About ADEA

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) is the voice of education in Africa and has played an important role in the educational arena for 38 years as a convenor, knowledge creator, and forum for policy dialogue. Since its creation, ADEA has acted as a partner between African ministries of education and training and development partners. As a forum for policy dialogue, ADEA promotes innovative policies and practices by sharing and disseminating ideas, experiences, learning, and knowledge among countries and stakeholders. 

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About the ESDC Project

Africa is facing an education and skills data crisis—one exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the continent, policymakers lack the reliable, high-quality data needed to drive reforms and improve learning outcomes. Weak data availability, low data quality, and insufficient data use continue to undermine evidence-based decision-making.

Through the ESDC project, ADEA aims to support up to 30 African countries over five years to produce and use quality education and skills data for informed policymaking, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Now in its third year, the project is active in 17 countries. Rwanda has launched the largest frontline capacity-building program on data use, while Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia are at various stages of implementation. Additional countries will join in the coming weeks. 

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Position summary

ADEA seeks a forward-looking communication professional with a strong track record in development communication. The Communication and Advocacy Officer will ensure the visibility of the ESDC project and its achievements while driving awareness-raising, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement across participating countries and beyond them as well.

The role requires initiative, creativity, discipline, and the ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling communication material. The Officer will work closely with the project team, country partners, and technical and financial partners to mobilize support and disseminate project lessons, best practices, and results.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will ensure strong visibility of the project and its results, support knowledge generation, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and promote data-driven governance across Africa. Key responsibilities include:

1. Implement the ESDC communication strategy and annual work plan (aligned with ADEA’s overall Communication and Advocacy Strategy)

• Develop, operationalize, and regularly update the ESDC communication strategy and annual communication work plan.
• Define communication objectives, key messages, audiences, and indicators aligned with the project’s theory of change.
• Determine and manage the appropriate communication channels, tools, and platforms for engaging policymakers, educators, development partners, and the public.
• Oversee brand identity, visibility, and consistent messaging for the project across all touchpoints, ensuring alignment with ADEA’s brand guidelines and the project’s identity.

2. Strengthen the brand identity, visibility, and public recognition of the Project

• Lead and enhance the project's visual identity, digital presence, and overall visibility at national, regional, and continental levels.
• Produce compelling, accessible communication materials including brochures, infographics, banners, newsletters, social cards, and branded assets.
• Manage the project’s digital communication touchpoints—website pages, social media content, newsletters—ensuring regular updates and quality control.
• Ensure media coverage of project activities, events, and milestones, and maintain strong media relations both within the participating countries, the continent, and beyond.

3. Advocacy, Knowledge Mobilization, and Stakeholder Engagement

• Drive advocacy activities to promote and institutionalize evidence-based governance and policymaking in the education systems of beneficiary countries.
• Lead content development for advocacy campaigns targeting ministers, technical leaders, regional bodies, and development partners.
• Translate complex technical content into accessible, non-technical communication materials for policymakers and the public.
• Mobilize partners, countries, and networks to actively participate in knowledge-sharing events, regional exchanges, and policy dialogues.
• Evaluate and strengthen the effectiveness of advocacy and awareness-raising activities.
• Drive media relations and media relationships that will benefit the project.

4. Communication of project results, outputs, and outcomes

• Document project activities, milestones, innovations, and results, converting them into compelling public-facing content.
• Produce knowledge products such as success stories, testimonials, case studies, policy briefs, fact sheets, videos, podcasts, and digital stories.
• Ensure systematic dissemination of knowledge products to support learning, visibility, and policy influence.
• Maintain a high-quality archive of project documents, reports, publications, and multimedia.

5. Capacity strengthening of beneficiary countries in data communication

• Support in-country diagnostic assessments of existing communication practices in education and skills data systems.
• Support countries to improve data communication strategies, strengthen national communication capabilities, and embed sustainable communication structures.
• Train and guide national education data chain actors on effective communication, storytelling with data, and public engagement.
• Produce reports on the performance of communication activities and recommend improvements.

6. Monitoring, evaluation, and strategic Learning

• In collaboration with the M&E team, design and track communication-specific indicators and measure communication uptake, reach, and influence.
• Conduct strategic monitoring of continental media and institutional discourse related to data-driven governance in education.
• Use evidence and analytics to refine communication tactics, enhance audience engagement, and improve results-based communication.

7. Production and oversight of multimedia content

• Oversee the production of videos, short documentaries, podcasts, interviews, and audiovisual content, capturing project results and experiences.
• Manage graphic design, data visualization, photography, and visual storytelling to enhance the project’s communication assets, working in close collaboration with the concerned colleagues.
• Build and maintain a multimedia database showcasing country activities, results, and best practices.

8. Coordination, collaboration, and additional responsibilities

• Provide communication guidance to country implementation partners and ensure alignment with project standards.
• Support the editing and quality assurance of project reports, publications, and knowledge products.
• Ensure integration of gender equality, youth considerations, and inclusivity in all communication activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by line management within the scope of communication, advocacy, and knowledge engagement.

Qualifications and requirements

Education:

• Master’s degree in communication, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field.

Professional experience:

• At least eight (8) years of relevant experience in development communication, with a minimum of five (5) years in roles requiring strategic communication, visibility management, and impact capitalization in Africa.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic communication, advocacy, and partnership initiatives at global, continental, or regional levels.
• Proven experience in awareness-raising and advocacy with governments, development partners, and civil society.
• Experience designing and implementing large-scale communication strategies and campaigns.
• Strong background in digital communication, social media management, and content development.
• Experience working in multicultural, multidisciplinary teams.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling ability.
• Solid team player, with strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficiency in English or French, with working knowledge of the other language.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Experience in capacity-building program development and facilitation.
• Strong computer skills, including communication management and analytics tools.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and manage multiple priorities.
• Results-oriented, organized, proactive, and systematic.

Hierarchical structure

The position reports to the Project Director, with technical oversight and coordination from the ADEA Communications Specialist.

Working conditions

• Based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with frequent travel to project countries.
• Occasional overtime may be required to meet project deadlines.
• Competitive remuneration.
• One-year renewable contract, based on performance.

Performance expectations

Performance in this role will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Timely completion and quality of delivery of planned communication activities.
• Visibility and reach of communication outputs.
• Quality of knowledge products and capacity-building materials.
• Level of media engagement and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Ability to adapt to evolving communication technologies and project needs.
• Strength of relationships with project stakeholders.

Application process

Interested candidates are invited to send their curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation and a portfolio of their work to adea-applications@afdb.org by midnight GMT on February 22, 2026. The subject of the e-mail should be "Communication and Advocacy Officer – ESDC Project".

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experience.

Due to the high volume of applications, only selected candidates will be contacted through a formal email correspondence. Do not contact ADEA or its staff members about the status of your application.