Events Management

• Support the design and delivery of communications activities and campaigns, including community-based awareness and prevention initiatives, in coordination with consortium partners.

• Oversee the safe and ethical documentation of programme stories and case studies, including survivor-informed communications developed in collaboration with specialist partners (e.g., HAART), ensuring informed consent and safeguarding standards.

• Plan and coordinate programme learning and thought leadership events, including workshops, briefings and closed-door policy discussions.

• Manage communications-related logistics for events, including content development, coordination with vendors and stakeholder engagement.

4) Programme Coordination and Compliance Support

• Work closely with programme teams and partners to ensure communications activities are aligned with programme implementation plans, safeguarding standards and risk management protocols.

• Support internal coordination of communications inputs across programme components and consortium partners.

• Ensure all communications activities comply with Mercy Corps policies, donor requirements and security and safeguarding protocols.

• Perform other related duties as required to support programme delivery.

Safeguarding responsibilities 

• Actively learns safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Senior Quality and Compliance Manager

Works Directly With: Implementation and Partnership Manager, Programme team, Programme partners and sub-awardees; Regional and Global Communications Teams

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills 

• Recognized qualification in Communications or a relevant field. Masters will be an added advantage.

• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience working in communications or public relations, in not-for -profit organizations.

• Demonstrated experience in communication and storytelling for sensitive or political programmes.

• Excellent track record in copy writing and editing skills, and a portfolio of quality written products for a variety of formats (e.g. blogs, articles, op-eds, press releases).

• Proven experience in developing and executing communications plans.

• Experience in web design & content production (e.g. video and still photography) is a plus.

Success Factors

The Communications Specialist will be a strategic and discreet communicator with sound judgment and the ability to manage communications for complex and politically sensitive programme. They will demonstrate strong analytical and storytelling skills, translating technical programme information into clear, credible and risk-aware communications tailored to diverse stakeholders. Success in this role requires the ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and partners, maintain confidentiality and safeguarding standards, and adapt communications approaches in dynamic operating environments. The individual will be proactive, detail-oriented and solutions-focused, with the ability to balance visibility with risk management while ensuring communications support programme objectives, learning and accountability.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya with potential travel to programme sites/border areas and additional programme countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia). Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning 

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Engagement and Effectiveness  

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics 

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).