Mercy Corps has announced an opportunity for an experienced Communications Specialist to support the implementation of its East Africa Land Border Programme (EALBP), a major initiative funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Based in Nairobi, Kenya, this full-time, on-site position offers communications professionals the chance to contribute to a regional programme addressing irregular migration, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling across East Africa.
The successful candidate will lead strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, storytelling, and knowledge management while helping increase awareness of the programme’s impact. The role also supports advocacy, donor engagement, and public communications across Kenya, with planned programme expansion into Uganda, Ethiopia, and potentially Somalia.
Professionals with extensive experience in communications, public relations, and humanitarian programming are encouraged to apply.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading international humanitarian and development organization working in more than 40 countries worldwide. Guided by the belief that a better world is possible, the organization partners with communities affected by conflict, disasters, poverty, and climate-related challenges to develop sustainable solutions that improve lives and strengthen resilience.
Through innovative programming and partnerships, Mercy Corps supports economic development, peacebuilding, governance, food security, youth empowerment, and humanitarian response initiatives across some of the world’s most challenging environments.
About the East Africa Land Border Programme
The East Africa Land Border Programme seeks to address the growing challenges associated with irregular migration, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling across East Africa.
The programme adopts an integrated strategy built around three key pillars:
- Prevention of irregular migration and exploitation.
- Protection and preparedness for vulnerable populations on the move.
- Strengthening law enforcement efforts to pursue traffickers and criminal networks.
Implementation will initially focus on border regions in Kenya before expanding into Uganda, Ethiopia, and potentially Somalia through phased programme implementation.
About the Communications Specialist Role
The Communications Specialist will lead the development and implementation of the programme’s Stakeholder and Strategic Communications Strategy (SCS).
Working closely with programme leadership, consortium partners, donor representatives, and Mercy Corps’ regional and global communications teams, the successful candidate will oversee internal and external communications while ensuring messaging remains accurate, strategic, ethical, and appropriate for politically sensitive programming.
The position also requires oversight of storytelling initiatives, policy communications, media engagement, learning products, visibility campaigns, and programme thought leadership events.
Key Responsibilities
The Communications Specialist will be responsible for a broad range of communications and stakeholder engagement activities, including:
Strategic Communications
- Develop and implement the Stakeholder and Strategic Communications Strategy.
- Produce communications materials tailored to governments, donors, consortium partners, and other stakeholders.
- Advise programme leadership on communications risks and visibility strategies.
- Coordinate responses to external communications and media inquiries.
Evidence, Learning and Knowledge Management
- Develop high-quality communications products highlighting programme progress and impact.
- Collaborate with Monitoring, Research, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MRELA) teams.
- Document programme achievements, lessons learned, and success stories.
- Support donor reporting through compelling communications products.
- Establish systems for knowledge sharing and programme learning.
Campaigns, Storytelling and Events
- Design and manage community awareness campaigns.
- Coordinate ethical documentation of survivor stories and case studies while ensuring informed consent and safeguarding standards.
- Develop policy briefs, articles, blogs, and thought leadership content.
- Plan workshops, stakeholder forums, policy dialogues, and programme events.
- Coordinate communications vendors and event logistics.
Programme Coordination and Compliance
- Ensure communications activities align with programme implementation plans.
- Work collaboratively across consortium partners.
- Maintain compliance with donor requirements, safeguarding standards, and Mercy Corps policies.
- Support internal coordination of communications activities across programme components.
Required Qualifications
Mercy Corps is seeking a communications professional with extensive experience supporting complex humanitarian and development programmes.
Applicants should possess:
- A recognized qualification in Communications or a related discipline.
- A Master’s degree will be considered an added advantage.
- At least six years of progressive communications or public relations experience, preferably within nonprofit or international development organizations.
- Proven experience managing communications for politically sensitive or humanitarian programmes.
- Strong copywriting, editing, and storytelling skills.
- Experience producing blogs, articles, opinion pieces, press releases, and other communications materials.
- Demonstrated success designing and implementing strategic communications plans.
- Experience in digital communications, web content management, photography, or video production is desirable.
Desired Skills and Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strategic thinking and sound professional judgment.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
- Strong analytical and storytelling abilities.
- Experience communicating complex technical information clearly.
- High ethical standards and confidentiality.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- Commitment to safeguarding, accountability, and responsible communications.
Working Environment
This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with regular travel expected to programme implementation areas along border regions and other participating countries.
Travel may include assignments in:
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Ethiopia
- Somalia (subject to programme expansion)
Mercy Corps expects all staff members to represent the organization professionally while respecting local laws, customs, organizational policies, and humanitarian principles throughout their assignments.
Learning and Professional Development
Mercy Corps actively promotes continuous professional development by encouraging employees to dedicate 5% of their working time to learning activities that enhance both personal and professional growth.
The organization also fosters an inclusive workplace culture that values collaboration, innovation, mutual respect, and continuous improvement.
Safeguarding and Equal Opportunity
Mercy Corps maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and child abuse. All employees are expected to uphold the organization’s safeguarding principles, Code of Conduct, and ethical standards throughout their employment.
The organization is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, religion, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official Mercy Corps careers portal.
Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as recruitment timelines may vary depending on programme requirements.
