Africa Practice is a mission-led strategic consulting firm advising investors and development partners across the continent. Our mission is to shape a prosperous Africa that inspires the world. For over 20 years, we have been partnering with global investors, policy-makers, development partners and other changemakers to drive transformation on the continent.
Our insights and advocacy solutions are rooted in detailed systems and stakeholder understanding. We identify, generate, and analyse human-centred systems and data to design impactful advocacy interventions. We deliver our world-class insights and advocacy solutions through our local presence.
We operate as one company, with a diverse team working on a hybrid basis in Abuja, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Gaborone, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, and London. We are risk analysts, development economists, advocates, storytellers, data scientists, policy experts, systems thinkers and creative minds. Over 80% of our staff are African and over 50% are women. We have been a signatory to the UN Global Compact since 2021 and we are actively working to achieve B-Corp status.
Job Title: Senior Consultant, Advocacy
Contract: Full time; 2 years fixed term, renewable
Remuneration: Competitive, based on experience and competence
Location: Abuja/Lagos/ Hybrid
Reports to: Associate Director
The role
Nigeria is a priority market for many of our clients, both in the private sector and in the philanthropic sector. We are seeking to hire an exceptionally talented strategic communications specialist with strong campaigning experience who understands how to position complex, large-scale investments and development projects in the local context and how to design and deliver campaigns that engage international, regional, national and local stakeholders effectively.
The core skill set required includes narrative development, messaging design, media and social media campaigning, thought leadership development and creative and immersive human-centred and data-led impact storytelling - whether to improve access to affordable, clean energy, to strengthen financial inclusion or to expand access to health services.
The role will also create opportunities to support the emerging African advocacy ecosystem and take our own direct campaigning to the next level. We are looking for someone who can grow, strengthen and coordinate advocacy ecosystems, and help us to lend our own voice and resources to causes we care about such as green growth, the development of an inclusive digital economy, gender and wellbeing.
The ideal profile
- Experience in conceptualising and delivering successful, evidence-driven communications and advocacy campaigns designed to achieve one or more of the following objectives: shift perceptions, raise political salience, advance public policy goals, drive behaviour change, enable resource mobilisation.
- Proven capabilities in two or more of the following areas: Positioning strategy, messaging design and communications strategy rooted in good understanding of political, economic and stakeholder contexts
- Content creation - ability to conceptualise and produce outstanding thought leadership and storytelling content across a range of text-based and multimedia formats
- Digital campaigning, grounded in a strong understanding of how data visualisation and human-centred storytelling on digital platforms can be used to mobilise and advance campaign goals
- Designing and delivering targeted media campaigns, holding outstanding relationships with relevant regional, international and pan-African media and podcasts.
- Nuanced understanding of the infrastructure sector and track record of advisory for clients active in renewable energy and the energy transition. Prior knowledge of themes and trends in impact investing and capital markets, including private equity and venture capital would be advantageous.
- Able to analyse emerging trends and opportunities to inform the design of strategies and tactics for global, regional and national campaigns and targeted engagement.
- Proven track record in a dynamic consulting firm, advising multiple clients and able to prioritise effectively and deliver high quality work to tight deadlines
- Thrive in a fast-paced, innovative and collaborative working environment and enjoy working on complex development issues.
- Curious and passionate about the issues you campaign on and proactive in deepening your understanding of the political, social, technical and financial context for delivery.
- Outstanding written and verbal skills in English. An ability to operate in French is a significant asset but not essential.
- Embrace data-driven decision-making and new technologies.
Role responsibilities
Project management
- Serve as the Project Manager for pan-African, regional and/or national advocacy and communications assignments, managing client relationships and ensuring effective and efficient delivery by the consulting team.
- Ensure quality and timely execution and project monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Campaigning and advocacy
- Design compelling positioning and messaging strategies to build understanding and support for client objectives and initiatives
- Lead the conceptualisation of campaigns and take accountability for successful delivery.
- Produce high quality, concise media pitches, interview briefing documents, press releases, opinion pieces and corporate collaterals.
- Produce creative and compelling multimedia content and collateral (e.g. conceptualise and brief creative partners to develop short films, animations, infographics and data visualisation).
- Manage relationships with international and pan-African media.
- Conceptualise dynamic, interactive events to build relationships with key allies and build traction for ideas and issues.
- Understand how geopolitical, political economy, commercial, stakeholder and reputational issues shape the design and delivery of advocacy and campaigns and provide nuanced analysis of their implications for realising objectives.
- Provide quality insight on reputational issues which might impact our clients’ abilities to raise and/or allocate funding and support to their partners or deliver their own projects.
- Collaborate proactively with colleagues across geographies to identify opportunities for scaling impact and advancing advocacy goals.
- Support the successful design and delivery of stakeholder meetings, workshops and events and demonstrate strong networking and strategic partnership-building capabilities.
Leadership
- Promote a healthy working environment based on collaboration, respect and support for colleagues
- Deepen your understanding of the advocacy landscape and key investment and development issues in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Support the refinement of a compelling and consistent advocacy value proposition and methodology.
Business development
- Deliver existing mandates at a level that motivates clients to deepen the relationship.
- Actively generate leads in line with our growth strategy and take the lead in technical proposal development, including scoping assignments and budgeting.
- Build our ability to track and analyse national and international development trends and understand the implications for our value proposition and business development strategy.
What we offer
We offer the successful candidate an opportunity to develop a rewarding career within a dynamic pan-African consultancy advising a prestigious portfolio of clients. This position offers:
- Competitive remuneration
- Immediate opportunities for growth
- Collaboration with a diverse and experienced team of colleagues
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are much less likely to apply for a position unless they meet every single qualification. So this notwithstanding, if you are excited about this role, we would love to hear from you. At Africa Practice, we are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse and authentic workplace. You might just be the new team member we are looking for - for this or other roles.
Do you want to contribute to an influential and prosperous Africa, inspiring the world? We’re looking for Africa’s changemakers – smart people with strong analytical, advocacy, digital and problem-solving skills who can reconcile diverse perspectives to deliver sustainable change.
How to Apply
Please send in your application by clicking here .Include a cover letter explaining why you think you are suited to this position and indicating your availability. Your documents must be entitled with “*your name* Senior Consultant, Advocacy”.
The vacancy is immediately open for suitable applications and will be closed as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. Early applications are advised.
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