Friends of Lake Turkana (FoLT) is community trust interested in the survival and conservation of Lake Turkana and its ecosystem.

Role overview:

The Research, Advocacy & Communications Fellow will help strengthen FoLT’s efforts to amplify indigenous voices in demanding environmental, social, cultural, and economic rights. The position aims to broaden the applicant’s existing skills and experience working in an indigenous organization and allow them flexibility in taking on varied responsibilities that come with working to support shift power. The Fellowship will help the applicant develop professionally through practical experience working in a hands-on organization dedicated to a people-centered approach.

Responsibilities: 

• Identify advocacy opportunities at the local level based on FoLT activities and work with the team and community monitors to implement actions that support efforts to push an indigenous people’s agenda.
• Identify success stories and narratives neglected in FoLT’s activities and creatively think of ways to capture these, respecting the FPIC principle.
• Writing for various purposes, including news content, press work, advocacy letters, research reports, fact sheets, talking points, and submissions to relevant institutions.
• Carry out desk research on rights issues to supplement information from fieldwork by FoLT networks.
• Collate information on trends across FoLT work from multiple sources, including the FoLT team and outside experts, and deliver findings to colleagues through presentations or written summaries.
• Representing FoLT in meetings and conferences
•  Plan and manage events, advocacy meetings, conferences, and other events, including liaising with community partners, representatives of public authorities, and other actors relevant to the subject of interest.
• Monitor FoLT’s ecosystem locally, nationally, and globally.
• Creating and maintaining internal systems, including content calendars, diaries of upcoming events and opportunities; indicators to monitor and evaluate advocacy outputs and outcomes, and other procedures identified by the Fellow;
• Monitor news media to keep up-to-date with discussions relating to our work.

Person Specifications 

• A university degree (other relevant experience may be considered in place of a degree).
• Proven interest in working in the field of indigenous rights.
• Excellent writing, editing, and speaking skills required; ability to present FoLT positions concisely.
• Familiarity with the indigenous protocols and institutions and how they interact with country legislations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the human rights violations commonly faced by indigenous peoples.
• Attentiveness to deadlines, flexibility, and ability to handle a complex workload.
• Strong team player.
• Ability to work in a diverse team and the ability to work independently;
• Demonstrate commitment to the promotion of indigenous rights to self-determination.
• Willingness to travel for work in remote areas.
• A solid commitment to FoLT’s values
• Takes initiative and charge and proactively seeks new ideas and experiments with new processes/practices that capitalize on opportunities.

Desirable

• Experience working in an advocacy or policy area.
• A background or interest in media production or journalism.
• Knowledge of advocacy strategies and techniques.
• Significant experience living or working in an indigenous community.