Advocacy Consultant, Early Childhood Development Action Network at PATH

Timeline

The timeline is five months, from February 2024 to July 2024. The consultancy is expected to start in February 2024 and take approximately five months to complete, and include 40 working days.

Activities and Scope of Work

Support preparation and work planning for a consultative design process for the ChildCARE Fund.

• Schedule meetings with internal and external stakeholders, make logistical arrangements, manage RSVPs, assist in generating meeting materials, take notes, and highlight action items
• Support the design, coordination, implementation, and documentation of a two-day in-person workshop in Nairobi, Kenya in March 2024, that will collect partner input and inform the conceptualization of the fund’s strategy
• Coordinate a series of virtual consultations and webinars to promote the fund, gather additional partner input, and highlight key issues related to childcare
• Document lessons learned, insights gained, and recommended next steps from in-person and virtual consultations
• Lead on the drafting of an operational plan for the fund and all required guiding documents (i.e. objectives, principles of engagement, theory of change, results framework, grant selection criteria, governance, the application process, accountability measures, and other management mechanisms), as identified through the consultations
• Draft case studies, advocacy tools, and other communications and global goods that emerge from the consultations as useful to potential grantees and donors of the fund
• Assist with preparing funding proposals and responding to donor’s questions to gain the contributions required to launch the fund
• Collaborate with partners to collect and disseminate videos from “Childcare Champions” that depict the important role childcare plays in the lives of individuals across the globe
• Attend regular meetings with ECDAN’s Global Policy and Advocacy Lead and other internal staff to coordinate work plans and track progress towards deliverables
• Support the development of a content calendar and communications strategy for the global childcare campaign and other advocacy initiatives
• Conduct stakeholder mapping and desk research to support ECDAN policy priorities including parenting support, climate change, and ECD financing.
• Organize webinars and learning events
• Contribute to and complete additional tasks as needed to support the implementation and refresh of ECDAN’s advocacy and communications strategy

Deliverables

Phase: Inception

Timeframe: January -February

• Inception meeting with Secretariat leadership
• Review of key documents to further inform ECDAN’s current childcare campaign needs and future vision
• Update the work plan for the consultative process to design the ChildCARE Fund
• Monthly reports outlining work completed and upcoming actions

Phase: Development

Timeframe: February - April

• Materials and operational plans for the in-person consultation in Nairobi in March 2024
• Materials and operational plans for two virtual consultations, following the in-person meeting
• Meeting minutes and report on outcomes of consultations and next steps
• One case study on country-level advocacy approaches to strengthening childcare systems and increasing public spending
• Monthly reports outlining work completed and upcoming actions

Phase: Completion

Timeframe: April-June

• Draft an operational plan for the fund and other guiding documents for the fund
• Package of materials for potential grantees and donors
• Meeting with Secretariat leadership for feedback on the draft report
• Webinar to share final decisions with consultation participants and launch the fund
• Monthly reports outlining work completed and upcoming actions

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree (master's degree preferred) in political science, international development, public policy, or related fields
• At least 5 years working in global or country policy and advocacy
• Experience working with diverse civil society organizations, ideally at the country level
• Excellent research, analytical, writing, project management, and presentation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team as well as independently
• Experience delivering training or organizing strategic planning workshops
• Experience developing theories of change, results frameworks, and/or advocacy campaign strategies preferred