Senior Media Relations Officer, PCER1 at African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) – Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Job Title: Senior Media Relations Officer, PCER1

Position Number: 50093759

Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Position Grade: PL5

The Bank

• The African Development Bank (“the Bank”) is a premier multilateral development finance institution.
• Its mission is to contribute to the economic development and social progress of its regional members, mobilize resources for the financing of development projects and promote economic integration on the continent.
• The Bank are 81 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries).
• It has established ties with an extensive network of international development partners and enjoys a very good reputation on the capital markets. Since its inception in 1964, the Bank Group has committed over US$100 billion to support more than 4,000 development projects and programmes in Africa. Over the last 10 years, the Bank has grown in size and impact.
• It has modernized its operations to improve efficiency and value for money, which has put it at the centre of Africa’s economic transformation.  Today, the Bank is at the forefront of helping Africa achieve accelerated development.
• It is implementing its bold strategy to transform the lives of Africans, with speed and rigor, based on its High 5s objectives: Light Up and Power Africa: power, energy, environment and green growth, Feed Africa: agro-industry, agricultural finance and rural development, Industrialize Africa: private and financial sectors, infrastructure, urban, industrial and trade development, Integrate Africa: regional development, integration and impactful delivery, Improve the quality of life for Africans: human capital and skills development, health, nutrition, water and sanitation.
• The High 5s have been acclaimed globally as the key for accelerating Africa’s development. Independent analysis by the UNDP shows that achieving the High 5s will help Africa to achieve 90% of the Sustainable Development Goals targets and 90% of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals.

The Hiring Complex

• The President plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund.
• The President supervises several Departments and Units, including the Office of the President; the Independent Development Evaluation Department; the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department; the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit; the Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board; the Administrative Tribunal; the Office of the Auditor General; the Group Risk Management Directorate; the General Counsel and Legal Services Department; the Communication and External Relations Department; the Staff Integrity and Ethics Office and Office of the Secretary General and General Secretariat.

The Hiring Department

• The Communication and External Relations Department (PCER) is in charge of planning, preparing and implementing public relations and institutional communication programmes designed to make the Bank better known by its various audiences so as to promote social and economic development in Africa. The department also works to promote the Bank’s credibility and good reputation as Africa’s leading development finance institution. PCER’s work is underpinned by the Communication and External Relations Strategy, designed to reinforce the Bank’s regional and global position as Africa’s premier development financial institution, and enable greater resource mobilization to scale up its financing capacity. The Bank needs strong communication to support its critical role of advocacy in Regional Member Countries (RMCs) to implement sound economic policies, sustainable development, and good governance.
• Social media plays a critical role in this regard. Since the Bank’s last approved communication strategy in 2009, digital transformation has significantly influenced the way businesses operate, and it has made the world more accessible. It has also changed the way the world communicates. There are nearly 4 billion social media users globally, which is about 48% of the entire world’s population. In addition, by 2021 there were almost 4.9 billion internet users in the world. In Africa the total number of internet users is estimated at 460 million with a total penetration of 33% of the total population. Nearly 191 million users are reported to be active social media users.

The Position
The objective of this position is to help:

• Position the African Development Bank as Africa’s premier development finance institution through strategic media engagement;
• Establish and maintain the Bank’s global reputation and credibility among key stakeholders;
• Enable effective communication of the Bank’s development impact and strategic priorities, particularly the High 5s agenda and the Ten-Year Strategy;
• Safeguard and enhance the Bank’s reputation through proactive media strategy and crisis management;

The Senior Media Relations Officer’s role includes the following tasks:

• Support the president, vice-presidents, directors sector managers and task managers in charge of corporate issues with robust media relations and awareness, thereby enhancing the Bank’s global visibility and reputation.
• Provide editorial support, including well-researched editorial content for online and external publications. This includes press releases, media advisories, feature stories, Q&As, project impact stories, talking points for spokespeople across the Bank, and other content for the Bank’s website and media.
• In collaboration with other media relations colleagues and the Bank’s regional communication officers, the Senior Media Relations Officer will help develop and maintain a strong network of African and global media for the Bank and ensure a steady flow of information and extensive media coverage of the Bank’s activities.
• Oversee the development of media plans and dissemination of press releases, Q&As, media briefings, videos, and photos, as well as briefings and key messages on specific announcements, but also broader opportunities for joint messaging and risk management.
• In collaboration with other media relations colleagues and the Bank’s regional communication officers, analyse media developments and advise the African Development Bank Group on how best to proactively engage with the media to achieve the Bank’s objectives in the short, medium, and long term.
• Lead the collation and monitoring of media coverage to inform the Bank’s communications and visibility activities and work with the Director of Communications and the PCER 1 Manager to manage sensitive situations where the reputation of the African Development Bank Group is at risk.
• Develop strategies to protect and enhance the Bank’s reputation by shaping the media agenda through initiative-taking planning.
• The incumbent will lead efforts to expand and strengthen the Bank’s interactions with media, opinion leaders, and decision-makers globally. The Senior Media Relations Officer will help create a positive narrative about the Bank, using a wide range of communication techniques and tools, ranging from multimedia production (video interviews, project movies, and audio podcasts, among others) to editorial content (web stories, press releases, blogs and organizing media interviews and opinion pieces) and social media.

