Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator

The Advocacy & Campaigns Coordinator will translate knowledge into influence – bridging research and advocacy to design narratives, campaigns, and partnerships that drive policy, finance, and investment shifts. The role will lead the development of high-impact advocacy outputs and events, turning project evidence into clear messages for decision-makers.
 
 Working on sustainable drylands, the coordinator will develop messaging for policymakers, investors, private sector actors, humanitarian and development agencies, and philanthropy. This is a visible, hands-on role, responsible for shaping flagship knowledge products, designing interactive digital content, and facilitating dialogues and campaigns.
 
 The position sits within CIFOR-ICRAF’s Communications, Outreach & Engagement team, while working closely with project experts and managers to ensure advocacy is tightly connected to evidence and lessons from the field.

Duties and responsibilities

1.       Program management:

·       Responsible for developing and overseeing multi-regional advocacy strategies.

·       Direct management of advocacy staff and oversight of campaign budgets.

·       Requires leadership in innovation of advocacy models and frameworks adopted across the organization.

·       Increase stakeholder engagement to include senior leadership, board members, and high-level external partners.

·       Assigns accountability for organizational reputation and strategic risk management in advocacy.

·       Deliver measurable impact on strategic objectives, funding, and partnerships.

 

2.       Influential Messaging & Knowledge Products:

·       Lead design and drafting of key advocacy messages and briefs drawn from project outputs.

·   Work with researchers and thematic experts to translate evidence into concise, influential messages for target audiences.

·       Ensure close collaboration with project scientists and thematic leads to align evidence with advocacy priorities.

3.       Narrative Development & Storytelling:

·       Identify narrative hooks and frames that make evidence resonate with investors, policymakers, or philanthropies.

·       Design and oversee content production for presentations, speeches, public announcements and statements.

·     Design and oversee interactive digital content (story maps, explainers, infographics, data visualisations) that make evidence engaging and accessible.

·       Coordinate rollout across channels and media, ensuring consistency of messages and amplification by partners.

·       Ensure objectives are integrated and supportive of CIFOR-ICRAF’s communications and organizational strategy.

4.       Campaigns & Targeted Engagement:

·       Develop and implement advocacy roadmaps and campaign strategies aligned with high-level policy moments (COPs, Global Gateway, donor summits, humanitarian forums).

·       Map and engage unusual allies and influencers across sectors to co-design advocacy agendas and expand influence.

·       Lead planning, design, and delivery of policy dialogues, round-tables, and campaign events.

·       Strengthen advocacy coalitions and ensure events generate clear outputs and partner ownership.

·       Provide regular reporting and intelligence on activities and results

5.       Tracking & Adaptive Learning:

·       Set clear indicators to track and monitor advocacy outcomes and uptake.

·       Collaborate with the M&E Officer and Quality 4 Impact Team to support outcome assessment and impact story development.

·       Track media mentions, social engagement, policy references, partner amplifications and early indicators of shifts in sentiment, motivation, or perception.

·       Facilitate learning sessions with CIFOR-ICRAF staff and partners to reflect on campaign effectiveness and share best practices in agenda shaping.

·       Develop strategies to embed CIFOR-ICRAF influence into long-term policy processes and track influence over time beyond single campaigns.

Requirements

Minimum Academic and Professional Qualifications                

·       Advanced degree in international development, communications, environmental policy, or related field.

·       Minimum 7 years of experience in advocacy, campaigns, or strategic communications at international level.

 

   Skills and competencies

·       Proven track record in building partnerships and delivering campaigns

·    Proven ability to work across continents, navigating complex stakeholder ecosystems (donors, UN agencies, DFIs, governments, civil society, private sector).

·       Creative and adaptive, with experience in digital storytelling and innovative formats.

·       Excellent writing, facilitation, and presentation skills.

·       Proficiency in additional languages (French, Spanish, Swahili, Portuguese) are highly desirable.

Education, knowledge and experience

•Advanced degree in international development, communications, environmental policy, or related field.
 •Minimum 7 years of experience in advocacy, campaigns, or strategic communications at international level.

Terms and conditions

•This is a Globally Recruited Position (GRS). CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration commensurate with skills and experience.
 •The initial appointment will be for two (2) years, with a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
 •The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya CIFOR-ICRAF Offices.