Communications and Advocacy Officer | ReliefWeb

Introduction
Kenya Cancer Association (KENCANSA) is a voluntary run non-profit making organization established in Kenya in 1995 after recognition that Cancer was emerging as a leading cause of death in the country. It was officially registered as a Non-Governmental Organization in 2005. Its core mandate is to raise public awareness on Cancer as well as mobilize stakeholders including the Government to prioritize Cancer in their planning, programming and budgeting. Its other mandates include coordinating and providing leadership to efforts aimed at cancer control and reducing the burden of cancer in Kenya, and participating actively in activities and initiatives geared towards reduction of the cancer burden in Kenya

Scope of the Job:
Under the direct supervision of the Executive Director the Communications and Advocacy Officer will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of KENCANSA’s communications and Advocacy strategy as envisioned in KENCANSA strategic plan and other policy and strategic direction documents. He/she will be responsible for developing annual plans that relate to communication and advocacy to enable the organization achieve its aims and objectives in public relations, advocacy, external relations, partnerships, resource mobilization and fundraising.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Organizational Capacity Development
• Lead the implementation of KENCANSA’s Communication and Advocacy strategy as envisioned in the KENCANSA strategic Plan 2016 -2018.
• Provide technical leadership in the development of communication and advocacy annual operational plans and ensure that substantive work plans and action plan activities are carried out in a timely fashion.
• Provide technical leadership in the building of staff capacity in the understanding and adherence in communication protocols in the organization.
• Support the development and enhancement of KENCANSA’s brand for greater organizational visibility
• Build the capacity of staff on KENCANSA’s branding protocol and ensure adherence to the set branding guidelines.
Communications and Outreach:
• Facilitate the development/ production of KENCANSA communication, information and knowledge sharing materials / instruments;
• Produce communication materials to support resource mobilization and fundraising initiatives such as brochures, appeals, newsletters and annual reports;
• Work closely with various KENCANSA Programs officers to identify priority themes and develop advocacy messages, press briefings, news features, case studies and other communication materials for dissemination through various media;
• Develop all media, publicity, marketing and fundraising messages and the communication materials around them;
• Help with integrating advocacy and communication strategies into project proposals based on the developed organizational strategies.
• Participate in organizing roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions, as needed;
• Search and identify suitable reference materials for KENCANSA’s information database and audio visual library.
Partner Communication:
• Ensure timely, appropriate and quality communication to all partners and Friends of KENCANSA using appropriate communications channels;
• Monitor, evaluate and facilitate appropriate responses to partners’ communications on a regular basis;
• Brief the Executive Director regularly on partner specific communication;
• Support KENCANSA to graduate one-time partners into repeat and long-term supporters through consistent engagement and sharing updates on KENCANSA’s work.
Support to the Relay for Life
Working closely with the Executive Director and the Relay for life committee, Provide support for Relay for Life activities that will include:

• Participate in all fundraising efforts to mainstream communication concepts into proposals to donors and corporate organizations.
• Develop media, publicity, communication and outreach strategies for RFL.
• Support with graphic design, photography and videography pertaining to RFL
• Recruitment of RFL teams
• Ensure adherence to KENCANSA branding and communications guidelines during RFL activities.
• Coordinate volunteer activities during the RFL activities.
• Development and maintenance of content for KENCANSA and RFL website, social and digital media accounts, and ensuring consistency of their information content.
• Facilitate the development of information and Communication knowledge sharing materials to include production of RFL brochures, appeals, newsletters and reports.
• Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences and briefing sessions as needed.
Publications:
• Anchoring elaboration of strategies and plans for publications;
• Contributing to the identification of storylines and cases for publications and articles;
• Contributing to debates on development issues relevant to KENCANSA.
• Mandating and overseeing documentation and case study development;
• Coordinating the translation/ adaptation/ rewriting of information received or disseminated by KENCANSA;
• Printing and dissemination of KENCANSA publications and audio-visual materials;
• Promoting and disseminating KENCANSA advocacy materials for launching key initiatives and publications;
• Responding timely and effectively to inquiries for information from the public;
• Facilitate the documentation of best practices
Websites, Databases and Knowledge Management Systems:
• Contribute to and oversee the design of and interactive KENCANSA website;
• Prepare/ check the content of the website, ensuring consistency of the materials;
• Ensure the development and maintenance of office databases and knowledge management systems;
• Assist in the identification and synthesis of external best practices and lessons learned, directly linked to KENCANSA goals and activities;
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice, including corporate communication repositories, as requested.
Functional competencies:
• Excellent communication skills. Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies;
• Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach/advocacy;
• Proven networking skills, and ability to generate interest in KENCANSA mandate;
• Strong initiative-taker;
• Very effective at multi-tasking;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with clients and partners;
• Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines.

Recruitment Qualifications:
Education:
• A degree in communications, journalism, public relations, social sciences, international relations, or a related field.
Experience:
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience (post-degree) in communications at the national including experience in media relations;
• Experience in on-line outreach and multimedia an asset;
• Experience working in a non-governmental organization a plus
• Good IT skills, including databases and office software packages;
• Familiarity with health issues an asset;
• Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills, with proven ability to meet tight deadlines.