The Regional Advocacy Coordinator is a key member of IRC’s East Africa’s regional support team and the Global Policy/Solutions & Advocacy/Influence teams, charged with strategically positioning IRC on key humanitarian policy debates and raising its profile locally, regionally and internationally. As a member of the regional team, the Regional Advocacy Coordinator will work closely with country programs throughout the region to provide targeted support in developing local advocacy and policy solutions and building the capacity of country program teams to advocate on priority issues in their contexts. The Regional Advocacy Coordinator works closely and collaboratively with these internal stakeholders as well as broad range of external stakeholders. The position holder will develop appropriate, coherent and compelling messaging with the aim of influencing the policies and practices of key actors, enhancing the impact and increasing the coverage of IRC’s work.
The Regional Advocacy Coordinator reports to the Regional Vice President and works closely with the Global Policy & Solutions and Advocacy & Influence teams’ leadership and advocacy officers in the U.S. and Europe and other regions. The position is based in Nairobi with travel in the region, and occasionally to U.S. or European cities.
Scope of work
• Using real-time, credible data, facilitate the development and implementation of influencing strategies and policies within the region in coordination with country programs and regional team; ensuring consistency in messaging and information flow from the local to global arena;
• Represent the IRC in regional fora, and develop or strengthen networks/alliances to push forward topics of shared concern within the humanitarian community -bridging understanding of key issues from the local/national, to regional, to global level;
• Foster an expanded and coordinated dialogue about improvements to international humanitarian and development architecture and corresponding systems and tools for more effective response.
Specific responsibilities
• Assist in developing and implementing regional advocacy strategies and ensure timely revisions as the context evolves
• Ensure that country priorities are integrated into appropriate strategy documents and plans
• Help develop the capacities of country programs on influencing response in complex contexts
• Work closely with policy, advocacy and communications staff in Washington DC, New York, London, and Brussels, sharing the strategy and other information to ensure regional and country program perspectives are reflected in policy development and advocacy approaches on crisis response, food security, forced displacement/refugee inclusion, civilian protection, humanitarian access.
• Closely monitor policy debates and ensure relevant information is disseminated to advocacy colleagues throughout the IRC
• Act as IRC spokesperson on advocacy issues where appropriate and take part in relevant country and international policy/advocacy fora as guided by key stakeholders
• Support on qualitative research projects within the region to ensure that advocacy themes are shaped by new evidence being generated.
• Serve as regional focal point/advisor in the development of the IRC’s Emergency Watchlist and other high profile policy products. Help ensure the analysis is informed by the experience of our clients and programs and the insights of local CSO.
Requirements:
• At least three years of experience in delivering advocacy and policy development work responding to complex humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict environments.
• Must have at least five years of professional experience in humanitarian affairs; protection; refugee affairs; and international human rights.
• Demonstrated creativity, ability to apply innovative thinking and problem solving skills.
• Excellent analytical, presentation, communication and writing skills.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential; Must be willing to travel to remote sites under challenging conditions.
• Ability to work well in unstable security environments, and under significant administrative and programmatic pressures.
Positions Reports to: Regional Vice-President, East Africa.
Works Closely With: Global Policy & Advocacy team in the U.S. and Europe
Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in The IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
How to apply
https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/38403?c=rescue
