Muchiri Francis

November 2015 – December 2017 Communication Officer 

Practical Action              Overall Job: Developed and implemented projects Communication, Marketing and Knowledge Management strategy; enhancing the unit’s performance; procuring, developing and launching strategic content and materials; securing compliance for projects in line with agreed donor guidelines; coaching and mentoring team members in order to enhance efficiency in delivering value for money best practices across all levels.               Nairobi, Kenya

Achievements:

Fundraising and enhancing cost-effectiveness

• Fund raised over $150,000 annually through a variety of donors and partners at various forums – exhibitions, expos, conferences, and donor meets
• Demonstrated the value-for-money approach showing a $1 investment resulted in $4 return through effective strategy implementation
• Ran an internally recognized high performing team through active mentoring and performance management support
• Increased inter-sectoral networks supporting charity platforms with the public and private sector through increasing the organization’s strategic visibility and brand
• Successfully marshalled the organization’s ISO 90001 certification process through collaborating with programme management to ensure increased implementation efficacy and performance and increasing the organization’s highlight in its operational sectors
• Co-built an accessible knowledge portal with the organization’s work and institutional memory content accessed on PracticalAnswers App – an individual legacy. 

November 2013 – October 2015 Communication and Knowledge Brokerage Officer,

Practical Action              Overall Job: As the Focal Point for Practical Action Eastern Africa Regional Office Communication unit, I ensured all communications products, strategies, knowledge, and management systems conformed with organizational standards and guidelines                Nairobi, Kenya

Achievements:

• Co-authored a number of technical publications related to the project work
• Guaranteed the unit’s operation through continuous local and global lobbying and fundraising 
• Increased the efficiency of handling technical inquiries by over 250% through forging new and rejuvenating existing collaboration with knowledge and information centers
• Established a highly sought-after internal development photography gallery with high quality still and video content for the organization’s work across Eastern Africa
• Produced periodic high-quality high visibility information communication and knowledge products in different formats including organizations’ reports, presentations, publications, brochures, policy briefs, social media stories and twits, press briefs and releases, short films, and podcasts.

June 2007 – October 2013 Communication Unit Assistant

Practical Action              Overall Job: Support the Communications unit staff in reporting; support the implementation, carry out field validation trips; represent the organization at forums, exhibitions, and conferences; and track organization’s project implementation performance through interaction with communities across Eastern Africa 

Achievements:

• Successfully coordinated local and international travel arrangements, bookings, logistical issues for community exchange and foreign visits by EU-Parliamentarians, Donors and different support groups;
• Developed and designed high-visibility publicity products for project activities and initiatives for improving visibility and brand and fundraising;
• Successfully established an impact framework tool for tracking and documenting organizational learning in order to flag scale-up opportunities across projects
• Successfully updated the organization’s web and social media site, wrote topical blog posts, and consistently analysed the online statistics for improving content optimization across the search engines

December 2004 – May 2007 Documentalist and Reporting Assistant

Intermediate Technology Development Group Ltd.      

Achievements:

• Established an indigenous knowledge and ethno-veterinary information hub with participants across Northern Kenya (Mandera, Marsabit, and Turkana), Tanzania (Arusha, Kilosa, and Monduli), and Uganda (Karamoja region) for knowledge and information exchange
• Championed an environment improvement initiative through a documentary dubbed “Together for a cleaner Nakuru – A cleaner Nakuru begins with me” that became a starting point for Nakuru Town’s improvement to be the cleanest town in Kenya for 2 years in a row – 2004 & 2005

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANCY

2023    I revised and rewrote the Integrated FFBS & Agrinutrition Training Manual for GIZ’s Nutrition- Sensitive Potato Partnership Project (NuSePPP)

2022    I advanced the Project’s Phase-Out Strategy document for GIZ’s Nutrition- Sensitive Potato Partnership Project (NuSePPP)

2022    I revised and provided editorial support for the publishing of Elgeyo Marakwet and Trans Nzoia County Potato strategies and Trans Nzoia and Nyandarua County Nutrition Action plans with the support of GIZ – Kenya

2022    I participated in research on ‘Inculcating an Entrepreneurial Thinking’ leading to the production of a manual called ‘Entrepreneurship Thinking - A Guide to Creating an Entrepreneurial Mind-Set for Young People’ for Learning Gaps Academy

2021    I co-authored and produced the Integrated Urban Strategic Plans for 6 Sub-counties in Kiambu County for Urban Lines Consultancy implemented in 2021-2025

2020    I supported the development of online course content on household food security techniques including kitchen gardening and small stock rearing for Latia Agribusiness Solutions, to support course delivery during the COVID 19 period

2019    I reviewed and produced 8 print-ready floriculture training manuals for Latia Agribusiness Solutions in support of Assam Agricultural. Competiveness Project (AACP)

2018    I established a robust Communication Platform for the County Government of Meru through an initiative dubbed “Enhancing the citizen feedback mechanisms” a consultancy funded by USAID’s AHADI program, implemented by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) East Africa

2018    I designed and presented 14 print-ready Training and Learners Guides and Manuals for Latia Resource Centre funded by GIZ’s ATVET Program

2017    I developed 6 print-ready Farmer Fields Based School (FFBS) Manuals for the training of government agriculture staff and farmers - funded by GIZ’s Potato Project

2017    I co-wrote and edited 3 print-ready quarterly JotoAfrika magazines (Issue 19-21) for Arid Lands Information Network Eastern Africa (ALIN-EA) - Editorial, Design and Layout

2017     I developed and reviewed the Communication Strategy for 2010-2015 for resource leveraging for the Sustainable Community Development Enterprises (SCODE) Ltd. in Nakuru 

2009    I was the point person for Eastern Africa for implementing the Equine and Livelihoods Communication Strategy for Brooke International (UK, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Jordan) in Kenya, Egypt (Cairo and Giza) and Amman. Jordan.

2008    I produced a professional project photo portfolio for stories covering the lives of refugees living in two camps; Bellet Xawo and Bellet Amin (in Gedo, Somalia) for Trochaire and Care International 

Bachelor of Arts, Journalism & Media Studies, University of Nairobi (Ongoing) Nairobi, Kenya

Diploma in Journalism & Media Studies, Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS)  Nairobi, Kenya

Diploma, Advertising, Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS)         Nairobi, Kenya

Diploma, Public Relations, Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS)               Nairobi, Kenya

OTHER COURSES

Certificate Award, Digital Journalism, Reuters News Agency

Certificate Award, English Composition, Coursera

Certificate Award, Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools, Coursera

Certificate Award, Organizational Analysis, Coursera

Certificate Award, Negotiation Skills Seminar, Online