Communications Advisor

The Senior Communications Advisor will strengthen GPA’s communications and advocacy function to increase the visibility, influence and impact of its work on sustainable energy solutions in displacement and fragile settings. The role includes developing communications strategy, messaging, advocacy campaigns, and building GPA’s profile through media and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and guide implementation of GPA’s communications strategy to strengthen the visibility, influence and impact of its work on sustainable energy solutions in displacement and fragile settings.
• Review and provide strategic advice to strengthen existing communications and advocacy activities, identifying opportunities to improve reach, quality, consistency and strategic impact.
• Support the alignment of communications and advocacy priorities with GPA’s strategy, programme, policy, partnerships and fundraising objectives.
• Work closely with policy, technical and country-focused colleagues to align communications activities with GPA’s strategic priorities and partner engagement plans.
• Provide strategic communications advice to GPA leadership, communications team and partners, including positioning, messaging, reputational risk, event preparation and external engagement.
• Develop compelling people-centred narratives that position sustainable energy in fragile and displacement contexts as essential to inclusive energy access, climate action, resilience, protection, cost-efficiency and improved outcomes for displaced people and host communities.
• Translate technical, policy and field-level evidence into clear, persuasive content for governments, donors, funders, financiers, humanitarian and development agencies, refugee and community based organisations, private sector partners and wider audiences.
• Lead the development of high-quality communications products and briefing packs, including advocacy briefs, campaign materials, policy messages, web content, newsletters, speeches, talking points, social media content and case studies.
• Identify, develop and publish stories from GPA partners and country programmes that demonstrate the practical value of sustainable energy solutions for displaced people, host communities and humanitarian operations.
• Ensure communications are grounded in evidence, respectful storytelling and the priorities of displaced people, host communities and local partners.
• Strengthen GPA’s advocacy approach around key policy and investment opportunities, including Mission 300, SDG7 processes, clean cooking, renewable energy, humanitarian decarbonisation, climate finance and refugee inclusion agendas.
• Develop and coordinate targeted communication campaigns that mobilise partners, highlight field evidence and promote stronger commitments to sustainable energy access in displacement settings.
• Support GPA partners to use shared messaging, evidence and advocacy materials to influence international, regional and national policy processes.
• Coordinate partner communications around major policy moments, launches, events and campaigns, helping GPA members amplify common messages and demonstrate collective impact.
• Participate in communications and advocacy working groups, partner coordination spaces and external events on behalf of GPA.
• Build GPA’s profile with priority audiences through speaking opportunities, media engagement, thought-leadership placements, event visibility and strategic digital engagement.
• Strengthen relationships with communications counterparts across UN agencies, NGOs, donors, funders, financiers, energy-access organisations and private sector partners, refugee and community based organisations to increase collaboration and amplification.
• Strengthen GPA’s visibility in relevant humanitarian, energy, climate, development and displacement forums.
• Support external engagement that positions GPA as a credible, evidence-based platform for humanitarian energy action.
• Strengthen GPA’s digital presence, including website content, newsletters, social media channels and multimedia storytelling, to increase engagement with target audiences.
• Evaluate and strengthen the GPA’s brand, improve editorial quality and message discipline across GPA’s external communications.
• Coordinate the dissemination of flagship communications outputs, such as annual reports, advocacy campaigns, knowledge products, event packages and digital campaigns.
• Develop practical communications guidance, templates and advocacy resources that enable partners to communicate more effectively and consistently on sustainable energy in fragile and displacement settings.
• Track and analyse communications and advocacy performance, using metrics, audience insights and partner feedback to improve future activities and demonstrate impact.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in energy, environment, international development or humanitarian studies, international relations, public policy, or a related field is required
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in advocacy and communications, of which 3 years has been at senior management level is required.
• Proven experience of 5 years in strategic advocacy or strategic communication with a focus on energy, environment, climate or sustainability is required.
• Documented high-level advocacy or other experience with national and energy-sector leaders is required.
• Experience working in challenging and politically complex situations is required.
• Work experience in a developing country or displacement affected country, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and/or wider Sub-Saharan Africa would be an asset.
• Proven experience managing staff located in other geographical locations.
• Experience working on sustainable energy in humanitarian contexts, and with multi-stakeholder partnerships (UN, NGOs, private sector, governments, or donors) is an asset.
• Fluent English is required.
• Fluent French is desirable.

Skills

• Strategic Policy Advocacy
• Strategic Communications
• Advocacy Activities
• Communications Strategies
• Media Relations
• Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
• Sustainable Energy
• Energy Sector Advocacy
• Environmental Communication
• Climate Communication
• Policy Advocacy
• Managing Remote Teams
• Communications in Humanitarian Contexts
• Political Risk Communication
• Stakeholder Engagement
• International Development Communications
• Advocacy with National Leaders

Languages

English, French