Regional Communications Officer job at Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA )

Background

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) is a regional feminist network comprising women’s rights organizations and activists working to advance gender equality, women’s rights, peace, security, and social justice across the Greater Horn of Africa. SIHA works in partnership with grassroots organizations, civil society actors, and regional and international stakeholders to strengthen feminist movements, promote women’s leadership, prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, and influence policies and practices that advance the rights of women and girls. SIHA implements a diverse portfolio of regional and country-level programmes funded by a range of institutional donors and implemented across multiple countries in the region. These programmes span humanitarian response, women, peace and security, governance, movement building, economic justice, research, advocacy, and organizational strengthening. Through its regional secretariat and country teams, SIHA works closely with partner organizations to ensure high-quality programme delivery, accountability, learning, and sustainable impact for women and girls across the region.

Summary of the Position

SIHA is seeking an experienced and creative Regional Communications Officer to join its Regional Secretariat. The successful candidate will play a key role in implementing SIHA’s regional communications strategy, strengthening SIHA’s visibility, influence, and public engagement while amplifying the voices, leadership, and experiences of women and girls across the Greater Horn of Africa. Working closely with the Regional Director, Regional Programme Director, country teams, and the Communications and Advocacy team, the Regional Communications Officer will lead the development and dissemination of high-quality communications products across digital and traditional platforms. The ideal candidate should have at least five (5) years of experience in civil society or non-governmental organizations, with expertise in communications and advocacy, media and content creation, publishing, and digital communications. The successful candidate should be an excellent writer with strong knowledge of the Greater Horn of Africa, an understanding of the challenges facing women and girls, and the ability to develop engaging content and communications campaigns for diverse audiences. Experience with social media management, digital safety and security, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Communications and Visibility: Lead the implementation of SIHA’s regional communications strategy and annual communications plans to strengthen the organization’s visibility, brand, reputation, and influence. Ensure communications activities support SIHA’s strategic priorities, advocacy objectives, fundraising efforts, and programme outcomes while promoting consistent messaging across the organization.
• Content Development and Publications: Coordinate the development, editing, design, and dissemination of high-quality communications products, including publications, annual reports, newsletters, impact stories, policy briefs, fact sheets, press releases, web stories, blogs, opinion articles, speeches, and other print and digital materials. Work closely with programme, advocacy, and country teams to translate programme results, evidence, research, and learning into compelling communications products for diverse audiences.
• Digital Communications and Brand Management: Manage SIHA’s digital communications platforms, including the organizational website and social media channels, ensuring they remain current, engaging, secure, and aligned with SIHA’s brand identity. Ensure all externally facing products maintain consistent language, messaging, visual identity, and organizational branding across regional and country platforms.
• Internal Communications and Country Support: Work closely with country teams, programme staff, associates, and consultants to strengthen communications planning and implementation across SIHA’s regional portfolio. Provide technical guidance and editorial support to country offices; coordinate the collection of stories and communication materials; coordinate translations where required; and strengthen staff capacity in communications, branding, and digital engagement.
• Media, Advocacy, and Public Engagement: Strengthen SIHA’s engagement with regional and international media, partners, and stakeholders by supporting media outreach, public campaigns, advocacy initiatives, and strategic communications activities. Develop communications products that amplify feminist voices, highlight the experiences and leadership of women and girls, and influence public discourse, social norms and policy across the Greater Horn of Africa. Monitor emerging communications trends, including online safety, digital advocacy, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and advise on appropriate communications responses.
• Communications Coordination and Knowledge Management: Coordinate communications consultants, photographers, designers, translators, and other external service providers as required to ensure timely delivery of high-quality communications products. Maintain an organized repository of communications materials, photographs, videos, publications, and branding resources, while documenting lessons learned, good practices, and organizational achievements to strengthen institutional memory and support organizational learning. Support the development of visual content, multimedia products, and digital assets that strengthen SIHA’s communications, advocacy, fundraising, and donor visibility

