International Rescue Committee Hiring: Advocacy, Policy and Communication Specialist – Remote Position Based in Kenya or Senegal | Apply by 09 November 2025

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global leader in humanitarian aid and development, is seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to fill the position of Advocacy, Policy and Communication Specialist for the West and Central Africa region.

This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a change-maker driven by impact and passionate about advocating for people affected by crisis and displacement.

Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations. It supports millions of people in over 40 countries and 29 cities across the United States, helping them recover from conflict, disaster, and displacement by restoring health, safety, education, economic well-being, and power. In West and Central Africa, the IRC has been active since the 1990s and currently operates in ten countries, including Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria.

The Advocacy, Policy and Communication Specialist will lead the development and implementation of regional and country-specific strategies that support IRC’s broader influence, advocacy, and communication goals. The successful candidate will be embedded in the regional team and will collaborate closely with country offices, the global Policy and Advocacy team, and external partners.

Role Overview

The Specialist will lead efforts to shape regional policy, elevate key humanitarian and development issues, and guide communication efforts that drive visibility and influence. Key areas of focus will include building advocacy strategies, supporting scalable programming by removing policy barriers, advancing principled humanitarian action, and amplifying the voices of affected communities at both regional and global levels.

Working in coordination with the Regional Vice President, Deputy Regional Director, and global policy leadership, the Specialist will ensure that IRC’s response activities and positions are well-informed, strategic, and impactful. This includes collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to align messaging, build relationships, and ensure timely, well-researched communications and policy content.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of advocacy and policy strategies aligned with IRC’s global goals and adapted to regional realities.
• Design and coordinate targeted influence plans, including stakeholder mapping, message development, and audience engagement.
• Develop and maintain policy agendas on regionally relevant themes, in collaboration with technical experts and country offices.
• Support the scale-up of high-impact programs by identifying and addressing political and policy barriers to implementation.
• Oversee and guide the regional communications strategy, ensuring consistent branding, messaging, and media engagement.
• Produce policy briefs, analysis, position papers, and accessible external reports aimed at key decision-makers and humanitarian actors.
• Act as a regional spokesperson, representing the IRC in high-level dialogues, public events, media engagements, and stakeholder meetings.
• Facilitate internal coordination between global headquarters, regional staff, and country offices to align advocacy goals and messaging.
• Build and manage relationships with external partners, including NGOs, UN agencies, think tanks, and regional institutions.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have a proven background in advocacy, policy, and communications within humanitarian or development contexts. A strong understanding of the humanitarian system and regional dynamics, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel, is essential.

Required Qualifications:

• A degree in Law, Government, Political Science, International Relations, Strategic Studies, or a related field.
• 6–8 years of experience working on humanitarian, development, or foreign policy issues, with at least two years in an international or regional context.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement advocacy and communication strategies in complex environments.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to translate technical content into accessible narratives for diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking, and negotiation skills, with a well-established network of external stakeholders preferred.
• Fluency in both French and English is mandatory, including excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience working in multicultural teams and an ability to navigate politically sensitive contexts with tact and professionalism.

Working Conditions

This role can be based in a standard office environment or performed remotely, with up to 20% travel required. The IRC supports a gender-sensitive and inclusive work environment and provides benefits that promote gender equality, such as parental leave and gender-sensitive security protocols.

How to Apply

If you are passionate about influencing policy, shaping humanitarian narratives, and working at the intersection of communication and advocacy, IRC invites you to apply. Qualified candidates should submit their application online through the IRC careers page before 9 November 2025.

For more information about the IRC and other opportunities, visit www.rescue.org.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hosting organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.