Communications Officer, Lighting Africa Program

Background / General description:

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. We create opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We do so by providing financing to help businesses employ more people and supply essential services, by mobilizing capital from others, and by delivering advisory services to ensure sustainable development.  IFC’s Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) teams work with companies to adopt responsible business practices, which transform markets and improve people's lives. We work with a range of industrial sectors including agribusiness, infrastructure, oil, gas, mining, services and manufacturing.  Across six regional teams, Clean Energy Specialists within the Business Line work to increase investment flows into clean energy by demonstrating the commercial viability of, and removing specific barriers to the scale-up of renewable energy technologies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase access to modern energy services for the poor.  Lighting Africa (www.lightingafrica.org) works to reduce market barriers for the private sector to reach and provide modern lighting to 250 million people in Africa without electricity by 2030. This is in support of achieving the energy access Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with an emphasis on clean energy solutions. Lighting Africa is currently finalizing its pilot phase undertaken in Kenya and Ghana, and wishes to replicate its activities throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Africa faces deep development challenges and the lack of access to reliable energy sources makes these challenges even more daunting. Currently, about 587 million in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) lack access to electricity. Africa’s growing un-electrified households and businesses are estimated to spend annually US$10 billion on low quality fuel-based lighting such as kerosene and candles. Fuel-based lighting is expensive, inefficient, hazardous, and pollutes the environment. Poor quality light negatively affects health, hinders the development of small and medium enterprises, and impedes learning in schools and homes.  There are alternatives to fossil fuel-based lighting. Recent technological advances in compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and in particular light emitting diodes (LED) promise clean, durable, and high-quality lighting as a solution for those who are not yet connected to the electrical grid.  The Lighting Africa program works with lighting product manufacturers, distributors, consumers, financial institutions, development partners, and governments to help build a market for reliable lighting products.  IFC is recruiting a Communications Officer, Lighting Africa Program. This is a key position and plays a strategic role in engaging with the multiple stakeholders that the program interacts with in the development of the off-grid lighting market. The position is based in Nairobi. The incumbent will report to the Lighting Africa Program Manager based in Kenya and the Head of Communications, Sub-Saharan Africa Region, based in Johannesburg. He or she will be part of a regional communications practice group to coordinate activities, share experiences, and contribute to a stronger IFC and World Bank Group brand.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Communications Officer will be leading Lighting Africa’s communications strategy, both external and internal, taking into account the evaluation of the program, the industry and its expanded scope.  The specific responsibilities of this position include:  Communications Strategy • Review Lighting Africa’s communication strategy and assess its impact on the program’s ability to deliver its objectives; • Adapt the communication strategy based on the assessment and feedback from the audience; • Coordinate the implementation of the new communication strategy. Web development • Oversee the development of the Lighting Africa website into an industry knowledge hub, expanding its member base and diversifying its content; • Oversee the re-alignment of the website to reflect Lighting Africa’s new country operations, align the quality assurance section with the Lighting Global website, tag resources and streamline the registration and online questionnaire process; • Working with the web content manager, ensure the consistency, accuracy and adequate cross linking on the Lighting Africa and Lighting Global websites; • Lead the development of a WAP site targeted specifically at end-users in the countries of operation. Knowledge sharing • Oversee the development of a web-based database designed to send program material to specific audiences; • Develop and disseminate Lighting Africa informational content and reports for internal (IFC/WB) and external communications; • Write “Smart Lessons” for internal WBG audiences; • Finalize the web-based Lighting Africa toolkit.  Branding • Regularly review and implement Lighting Africa branding guidelines in line with WBG requirements;  • Manage the brand to ensure consistency between the regional programs and the global program.  Media Relations  • Liaise with media, pitch stories on Lighting Africa’s development impact to national and international media.  • Develop a network of media representatives, including private media outlets and public sector communications representatives; • Conduct media briefings, training as required. Report on Lighting Africa’s media exposure; • Work with local and community media, as part of the consumer education campaign, to support a switch from fuel-based lighting to clean lighting in rural un-electrified areas. Consumer Education • Support the country officers in implementing the Lighting Africa’s consumer education campaign, in collaboration with the Lighting Africa advertising agencies. • Ensure consistent and accurate branding of the Lighting Africa consumer education material. Project Management • Oversee the work of the Communication/Web Consultant • Manage the communication budget of the program • Manage the implementation of the communication strategy work plan • Manage a team of short term consultants • Manage vendor contracts

Selection Criteria:

• Masters degree preferred in communications, social sciences or equivalent; • At least 10 years of professional experience in a communications and outreach role in a development organization or in corporate communications; • Fluency in English and French; • Excellent writing skills, which will be verified during the application process; • Demonstrated Experience in developing and managing web-based platforms and knowledge management systems; • Experience in working in sub-Saharan Africa; • A well-developed network of media contacts in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in East Africa; • Experience in the area of energy access or sustainability more generally would be a plus; • Ability to multitask and be able to organize his/her time in order to achieve business objectives, and take on new tasks at very short notice; • Ability to work independently and take initiative; • Capacity to operate successfully in a fast-paced, and multicultural environment. Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

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