Health Advocacy Lead at Faith to Action Network

Purpose of the role:

Faith to Action Network is currently in the phase of negotiating with the EU for a recently awarded project-SHARP- Solutions for supporting healthy adolescents and rights protection (SHARP). The project takes place in Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia and at the East African regional level. The project is for a duration of four years.

We seek to recruit a bi-lingual (French and English) Health advocacy Lead to implement advocacy and communication strategies in the SHARP project for better ASRHR policies, increased ASRHR budgets, greater multi-sectoral collaboration and positioning ASRHR on the public agenda. The position will design and implement a faith-based advocacy strategy targeting duty bearers to adopt, develop, improve, and implement regional (EAC and ICGLR) and national (Kenya) policies and budgets that advance ASRHR particularly for girls and other vulnerable adolescents. The person will coordinate multi-stakeholder platforms, and design and implement a regional communication strategy.

KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project advocacy strategy:

• Develop and implement an advocacy strategy at EAC regional level and at national level (Kenya)
• Conduct policy and budget monitoring (including tracking policy and budget developments and calendars);
• Develop and contribute to advocacy briefs, briefing papers, statements, recommendations, together with other CSOs;
• Develop or adapt existing interfaith advocacy training packages;
• Develop a dissemination strategy for the different products to achieve advocacy and sensitisation goals.
• Build, strengthen and manage relations with the East African Community and International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, Kenyan government, project partners, civil society and other stakeholders at regional level and in focus countries;
• Build, strengthen and manage relations with faith champions in focus countries.
• Coordinate multi-sectoral coordination platforms at the East Africa Regional level.
• Organise workshops, facilitate intra- and interfaith dialogues for faith organisations in focus project countries on ASRHR;
• Conduct capacity strengthening trainings to faith partners and local CSOs;

Project communications campaign

• Develop and implement a regional communications campaign including a regional workshop, production of campaign toolkits and national campaign planning meetings;
• Develop faith-based and evidence-based communications content;

Monitoring and evaluation

• Develop and apply a monitoring and evaluation plan including processes and tools adapted to advocacy, capacity strengthening and communication.
• Contribute to knowledge management within Faith to Action Network, highlighting key developments within the project and lead the continuous and systematic documentation of project interventions.
• Submit timely and quality project advocacy reports to the SRHR Thematic lead.

Other

• Build and maintain positive relationships with all members of staff, and contacts within and outside the Network.
• Plan and complete work assignments with a high degree of initiative, good judgment, analytical skill, and integrity.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Advocacy advisor

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS (Candidates must meet basic requirements to be considered for this job.)

Educational background

Master’s degree or equivalent in Public health, International relations, Development studies, Social science, Political science or similar discipline is required.

Professional experience

• A minimum of seven years of experience in a role that involves policy and budget advocacy for an International NGO with excellent knowledge of advocacy cycle and application of advocacy tools;
• Demonstrated strong understanding of EAC or ICGLR regional policy processes
• Experience in developing and implementing communication campaigns; and
• Experience in developing and implementing policy and budget advocacy strategies
• Experience working on adolescent SRHR with demonstrable expertise in advocacy and/or representation and influence at high policy levels;
• Experience in policy and budget analysis,
• Experience in writing and production of advocacy documents, (policy briefs, budget studies and publications);
• Experience in building effective relationships, demonstrating leadership and exerting influence with various stakeholders through acting in an advisory capacity
• Experience in working with faith-based organisations and faith champions
• Experience managing large complex donor projects such as EU grants

Skills and Competencies

• Proven ability to manage projects workflow, including facilitating project scope, identifying goals and deliverables, planning and scheduling project timelines, and monitoring project progress; and
• Demonstrated ability to identify priority actions, generate and complete work plans within short time frames.
• Must be able to demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills, and ability to clearly communicate program and technical concepts to technical and non-technical counterparts.

Languages

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French are required.

Personal competencies

• Possess and exhibit a level of confidence in themselves and own work but must be able to take direction and criticism professionally.
• Able to work in fast paced work environment with minimal supervision;
• Ability to work in a team and able to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of situations and with various individuals and groups.
• Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives, adapting one’s approach as the requirements of a situation change.
• Willingness to travel within Kenya, and internationally , as needed;
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Effectively respond to pressure or crisis situations and acts proactively and follow through on ideas, assignments, and open issues.
• Optimism, cheerfulness and an interest in other people.