Light for the World is a global development organisation. We empower people with disabilities and enable eye health services in low-income countries. Over the last three decades we improved health systems, enabled education for all, and amplified the voices of people with disabilities.
Our programmes include:
- Eye Health – preventing blindness and promoting eye health for all
- Inclusive Education – ensuring children with disabilities receive quality, inclusive education
- Inclusive Economic Empowerment – ensuring that barriers are removed for men and women with disabilities to access decent work and business opportunities
We focus on the poorest and hardest to reach because that’s where we will have the biggest impact. In Kenya, our country strategy for the year 2021-2025 focuses on Inclusive Economic Empowerment, and disability inclusion. We do this using the twin track approach of capacity building of persons with disabilities, and building system strengthening so that barriers for employment and entrepreneurship are removed.
Currently, Light for the World Kenya implements projects across nine counties, in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Meru, Laikipia, Kisumu, Kakamega, Migori and Homa Bay, with the country office being located in Nairobi.
In line with its economic empowerment strategy, Light for the World with funding from Mastercard Foundation will implement an 8-year project dubbed We Can Work**,** a regional signature disability program that uses a system and mindset change approach to impact the lives of at least 1,000,000 young women and men with disabilities and enables them to access dignified and fulfilling work. The program works with umbrella Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and Entrepreneurship Hubs in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria.
With our partners, we will affect change at the level of individuals (including households and communities), organizations and institutions. Young persons with disabilities will act as change agents and provide disability inclusion advisory services and confidently advocate for disability-inclusive policies and practices among key system actors.
Throughout the eight-year partnership intervention, the key ingredients of our work with young women and men with disabilities in the lead will be:
- engaging caregivers and communities through positive and empowering messaging around disability and inclusion.
- driving co-creation processes to inform inclusive economic development.
- developing agency of young women and men with disabilities through the We Can Work Academy; and amplifying voices of young persons with disabilities.
Light for the world therefore seeks to recruit an experienced individual to take on the role of Head of Learning and Innovations to support this project.
Role profile:
Reporting to the Country Director, the Head of Learning and Innovation will support a range of activities related to communications, documentation, learning and innovation; namely behavioural change communication as designed and implemented under the We Can Work program, leading in-country communications with local internal and external program stakeholders, fulfilling communications and documentation targets within the program, building visibility and recognition of the brand and its work in the country, and highlighting key program achievements and learnings (to a local and international audience).
The role also facilitates effective and systematic brainstorm and “Think-Tank” activities around a specified challenge, leading to development of products, materials and pilot projects. This is a management role and the candidate will have direct line management over the team of MnE specialists. This is to ensure harmonization and a high quality of documentation and learning across projects, therefore the information therein is useful for reporting, and providing input into national policies, and bodies that lobby for inclusion of persons with disabilities in compliance to the UNCRPD.
Key responsibilities:
Developing and implementing strategies for learning and innovation on strategic thematic areas
- Synthesising learning pathways and developing indicators that strategically measure progress made in line with the organisations mission and vision.
- Identifying the learning needs of the organisation for internal processes as well us for external thematic areas, and coming up with processes of fulfilling those learning needs.
- Critical thinking on resource planning and mobilisation, -allocating resources to the learning needs that deserves the highest attention and investment according to the value it adds to the organisation and its partners within the system actors.
Behavioural Change Communication; Content development and management for print and digital media (social media, website)
- Using design thinking principles guide the development of behaviour change campaigns around specific topics within programs of focus of LFTW and developing roll out plans which are SMART.
- Provide guidance on measures of success around the internal and external communication and develop tools and processes that guide the team on performance measurement on avenues used in communicating within behaviour change campaigns.
- Provide support for communications on We Can Work for local and international social media channels and website.
- Develop creative impact reports on communication that is working, based on verifiable indicators.
Manage program-related communications, branding press, media, and PR
- Map stakeholders and channels and ensure periodic communication through the communication strategy and plan.
- Ensure correct application of the Light for the World and We Can Work brand on all external facing products (word documents, ppts, banners, t-shirts, etc.).
- Achieve in-country program-related targets regarding PR and communication. Being smart in developing in country communication plan that resonates with the agendas as envisioned in the strategic plan, as well the real issues relevant in the day
- Ensure all communication has gone through DTP (Desktop Publishing) process, is presentable and is in UNCRPD compliant language.
- Ensure donor-related visibility guidelines are implemented.
- Ensure cordial relations with media for meaningful distribution of information.
- Write press releases that are relevant to current topics and the project, on a regular basis.
Lead the Co-creation, Brainstorm and “Think-Tank” activities
- Leading the design and overall facilitation of co-creation processes and learning events around specified challenges and an agreed learning agenda relating to disability inclusion/ We Can Work.
- Support other brainstorm and “Think-Tank” activities by ensuring the use of creative facilitation techniques and participatory methodologies to drive these processes in a systematic and effective way.
- Ensuring that the output ideas are run through and feasible ones are implemented by the program team.
Development of knowledge products, and communication and resource materials
- Lead content development to feed quarterly Disability Inclusion Insight Briefs
- Lead the development of knowledge products that document good practices, lessons learned and key resource materials to support disability inclusion in Young Africa Works
- Support the good practice data collection process with the YAW partners in the process of development of the knowledge products
- Provide technical input into National policies that are relevant to the result framework of the organisation, paying keen attention to compliance with UNCRPD
Support the MERLA team with documenting qualitative data that illustrate system change and impact
- Document stories of change in different formats like print, clips, animation or photo narratives, ensuring supportive visual content and accessibility of all products
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Degree in Public Relations, Project management, Social Sciences, International relations, international development, Communications, or a related field. Masters level highly preferred.
- Minimum Eight (8) years’ professional experience in communications, public relations, public policy, or a similar field.
- Demonstrable experience in writing engaging print and digital content e.g. case studies, summary reports, blogs, and stories of change, for technical audiences and/or other stakeholders.
- Proven track record of distilling complex information into engaging content that has been used in influencing decisions, and behaviour change.
- Experience in designing and implementing knowledge management strategies.
- Strong team player with an interest in co-creating engaging content. Photography skills desired but not a must.
- Must be a self-starter with proven analytical, and problem-solving skills and the ability to work with minimum supervision.
- Must have an experience managing teams, is teachable, and understands how to get the most out of a dedicated team.
What we can offer as an employer: We are offering an outstanding opportunity to bring about change through an international development organisation with strong expertise, a growing profile and a dedicated team. You find a culture of people that are open to ideas, working with you, learning from you and celebrating your milestones. A supportive management that invests in your personal development an growth, and a competent, market based pay.
Ideal Entry date: 1st May 2023
How to apply
We are looking forward to receiving your application by 31st March 2023 at the latest. Please apply using This link. A complete CV and a letter of motivation are important parts of this. Please let us know why you would like to join our team and why you consider yourself suitable.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage people with disabilities to apply for this position. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