Required Qualifications and Competencies

• Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations, Marketing, International Development, or another relevant discipline. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and substantial relevant professional experience will also be considered.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in communications within civil society, non-governmental organizations, or international development organizations. Demonstrated experience in communications and advocacy, media and content creation, publishing, digital communications, and campaign development is required. Experience working on gender equality, women’s rights, or social justice issues within the Greater Horn of Africa is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic communications, branding, media engagement, digital communications, content development, website management, and social media platforms. A strong understanding of the Greater Horn of Africa, the challenges facing women and girls, and feminist communications approaches is required. Knowledge of digital safety, online advocacy, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence is an added advantage.
• Excellent writing, editing, storytelling, and communication skills, with the ability to develop compelling content for diverse audiences. Strong skills in media and content creation, campaign development, visual communication, and layout and design. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, and work effectively under tight deadlines while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, website content management systems, and major social media platforms is required. Experience using graphic design, photo and video editing, digital publishing, and content management tools is highly desirable.
• Creative, proactive, and highly organized, with excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills. Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment, with the ability to work collaboratively across multicultural teams while upholding SIHA’s feminist values and commitment to women’s rights.

SIHA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and feminist workplace. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, religion, or any other protected status. As a women’s rights organization, qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates currently residing in Africa, particularly those with demonstrated knowledge of and experience working in the Greater Horn of Africa.

• Strategic Communications and Visibility: Lead the implementation of SIHA’s regional communications strategy and annual communications plans to strengthen the organization’s visibility, brand, reputation, and influence. Ensure communications activities support SIHA’s strategic priorities, advocacy objectives, fundraising efforts, and programme outcomes while promoting consistent messaging across the organization.
• Content Development and Publications: Coordinate the development, editing, design, and dissemination of high-quality communications products, including publications, annual reports, newsletters, impact stories, policy briefs, fact sheets, press releases, web stories, blogs, opinion articles, speeches, and other print and digital materials. Work closely with programme, advocacy, and country teams to translate programme results, evidence, research, and learning into compelling communications products for diverse audiences.
• Digital Communications and Brand Management: Manage SIHA’s digital communications platforms, including the organizational website and social media channels, ensuring they remain current, engaging, secure, and aligned with SIHA’s brand identity. Ensure all externally facing products maintain consistent language, messaging, visual identity, and organizational branding across regional and country platforms.
• Internal Communications and Country Support: Work closely with country teams, programme staff, associates, and consultants to strengthen communications planning and implementation across SIHA’s regional portfolio. Provide technical guidance and editorial support to country offices; coordinate the collection of stories and communication materials; coordinate translations where required; and strengthen staff capacity in communications, branding, and digital engagement.
• Media, Advocacy, and Public Engagement: Strengthen SIHA’s engagement with regional and international media, partners, and stakeholders by supporting media outreach, public campaigns, advocacy initiatives, and strategic communications activities. Develop communications products that amplify feminist voices, highlight the experiences and leadership of women and girls, and influence public discourse, social norms and policy across the Greater Horn of Africa. Monitor emerging communications trends, including online safety, digital advocacy, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and advise on appropriate communications responses.
• Communications Coordination and Knowledge Management: Coordinate communications consultants, photographers, designers, translators, and other external service providers as required to ensure timely delivery of high-quality communications products. Maintain an organized repository of communications materials, photographs, videos, publications, and branding resources, while documenting lessons learned, good practices, and organizational achievements to strengthen institutional memory and support organizational learning. Support the development of visual content, multimedia products, and digital assets that strengthen SIHA’s communications, advocacy, fundraising, and donor visibility

• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic communications, branding, media engagement, digital communications, content development, website management, and social media platforms.
• Strong understanding of the Greater Horn of Africa, the challenges facing women and girls, and feminist communications approaches.
• Knowledge of digital safety, online advocacy, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
• Excellent writing, editing, storytelling, and communication skills.
• Strong skills in media and content creation, campaign development, visual communication, and layout and design.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, and work effectively under tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, website content management systems, and major social media platforms.
• Experience using graphic design, photo and video editing, digital publishing, and content management tools.
• Creative, proactive, and highly organized.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multicultural teams.

• Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations, Marketing, International Development, or another relevant discipline. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and substantial relevant professional experience will also be considered.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in communications within civil society, non-governmental organizations, or international development organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in communications and advocacy, media and content creation, publishing, digital communications, and campaign development.
• Experience working on gender equality, women’s rights, or social justice issues within the Greater Horn of Africa is highly desirable.