Application Guide
How to Apply for Communications Manager
at Amref Health Africa
🏢 About Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa is Africa's largest health-focused NGO, founded in 1957 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. What makes them unique is their deep-rooted, community-led approach to healthcare across 35 African countries, focusing on sustainable solutions rather than temporary aid. Working here offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful health system strengthening while being part of an organization that has earned trust through decades of on-the-ground impact.
About This Role
As Communications Manager, you'll develop strategic communications frameworks for multi-country health programs, translating complex public health work into compelling narratives that influence policymakers and donors. This role is impactful because your communications will directly shape how Amref's program successes are perceived by key stakeholders, potentially unlocking additional funding and policy support for critical health initiatives across Africa.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve morning virtual meetings with country teams in East Africa to gather program updates, followed by drafting a donor narrative that translates technical health data into compelling impact stories. The afternoon could include reviewing communications risks for an upcoming program announcement while coordinating with HQ colleagues on quality standards, then developing capacity-building materials for country communications officers.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Amref Health Africa Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years leading strategic communications for multi-country development programs (ideally in global health or international development)
- Demonstrates specific experience translating technical program data into donor-facing narratives that secured funding or policy changes
- Shows proven crisis communication experience in sensitive contexts (health emergencies, political sensitivities, or reputational risks in NGO settings)
- Has experience building communications capacity across decentralized teams in different cultural contexts, particularly in African countries
📝 Tips for Applying to Amref Health Africa
Quantify your impact: Instead of 'managed communications,' specify 'developed donor narratives that contributed to $X million in renewed funding for maternal health programs across 3 countries'
Highlight African context experience: Even if indirect, emphasize any work with African partners, stakeholders, or audiences in your portfolio
Show policy influence: Provide concrete examples where your communications directly influenced policy decisions or donor priorities
Demonstrate remote collaboration: Detail experience managing communications across time zones and cultures, crucial for this remote role coordinating with African country teams
Align with Amref's approach: Reference their 'community-led' philosophy and how your communications style amplifies local voices rather than imposing external narratives
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience developing strategic communications frameworks specifically for multi-country health or development programs', 'Concrete examples of translating complex program data into compelling narratives that influenced donor decisions or policy changes', "How you've managed communications risks in sensitive contexts (health crises, political environments, or donor relations)", 'Your approach to building communications capacity across diverse, decentralized teams in different cultural settings']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Amref's current major programs and donors (particularly their partnerships with organizations like USAID, Global Fund, or European governments)
- → Their recent communications outputs: annual reports, donor briefs, and digital content to understand their current narrative style and gaps
- → The specific health challenges in their focus countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, etc.) and how Amref addresses them differently than other NGOs
- → Their leadership team and organizational structure to understand how communications fits within their decentralized model
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Generic communications experience without specific examples from international development or global health contexts
- Focusing only on digital/social media without demonstrating experience with donor reports, policy briefs, and institutional communications
- Presenting as a solo contributor rather than someone who builds capacity and collaborates across decentralized teams
- Using Western-centric communication examples without demonstrating cultural sensitivity or adaptation to African contexts
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Amref Health Africa!