Regional Senior Advisor-Advocacy

The Regional Senior Advisor-Advocacy will be responsible for the following key tasks:

• Monitors and maps the political landscape and developments at regional and sub-regional level and helps implement relevant coordinated cross-African support and mobilization activities together with IPPFAR Member Associations.
• Undertakes research and documents SRHR violations and abuses with a view to leading evidence-based advocacy and campaigns in different areas of SRHR protection and promotion.
• Leads Human Rights advocacy and dialogue with regional and sub-regional economic and human rights entities and instruments
• Maintain strong relationships with other IPPFAR departments including Communcations, and Membership Support and Development, towards the full integration of advocacy across the organisation.
• Provides advocacy related capacity building for Member Associations and other relevant partners, including through the organization of (peer-to-peer) training, mentoring, coaching and hands on support to MAs and other entities that require this kind of support.
• Establishes networks and partnerships to make synergies among SRHR organizations (including regional human rights institutions, Civil Society Organizations and SRHR champions), for concerted SRHR advocacy at regional level. Provides support in the area of intergovernmental engagement as it pertains to the coordination of advocacy and liaison activities with strategic intergovernmental forums, both at regional level - with the African Union, and other regional and sub-regional bodies, and international level with UN and Human Rights mechanisms in New York and Geneva in collaboration with IPPF’s UN Liaison Team.
• Supports policy advocacy efforts in relation to IPPFAR-led or IPPFAR-supported Campaigns.
• Manages regional advocacy projects (technical, human resources and financial management).
• Manages budgets and monitor expenditures
• As part of the broader IPPF advocacy team, the post holder will also contribute to various organisational tasks and processes needed to advance the advocacy, capacity building and protection objectives of the organisation in the area of SRHR.
• Contributes to the Global and IPPFAR Advocacy team planning, system enhancement, monitoring and evaluation and general team working.
• They will exercise a high degree of accountability – ensuring timely submission of narrative and finance reports as required; and to embrace safeguarding as well as all organisational policies and values.
• Any other tasks that may be assigned by the supervisor or senior management team.

Expertise/Skills:

• QUALIFICATION: MA degree in international relations, social sciences, public policy, communications and/or other related fields
• WORK EXPERIENCE: A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in political advocacy, policy advocacy and/or communications. Knowledge of the African Union and UN systems, Africa Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Member State/Intergovernmental Processes is required. Track record of developing advocacy initiatives which yield results in the international development arena. Previous work on SRHR issues is an advantage.
• LANGUAGES: English and French are the working languages of the IPPFARO. For this post fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Portuguese is an advantage.
• SKILLS: Excellent interpersonal skills - articulate and diplomatic. Ability to interact with diverse groups; Excellent written communication skills; Strong analytical skills and the ability to summarise and simplify complex information; Strong influencing skills; Sound research skills; Good understanding of development issues and fundraising; Excellent project management, time management and organisational skills to meet multiple deadlines; Good IT skills – Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint; Flexible – team player.
• OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Awareness of and sensitivity to the multi-cultural environment in which IPPFAR operates; Sensitivity to and understanding of SRHR issues; Willing to work outside standard office hours as required; Willing to travel internationally – about 30% of time.