Maseke Mirriam Rioba

As Programmes Officer, I support the regional head in several key areas, including stakeholder management, research, partnerships, programme design, development, and delivery, as well as media, marketing, communications, and event coordination. My role was pivotal in ensuring the seamless delivery of impactful regional programs.

Key Achievements:

• Successfully managed the first cohort of the East Africa Public Leadership Programme, overseeing its design and execution.
• Graduated the inaugural cohort of eighteen fellows after seven seminar weekends. Coordinated all communication, logistical and programmatic elements.
• Played a key role in crafting program schedules, curating guest speaker lists, and developing reading materials to enhance the fellows’ experience.
• Collaborated with the marketing team to identify and highlight compelling stories from fellows to bolster the program’s visibility and outreach.
• Contributed to the research and drafting of policy briefs, adding value to the program’s intellectual output, and influencing regional policy discourse.

As Programme Manager for the Climate Action Campaign, I led the execution of a high-impact initiative focused on elevating climate action discussions across Africa. This included conducting research, implementing a polling survey, facilitating focus discussions, and managing a media fund—all contributing to successfully executing a $250,000 campaign to amplify climate action narratives.

Key Achievements:

• Spearheaded a comprehensive polling survey to identify African youth's preferred digital platforms for climate news, shaping the campaign's communication strategy.
• Led the selection of a research agency tasked with analysing speeches and assessing the role of African leadership in shaping regional climate perspectives.
• Managed a media fund that empowered journalists and content creators to produce impactful climate-related content, fostering local solutions and amplifying the message of climate action.
• Conducted three in-depth focus discussions with journalists, correspondents, and editors to assess the current gaps, needs, and opportunities in climate reporting for local and international news outlets.
• Compiled findings into a detailed project report and led a transition meeting, updating partners on key outcomes and next steps.
• Delivered a presentation to the Mastercard Foundation, outlining key learnings and strategic opportunities for engaging young Africans in climate action efforts.

As Digital Lead, I drove content creation, social media strategy, and community engagement efforts for Africa No Filter. I successfully managed multiple digital platforms, increasing organic engagement and contributing to the organisation's overall growth and visibility.

Key Achievements:

• Led the development and execution of digital content across key platforms, significantly boosting organic engagement across Instagram (15,000 followers), X (9,600 followers), Facebook (26,000 followers), LinkedIn (14,000 followers), and TikTok (400 followers).
• Collaborated closely with the Design Lead to produce compelling graphics and video content that resonated with diverse audiences.
• Assisted the Community Lead in creating and distributing organisational newsletters and was key in hosting webinars, fostering more profound engagement with the community.

As Communications Officer, I played a pivotal role in shaping and executing the organization's communication strategy. My responsibilities spanned from stakeholder engagement to content creation, media relations, and brand visibility, all aimed at amplifying the organization's mission, and strengthening its presence.

Key Achievements:

• Drafted strategic communication messages tailored to stakeholders, funders, partners, and media, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging.
• Led social media management, designed and published e-newsletters, wrote press releases and letters, and crafted website copy to enhance the organization’s digital presence.
• Developed marketing and brand visibility materials, including press kits, newsletters, infographics, and video teasers, to effectively communicate the organization’s work.
• Conducted capacity-building initiatives through training in public speaking, radio hosting, copywriting, report writing, design, and documentation.
• Organized and managed events, including community forums, organizational retreats, and mini-conferences, to foster deeper engagement with stakeholders.
• Introduced the organization’s first communications outreach strategy during the pandemic, ensuring continuous stakeholder engagement via e-newsletters, Twitter threads, and online chats.
• Launched a successful storytelling series, #MyIDMyRight, highlighting the stories of community members seeking citizenship, and their struggles and triumphs.
• Promoted the organization’s involvement in a multi-stakeholder partnership under the Kenya Correspondents Association, focusing on crisis communication for informal settlements.

In this consultancy role, I provided strategic communications support, overseeing marketing initiatives, media relations, and talent recruitment, contributing to the organization’s growth and visibility.

Key Achievements:

• Led the development and execution of marketing and communications plans, including coordinating the design and production of a commercial advertisement to enhance the company's market presence.
• Played a key role in talent acquisition, assisting with headhunting and recruitment efforts to attract technical staff for key roles.
• Leveraged existing media relationships and cultivated new contacts within business and industry media, increasing the company's visibility and strengthening its media presence.

As part of my role, I played a key part in facilitating the entry of Allan Gray’s entrepreneurship initiatives and the Wavumbuzi challenges into high schools across the Rift Valley region. I provided operational support to ensure smooth implementation and strong engagement with the educational community.

Key Achievements:

• Assisted in the successful market entry of the Allan Gray Entrepreneurship and Wavumbuzi Challenges into over 200 high schools in the Rift Valley region, contributing to the program’s expansion.
• Supported the registration, onboarding, and training of schools, ensuring efficient participation and integration into the programs.
• Acted as the primary liaison between teachers, schools, and the organization, coordinating award ceremonies, school visits, and announcements to ensure seamless communication and engagement.