Communication officer

Host entity: UNDP

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Communication, advocacy, public information, Digital and social media, Climate change, environment

Application deadline: 01/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress

The primary and overarching objective of United Nations Development Programme in Kenya is the eradication of poverty in the context of sustainable development, including the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, and promotion of United Nations fundamental principles. A core dimension to the work of UNDP in Kenya is on Democratic Governance given the national focus on governance reforms. UNDP supports the country’s efforts towards achieving the Vision 2030 Political Pillar, which envisions a democratic system that is issue-based, people-centered, results oriented and accountable to the public. This Political Pillar gears to transform the country’s political governance across five strategic areas; The Rule of Law, Electoral and Political Processes, Democracy and Public Service Delivery, Transparency and Accountability, Security Peace Building and Conflict Management. These strategic areas are anchored in the Constitution, promulgated in August 2010 marking a major milestone in the democratic journey of Kenya and set a new threshold in terms of people-centred development.

Assignment context

In Kenya, UNDP supports national development priorities by fostering inclusive economic growth, strengthening democratic governance, promoting climate and environmental sustainability, and advancing innovation and digital transformation.

Within the Environment and Resilience Unit, UNDP Kenya is supporting the implementation of climate action initiatives including the Solar Cooling Project and the National Plastics Action Plan. This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of Kenya’s Solar Cooling project that aims to reduce emissions from post-harvest losses, estimated to exceed 40% in Kenya due to poor handling, inadequate cold storage, limited awareness, workforce gaps and weak financing which directly supports Kenya’s updated NDC and Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy.

Implemented through UNDP and UNCDF, it will drive market-led expansion of solar-powered cold storage by financing 1,000 facilities, raising stakeholder awareness, providing technical training to providers, farmers and cooperatives, and strengthening the enabling environment through courses in e-waste management, circular economy and agribusiness; the project targets the creation of 1,200 jobs, benefits to 60,000 smallholder farmers, EUR 27 million in leveraged private capital, and reductions in direct and indirect GHG emissions of 4.8 million and 3.9 million tons respectively.

The communication officer will lead project communications, visibility, knowledge management and learning. The role will ensure that evidence generated across the project’s technical, policy, financing and implementation workstreams is systematically captured, translated into accessible knowledge products and shared with stakeholders. Project link - https://mitigation-action.org/projects/kenya-post-harvesting-solar-cooling/

Task description

Communications Planning and Coordination
• Develop and implement the project’s communication and knowledge management workplan.
• Maintain a communications calendar covering project activities, events, publications, and key milestones.
• Coordinate communication inputs from project staff, government partners, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), service providers, and other stakeholders.

Content Development and Storytelling
• Write and edit news articles, case studies, human interest stories, policy briefs, newsletters, reports, speeches, and social media content.
• Translate technical project information into clear and engaging messages for farmers, policymakers, financiers, private companies, and the public.
• Collect stories, photographs, quotations, and other content from project activities and field visits, ensuring appropriate consent and photo credits.

Knowledge Management and Learning
• Establish and maintain an organized repository for project reports, communication materials, photographs, lessons, and other knowledge resources.
• Document project results, lessons learned, good practices, and challenges.
• Develop knowledge products that support policy decisions, investment, replication, and scaling of solar-powered cold storage solutions.
• Organize learning sessions, webinars, and exchanges for project partners and stakeholders.

Digital Communication and Media Engagement
• Develop and regularly update project content for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kenya website and social media platforms.
• Prepare press releases, media briefs, and information packages for key project milestones.
• Support media interviews, field visits, and engagement with national and local journalists.
• Monitor media coverage and maintain an updated record of project visibility.

Stakeholder Engagement and Events
• Support the planning and delivery of workshops, campaigns, launches, webinars, field visits, and stakeholder forums.
• Prepare presentations, talking points, briefing notes, event materials, and post-event summaries.
• Tailor communication materials for government institutions, county governments, financial institutions, technology providers, cooperatives, farmers, donors, and development partners.

Visibility and Quality Assurance
• Ensure all communication products comply with UNDP and Mitigation Action Facility branding, donor acknowledgement, and visibility requirements.
• Review project materials for accuracy, clarity, consistency, and accessibility before publication.
• Guide project partners and service providers on communication standards, documentation, and responsible use of images.

Monitoring and Reporting
• Track communication results, including website visits, social media engagement, media coverage, event participation, and use of knowledge products.
• Gather feedback from stakeholders and recommend improvements to communication and learning activities.
• Prepare regular communication and knowledge management updates for UNDP, the Mitigation Action Facility, and project partners.

Skills and experience

• At least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in communication, journalism, public relations, development communication, or knowledge management.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communication or knowledge management plans.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with experience producing news articles, case studies, reports, briefs, speeches, social media content, and other communication materials in clear English.
• Ability to translate technical information into simple and engaging content for different audiences, including government officials, private companies, financiers, farmers, communities, and development partners.
• Experience documenting project results, lessons learned, good practices, and human-interest stories.
• Experience managing websites, social media platforms, or digital communication campaigns, including tracking audience engagement and performance.
• Experience supporting stakeholder events, media engagements, workshops, webinars, or field visits.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as well as basic visual content creation using Canva, Adobe Express, or similar software.
• Good organizational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to coordinate inputs from different teams, work independently, and deliver quality products within agreed deadlines.
• Understanding of responsible communication practices, including informed consent, photo rights, copyright, accessibility, and accurate representation of communities.
• Willingness and ability to undertake periodic project travel within Kenya. A driving licence is not required.

Additional
• Experience communicating projects related to climate change, renewable energy, agriculture, food systems, sustainable cooling, or private sector development.
• Experience working on donor-funded or international development programmes.
• Knowledge of behaviour change communication, media relations, or advocacy campaigns.
• Skills in photography, video production, graphic design, data visualization, or website content management.
• Experience using digital analytics tools to monitor website, social media, or campaign performance.
• Familiarity with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations system, or international organization communication and visibility requirements. Prior UN experience is not required.
• A portfolio or samples demonstrating relevant writing, digital communication, or knowledge products.

Competencies and values

• Strategic Communication and story telling
• Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
• Integrity
• Results Oriented
• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living conditions

Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations.

The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest.

The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate. The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) per month and is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements). UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). A resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate. You may check the full benefits
and allowances applicable to the duty station using the UVP calculator. Please see the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers for more information and details.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.