Associate Director, External Relations & Advocacy, Africa at International Center for Reproductive Rights

The Role:

Reporting to the Senior Regional Director, Africa, the Associate Director, External Relations, and Advocacy will lead the Africa program’s efforts to expand its partnerships, advocacy and communications across Africa to position the Center as a leading voice on Sexual Reproduction Health Rights (SRHR). S/he will represent the Center at global, regional, and national forums and lead the development of evidence-based policy positions in close coordination with technical experts, conceptualize and coordinate the implementation of policy, advocacy, and communications strategies at a regional level. The incumbent will also work closely with partners and strategic networks to collectively influence SRHR policies and practices, track organizational engagement efforts and advise the team on opportunities to engage stakeholders and promote research and learning to influence policies. She/he will lead the Advisers, Fellows, and Interns on the team to leverage their expertise to develop compelling, relevant, and timely interventions that contribute to the Center’s advocacy and communications work.

The Associate Director, External Relations and Advocacy will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Primary Responsibilities:

Advocacy and Campaigns

• Design, oversee and implement a thought leadership strategy on advocacy and communications for Africa. Additionally provide strategic direction, oversight, coordination, priority setting, strategic planning, and delivery of advocacy efforts around key themes and moments.
• Design and implement campaigns that contribute to global and regional objectives and enlarge the team’s capability to communicate with locally resonant strategies and messages, evaluate results, and develop corrective strategies as needed.
• Provide thought leadership on program development and influencing the agenda on policy/research and campaigning initiatives.
• Lead external representation for the Centre’s advocacy and policy goals; and capacity development initiatives to deepen the influencing approaches across the regional programs; and support and share key learnings and foster an environment for innovation.
• Ensure quality of programs on influencing agenda across Africa with human rights mechanisms and political bodies.
• Work closely with the Center’s strategic partners across all focal countries to determine their advocacy and campaigning needs, ensuring that the Centre’s advocacy support is aligned to their needs and adds value. Additionally plan and manage the advocacy calendar with key moments and events.

Strategic Communications

• Lead and implement integrated strategic communications to grow the organization’s influence to shape the conversation around Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) among government and other sector audiences.
• Lead and oversee the external engagement strategy for data-driven and inspiring communications content to ensure feminist, human rights and broader SRHR movement intersectional approach across internal and external communications.
• Drive brand influence through innovative strategies tied to external, high-profile events which may include collaborations with partner NGOs, Conference of Parties etc.
• Oversee the development of best-in-class communications and marketing assets, including print materials and digital content.
• Oversight in development and implementation of media strategies, components, and growth of media relationships on behalf of the Centre.

Partnerships

• Play a leading role in raising Centre’s profile in country and at the region through developing significant relationships with partners, allies, government development partners, INGOs, UN and the media.
• Build a network of new relationships (SRHR and media partners, communications leaders of partner organizations and influencers) to strengthen existing relationships and expand the reach and impact of the Center’s communications and messages.
• Develop and maintain the networks and working relationships with partners and stakeholders in sexual reproductive human rights.

Leadership

• Promote a team culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and commitment to quality and manage the performance of Advocacy and Communication advisors in line with the Center’s Human Resources policy and organizational values.
• Support fundraising efforts in collaboration with the Africa team in the development of funding proposals and advocacy related capacity statements.
• Ensure proper reporting and accountability to internal and external audience such as multilateral and bilateral donors.
• Expand the portfolio of trusted consultants, engage, and manage the requisition of the same as need be.

Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in Law, International Relations, Communications, Development Studies, Social Science or relevant field is required.
• A minimum of 10 years’ of progressively responsible work experience in advocacy, project communications (developing strategic and tactical communication context specific analysis, strategy, policies, procedures, and compelling content to suit different audiences), measuring results, media engagement strategies with extensive experience cultivating and managing partnerships and relationships at an International/Non-Governmental Organization, Donor Agency, or Embassy. Experience working in a global, decentralized organization will be an advantage.
• Experience working on human/women’s rights, reproductive rights and/or in the social justice sector with demonstrable expertise in advocacy and/or representation and influence at high policy levels with additional experience in research and policy analysis, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, writing and production of reports, policy briefs and publications will be an advantage.
• Experience in advocacy and communications with African National Governments and African Union Organs will be an advantage.
• Proven ability to manage projects workflow, including facilitating project scope, identifying goals and deliverables, planning and scheduling project timelines, and monitoring project progress and providing non-profits technical assistance, expanding, and strengthening the communications knowledge, capabilities, and resources to enhance work and improve effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to conceive and write creatively for diverse and inclusive audiences including experience in translating complex or technical content into compelling communications in addition to excellent presentation and verbal communication skills including experience engaging diverse audiences that include internal and external executives, donors, local community groups and the public or equivalent.
• Supervisory experience including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance of a team including senior advisors.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and has experience of working with many internal and external partners simultaneously in multi-cultural or cross-cultural context.
• Must be willing to travel domestically and internationally and work in variable weather conditions, remote locations, hazardous terrain, and physically demanding circumstances.
• The required language is English, but working knowledge of other African Union languages will be an added advantage.