Scaling Inclusive Communications for Youth and Displacement: The DREEM 2030 Initiative

World University Service of Canada is recruiting a Communications Manager for its DREEM 2030 initiative, a multi-country programme focused on improving education and employment opportunities for refugee, displaced, and host community youth across Africa. The role is designed as a strategic communications leadership position supporting large-scale systems change in youth inclusion.

Working across multiple African cities—including Nairobi, Abidjan, Accra, Kigali, or Addis Ababa—the position plays a central role in shaping how the programme communicates impact, builds partnerships, and strengthens the visibility of refugee-led development models.

Advancing Youth Inclusion Through Strategic Storytelling

The DREEM 2030 programme, implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, aims to expand opportunities for displaced and refugee youth, particularly young women and youth with disabilities. The communications function is central to demonstrating the programme’s “business case” for inclusion.

The Communications Manager is expected to lead high-impact storytelling that highlights:

• Economic value of refugee and displaced youth inclusion
• Social impact of education and employment access
• Success stories from refugee-led organizations (RLOs)
• Systemic change across sectors such as education, agriculture, and digital work
• Lived experiences of youth in fragile and displacement-affected contexts

The role moves beyond traditional public relations, positioning communications as a tool for advocacy, systems change, and network influence.

Building a Pan-African Communications Strategy

A core responsibility of the position is developing and implementing a multi-country communications strategy that ensures consistency, visibility, and alignment across partners and regions.

Key strategic responsibilities include:

• Designing and updating a continental communications strategy
• Positioning DREEM 2030 as a centre of excellence for refugee inclusion
• Aligning messaging with Mastercard Foundation and organisational branding
• Advising senior leadership on communications strategy and influence
• Coordinating messaging across 80+ partner organisations

The role requires strong coordination skills to manage communications across diverse geographic, linguistic, and institutional contexts.

Storytelling, Content Production, and Narrative Shift

A major focus of the role is content development that shifts narratives around refugees and displaced populations. Rather than focusing on vulnerability, the programme emphasises agency, resilience, and economic contribution.

Key deliverables include:

• Production of “business case” materials on inclusion
• Development of case studies, briefs, and impact stories
• Multimedia storytelling in English and French
• Photography and video production across field sites
• Ethical storytelling guidelines for partner organisations

This approach reflects a broader shift in humanitarian and development communications toward dignity-based and evidence-driven narratives.

Digital Platforms and Knowledge Management

The Communications Manager will also lead the development and management of the DREEM digital ecosystem, including a dedicated programme website and knowledge hub. This platform will serve as a central space for sharing research, tools, and success stories.

Responsibilities include:

• Designing and managing the DREEM website
• Coordinating digital infrastructure with headquarters and partners
• Running digital campaigns across African regions
• Translating research into accessible communications content
• Tracking analytics and improving engagement strategies

The role integrates communications with knowledge management to ensure learning is widely shared and accessible.

Strengthening Refugee-Led Communication Capacity

A key innovation in the DREEM 2030 model is its focus on building the communications capacity of refugee-led organizations (RLOs). The Communications Manager will provide technical assistance to ensure that local actors can independently lead storytelling and advocacy efforts.

Core capacity-building activities include:

• Training RLOs in storytelling and digital communications
• Supporting ethical communications practices
• Developing branding and visibility toolkits
• Coaching youth advisory groups on advocacy messaging
• Strengthening partner-led media production

This reflects a shift toward decentralised and locally led communications systems.

Internal Learning and System Coordination

Beyond external communications, the role also supports internal knowledge sharing across countries and teams. Given the scale of the programme, coordination is essential for maintaining consistency and sharing innovations.

Responsibilities include:

• Strengthening internal communication systems across regions
• Sharing lessons learned across country teams
• Contributing to organisational learning platforms
• Developing templates and communication toolkits
• Participating in global communities of practice

This ensures that successful strategies in one country can be adapted across others.

Monitoring Impact Through Communications Data

The role also includes a strong monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MERL) component, focusing on how communications contribute to behavioural and narrative change.

Key tasks include:

• Defining communications KPIs
• Measuring shifts in inclusion narratives
• Translating research into communication outputs
• Contributing to donor reporting
• Documenting the effectiveness of communication strategies

This data-driven approach positions communications as a measurable driver of systemic change.

Skills, Experience, and Regional Expertise

The role requires 7–10 years of communications experience, ideally within international development contexts in Africa. Strong writing, storytelling, and strategic planning skills are essential.

Key qualifications include:

• Experience in multi-country communications strategy
• Strong digital media and content production skills
• Ability to train and mentor partners
• Fluency in English and French
• Experience working in diverse and fragile contexts
• Knowledge of refugee and displacement issues
• Capacity to manage stakeholders and consultants

The role also values experience in graphic design, photography, and multimedia production.

A Role at the Intersection of Media and Systems Change

This Communications Manager position reflects the increasing importance of strategic communications in development programming. By combining storytelling, digital platforms, capacity building, and data-driven analysis, the role contributes directly to reshaping how refugee and displaced youth are represented and supported.

Ultimately, the position supports a broader vision of inclusive development—where communication is not just a support function, but a core driver of equity, opportunity, and systemic change across Africa.

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