Communications Associate – SAFEE Program

About Kifiya

Kifiya Financial Technology PLC is a leading Ethiopian fintech company committed to expanding equitable access to financial services and markets for underserved communities, women, youth, and MSMEs. Through its digital infrastructures—Intelligent Decisioning, Digital Financial Services, Digital Agriculture, and Smart Mobility—Kifiya delivers data-driven solutions that address systemic market failures and promote inclusive economic growth. The Market Solutions Practice (MSP) focuses on enabling access to finance and markets through innovative digital products, partnerships, and field-level delivery systems.

About the SAFEE Program

The Sustainable Access to Finance to Enable Entrepreneurship (SAFEE) Program is a partnership between Kifiya and the Mastercard Foundation aimed at enabling 2.18 million young people—primarily young women—to access Dignified & Fulfilling Work (DFW). SAFEE supports 477,861 MSMEs with uncollateralized digital financial services and business development support. Through a $75M Transitional Liquidity Facility (TLF), SAFEE unlocks up to $1.2B in loanable liquidity for partner banks and strengthens Ethiopia’s lending ecosystem through AI-enabled credit scoring, digital onboarding, and a shared facility model.

Position Summary

The Communications Associate will support the Impact Communications Lead, Market Solutions Practice team, and overall program teams in producing high-quality content, documenting impact stories from the field, and ensuring strong visibility for SAFEE interventions. The role balances field-based storytelling with digital content production, evidence translation, and logistical support during events and partner engagements.

This position is ideal for a motivated early-career communicator who is passionate about youth employment, women’s economic empowerment, and financial inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

1. Impact Documentation & Storytelling (Up to 30% Field Travel)

• Conduct field visits (in coordination with MERL and field teams) to gather interviews, photos, videos, and qualitative insights.
• Support the production of human-interest stories, case studies, and MSME/entrepreneur profiles.
• Capture quotes, testimonials, and short narratives that highlight business growth, resilience, and financial empowerment.

2. Communication & Visibility Support

• Assist in developing communication materials such as impact snapshots, social media content, quarterly report inputs, and learning briefs.
• Produce basic photo stories, short clips, infographics, and testimonials aligned with SAFEE branding.
• Support documentation during events, workshops, field missions, and partner visits.

3. Evidence Translation & Learning

• Work with MSP MERL to interpret monitoring data, survey insights, and field findings.
• Translate evidence into simple, clear content for donor reports, learning events, and internal briefs.
• Help draft thematic notes, knowledge pieces, and content for learning dialogues.

4. Stakeholder Communication Support

• Assist in preparing talking points, meeting summaries, presentations, and event documentation.
• Support visibility and communication materials during high-level visits, learning events, and bank/partner engagements.

5. Digital Content & Knowledge Management

• Maintain a well-organized repository of stories, interviews, photos, raw media files, and consent forms.
• Coordinate with designers, videographers, and external creatives to support the production of polished communication assets.
• Assist in planning and executing monthly communication calendars and content pipelines.

   

Job Title: Communications Associate Place of Work: Kifiya HQ

Department: Market Solutions Practice Reports To: Impact Communcation Lead

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Marketing, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Experience

• 3 years of experience in communication, storytelling, social impact documentation, media production, or related fields.
• Experience working on development projects, youth programs, women-led enterprises, or financial inclusion initiatives is an added advantage.
• Prior field exposure is preferred but not mandatory.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong writing, interviewing, and storytelling skills in English and Amharic.
• Ability to convert field evidence and data into simple, compelling stories.
• Basic photography, videography, and digital content creation capabilities.
• Familiarity with editing tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, CapCut, Lightroom, or DaVinci Resolve.
• Experience with file organization, media asset management, and cloud storage tools
• Ability to produce short social-media-ready videos, photo stories, and basic motion graphics.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills—especially with field teams.
• Understanding of gender equity, youth employment, and MSME development is desirable.
• Proficiency in MS Office; familiarity with Canva, Adobe Premiere, Illustrator is an advantage.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 30% to regional locations.

Behavioural Competencies

• Ethical storytelling with safeguarding and confidentiality awareness.
• Creativity, initiative, and willingness to learn.
• Strong organization, time management, and multitasking abilities and experience and willingness in working under tight deadlines
• Empathy, active listening, and strong interpersonal communication.
• Commitment to youth empowerment, gender inclusion, and equitable development.