Key Functions
Under the overall supervision of the Division Manager, Editorial, Social Media and Media Relations, PCER.1, the Senior Media Relations Officer has the following core responsibilities :

Strategic Leadership and Reputation Management:

• Support the president, vice-presidents, directors, sector managers and task managers in charge of corporate issues with media relations;
• Maintain and enhance Bank’s credibility and reputation through strategic initiatives;
• Create and maintain crisis communication protocols and rapid response procedures;
• Analyze media developments and advise on proactive engagement strategies;
• Work with PCER1 Manager and PCER Director on global sensitive situations, through rapid response planning, proactive message development, global stakeholder engagement, coordinated crisis communications, and strategic guidance to senior management;
• Working closely with principal regional communication officers, monitor and analyse media coverage and prepare impact reports, holding statements and scenario plans;
• Working closely with the Resource Mobilization Department (FIRM), identify and forge global strategic partnerships to improve dialogue and outreach within non-regional member countries;

Media Relations and Network Building:

• Develop / maintain comprehensive network of African and global media, including media database;
• Manage relationships with targeted global media and PR agencies;
• Work with the Bank’s regional communication officers to :
  • Ensure effective media coverage of Bank activities, especially corporate activities occurring at the Headquarters;
  • Organize media events such as project visits, press briefings, interviews with regional Bank representatives;
• Expand and strengthen interactions with opinion leaders and decision-makers;
• Oversee development and dissemination of media plans for global missions and outreach work e.g. lead on overseas roadshows for Bank’s knowledge products such as the Africa Economic Outlook report, the ten-year strategy et;
• Work with regional communication officers to respond to media queries from and pitch stories to global media;

Content Development and Editorial Activities:

• Write, edit and proofread media-related communication materials.
• Develop press releases, feature stories, human-interest stories, Q&As and project impact stories.
• Help create blogs, profiles, podcasts, and talking points for Bank spokespeople.
• Produce multimedia interviews of Bank spokespersons.
• Help publish Op-Eds in top-tier media.
• Create interview briefs and event notices.

Event and Training Coordination:

• Organize media opportunities (briefings, press conferences).
• Implement media plans for flagship events.
• Identify and deliver media training for Bank staff.
• Manage media logistics for Bank events.
• Undertake any other assignment as required by PCER1 Manager.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Hold at least a Master’s or equivalent degree in Journalism, Communications, Social Sciences, Literature or equivalent related field;
• Professional training in communications-related fields: social media and web editing, among others is desirable;
• A minimum of 5 (five) years of professional experience in public relations, media or communications working in an international organization, government, NGO or a reputable private sector organization. The person should have hands-on experience in media relations, development communication, corporate communication and executive communication. A deep knowledge of the region’s media and political landscape is essential;
• Experience with communication agencies would be an added advantage;
• Knowledge of the operational processes of large development institutions such as the African Development Bank would be an advantage;
• Detail-oriented and excellent follow-through skills;
• Delivery of assigned tasks on time with no or little supervision;
• Problem-solving approach.;
• Ability to work under pressure on multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines;
• Ability to drive a high volume of work to completion;
• Ability to work as part of a team and to support others;
• Flexible approach to work, with a keenness to adapt to meet changing work requirements;
• A positive, “can do” attitude;
• Agility and flexibility to respond to inquiries from the media and other stakeholders;
• Ability to manage multiple and diverse projects with conflicting timelines;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
• Sound knowledge of global affairs and development issues in Africa, especially in the areas of agriculture, food security, climate change, infrastructure, and gender;
• Demonstrated digital production i.e. writing, editing, and communication skills in English and / or French;
• Ability to draft and implement complex communication plans;
• Ability to understand technical and business concepts and express them as clear, concise instructions.
• Proven experience in event management from a communication perspective;
• Proven experience in newsletter management;
• Experience in proofreading, editing, and managing publishing projects;
• Experience as a journalist with a high-profile publication;
• Experience in responsible and appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence for journalistic and communication purposes;
• Ability to motivate a multicultural team of communication experts (staff or consultants);
• Ability to coordinate the work of several communication experts and consultants working on various and sometimes conflicting agendas;
• Be solutions-driven, with the ability to critically assess and analyse situations and find creative ways to solve issues;
• Demonstrated political awareness and ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations.
• Excellent understanding of audience needs;
• Strong decision-making skills;
• Excellent project and time management skills;
• Ability to mentor and train regional communication experts and consultants;
• Ability to coordinate multiple workflows between in-house communications experts and external service providers and consultants;
• Ability to pitch innovative ideas to PCER management;
• Demonstrated writing, editing, and communication skills in French or English with a good working knowledge of the other language;
• Ability to run the Bank’s media contact database on different platforms.

Application Closing Date
15th May, 2025.

How to Apply: Interested and qualified candidates should Click here to apply online

Note: This position does not attract international terms and conditions of employment.