AGRA

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Job Reference: AO/COMMS/02/2024

AGRA and its Work

AGRA is an African-led institution that actively supports the drive towards inclusive agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems. We do this by empowering the continent’s 33 million smallholder farming households to transform their agriculture from a struggle to survive to profitable businesses. The continent’s farmers regularly face challenges, and we aspire to provide uniquely African solutions that respond to their agricultural and environmental challenges, leading to increased harvests for reduced hunger and more income. 

Working in alignment with the development priorities of our focus countries, we enable farmers to access improved and high-yielding seeds, gain knowledge on sustainable farming, and linkages to profitable markets. 

In our work, we aspire to build the alliances, partnerships, and networks required to drive an inclusive agricultural transformation. We work with our partners to create an equitable youth-friendly environment that harnesses the youth dividend on the continent to drive growth and facilitate open employment opportunities for young women and men. We achieve our key objectives through a focus on the following four areas of intervention:

1. Policy and state capability – We support governments in creating an enabling environment for private sector involvement in agricultural transformation. 
2. Seed systems – We trigger higher productivity by increasing the availability and access to improved seeds by farmers allowing them to increase their harvests for food security and better incomes. 
3. Sustainable farming – We support farmers in building resilient farming systems for sustained high yields through interventions such as mechanization and irrigation. 
4. Inclusive markets and trade – We work to increase the linkages between farmers, and other market actors for a positive, sustained cycle of commercialization and reinvestment.

Implementing Our New Strategy Through People

People are the heart of our organization and remain the true drivers of our delivery and our impact.

We work with incredible people and partners who have roots in farming communities across the continent combined with an inclusive and diverse workforce from over 24 nationalities. Our commitment to a call to action goes beyond ourselves as we arise to catalyze African Food Systems transformation by being Deeply collaborative, Executing Excellently, Sincerely Constructive and Increasingly Entrepreneurial aligned with our values of (I-RISE; Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship and Equity).

We are looking for people who are passionate about Africa to join our innovative, growing, and multidisciplinary team. Together, we can grow Africa’s food systems improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Want to join us?

The Position

Advocacy Officer Job Reference: AO/COMMS/02/2024

The Advocacy Officer will collaborate with internal teams and external partners to effectively engage key stakeholders around institutional advocacy themes, mobilize support, and achieve a shared position in line with continental food systems agenda. Reporting to the Head – Advocacy and external Engagements and in close coordination with the Policy and Advocacy Unit, the ideal candidate will support AGRA’s engagements and ambitions in the countries where we work and at regional level and also work closely with Monitoring and Evaluation and Knowledge Management teams to amplify AGRA’s, advocacy agenda in line with the country and continental vision 2065.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify and share best practices and case studies for effective advocacy work to ensure AGRA is continuously positioning right in the countries where we work.

• Support the generation and execution of advocacy campaigns with key internal and external stakeholders and agencies.

• Build and maintain a database of relevant institutional stakeholders to foster collaboration and support for advocacy initiatives across key strategic themes that will accelerate progress toward advocacy goals

• Develop and implement engagement strategies to effectively promote the organization’s mission and initiatives.

• Facilitate advocacy training materials for AGRA staff to ensure capacity to execute.

• Organize and coordinate advocacy events, workshops, and campaigns to facilitate dialogue and drive measurable action.

• Working with other teams, develop and coordinate the production of compelling communication materials, including, reports, press releases, articles, and social media content to enhance engagement efforts.

• cross-functional projects and initiatives that require advocacy and engagement expertise.

• Support the Unit and Division to execute advocacy communication plans that would trigger a Foods Systems transformation at the country and regional level. This will involve working with advocacy experts in government, non-state actors (especially civil society farmers’ organizations, and the private sector), with a focus to communications and engagements and development partners to stimulate dialogue and action in service of the African Food System.

• Working with Country Plans to support critical stakeholders to lead and leverage the communications advocacy agenda for select priority.

• Develop monthly content plans targeted to key audiences and support country teams to execute plans.
• Establish & track/report on relevant metrics and tools to monitor and evaluate the impact of advocacy and engagement strategies.

Key Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Master’s degree in international relations, Political Science, Economics, Development Studies, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
• Knowledge and experience in project management and report writing.
• Ability to translate program-based concepts into effective innovative solutions.
• Multi-media experience and working knowledge of digital platforms.
• Ability to translate program-based concepts into effective innovative solutions.
• Senior-level management experience in advocacy or public relations with solid expertise in working with proven stakeholder engagement tools and practices.
• Demonstrated understanding of Africa’s policy and political economy landscape as it relates to agriculture and food systems.
• Must be great at execution with international expertise.
• Knowledge of working with or in multi-lateral or bilateral organizations.

If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, kindly submit your application with a detailed CV (including your e-mail and telephone contacts) to recruit@agra.org. Please quote the job reference number in the subject line of the application e-mail.

Applications must be received on or before 27th February 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For more information on the AGRA, visit www.agra.org.

AGRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer