Narrative Revenue and Sustainability Officer
(NRSO)About Media Challenge Initiative (MCI)
Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) envisions a humane and healthy media ecosystem shaping the future. At the core of this vision is Africa's first apprenticeship-driven social newsroom — a living system where young journalists, creators, editors, designers, researchers, and media entrepreneurs learn by doing, shape culture, and build sustainable media futures.
MCI operates as a dual system: a mission-driven media development NGO and a growing social enterprise using media to sustain the NGO.
The Role: Narrative Revenue and Sustainability Officer
We are looking for a Narrative Revenue and Sustainability Officer — to design, grow, and steward the business systems that sustain MCI and our apprenticeship newsroom.
We are looking for a Media Business Builder, someone who lives comfortably at the intersection of: media + money, content + commerce, impact + income, and youth culture + business logic.
Most importantly, the candidate we are looking for must understand, deeply, that money and impact are not opposites — they are design partners.
Core Mandate
You are responsible for turning impact into revenue — ethically, creatively, and strategically.
You design the business behind the stories, project, outreach and campaign.
Key Responsibilities
MCI's 7S Intervention Model
- S1: Skilling the Next Generation of Journalists
- S2: Space for Media Innovation
- S3: Shaping Narratives and Culture
- S4: Safeguarding the Information Ecosystem
- S5: Stabilizing Local and Rural Journalism
- S6: Strengthening Media Coverage of the Development Sector
- S7: Sustainability Through Social Enterprise
1. Design MCI's Sustainability Architecture
- Design and implement MCI's revenue strategy across NGO work, social enterprise services, and newsroom operations
- Diversify income beyond grants into campaign partnerships, corporate collaborations, content partnerships, training & skilling products, and consulting and facilitation
- Ensure sustainability aligns with MCI's values, mission, and editorial independence
2. Narrative Revenue Design (Business Behind Stories)
- Work with the newsroom to identify revenue pathways for stories, series, and channels
- Design campaign-based partnerships around themes (health, climate, youth, money, creativity)
- Package content as campaigns, experiences, community activations, and learning products
- Ensure sustainability thinking starts at story conception, not at the end
3. Partnership Development with Corporate and Private Sector
- Attract and steward corporate, private, foundation, and institutional partners
- Design partnerships that go beyond branding to shared value
- Position MCI as a long-term partner, not a service provider
4. Story–Brand Matchmaking
- Match brands and institutions to Switch Africa channels, youth communities, and cultural conversations
- Develop ethical frameworks for sponsored content, branded storytelling, and co-created campaigns
5. Pipeline, Sales & Relationship Management
- Build and manage a partnership pipeline
- Lead pitching, negotiations, and closing
- Maintain long-term partner relationships
- Track revenue targets and performance
- Collaborate closely with CEO, Newsroom Manager, People & Culture Officer, and Finance
6. Internal Capacity Building
You will help the organization learn to think sustainably by:
- Training project managers, editors and producers to think commercially
- Building simple sustainability tools for teams
- Creating templates for proposals, decks, and pitches
- Supporting apprentices to understand media business models
- Train and mentor the next generation of sustainability and narrative revenue experts
Who We Are Looking For
Why This Role Matters
This role exists to answer one of the most important questions in African media:
How do we fund journalism and storytelling that serves young people — without losing our soul?
Success in This Role Looks Like
- Reduced donor dependency
- Clear revenue logic for Switch Africa channels
- Increased revenue flows to sustain the organization
- Strong, repeat partners
- A growing, trusted social enterprise
- A newsroom that can plan long-term with confidence
Ready to Apply?
Send your CV and cover letter to info@mciug.org before 19th February, 2026.
Still have questions? Email us at info@mciug.org