Senior Advisor – Advocacy at International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)

JOB PURPOSE

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Secretariat comprises a London and six Regional Offices. The IPPF Africa Region (IPPFAR) is one of the leading providers of quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Sub-Saharan Africa and a leading sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the overarching goal of IPPFAR is to increase access to SRHR services to the most vulnerable youth, men and women in sub-Saharan Africa. To reach this goal, IPPFAR works with governments, the African Union (AU), regional economic commissions (RECs), the Pan-African Parliament, the United Nations, among others, to expand political and financial commitments to SRHR in Africa. For more information, please read our 2021 profile (in English and French) here.

IPPFAR is looking for a Senior Advisor – responsible for Regional and sub-regional Advocacy to identify potential advocacy opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The incumbent will develop and implement IPPFAR’s advocacy strategy, programmes and campaigns to build commitment to and support for SRHR through inter-governmental related processes at the regional and sub-regional level. S/he will showcase innovative and successful approaches from IPPFAR Member Associations and key advocacy partners, taking lessons from other organisations and emerging best practices. S/he will help to renew and increase regional political and financial commitments for SRHR in Sub-Saharan Africa and ensure the prioritization of SRHR in regional and international dialogues, agendas and policies.

The Senior Advisor will act as the focal point for the Federation in regard to advocacy activities at the regional and sub-regional level in Africa to advance SRHR and the work of IPPF.

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 lead evidence-based lobbying and 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.
• 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 lobbying and advocacy at regional level. This will be executed through regional online/physical lobbying and advocacy engagements, media advocacy, collaborative campaigns, experience learning, linking, and learning for young advocates.
• 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, UNECA, Regional Economic Commissions, African and non-African missions and other relevant internal/external links – and international level – with the Human Rights Council, the African Commission for human Rights, UPR, CSW, etc.
• 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.
• S/he 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.

COMPETENCIES

LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: 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. Knowledge of 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 days a year.

ASSESSMENT

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a desk review and/or an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

The IPPF Africa Regional Office (IPPF ARO) is seeking an individual to fill the position of Senior Advisor – Advocacy The post holder will be responsible for overall coordination and management of grants and restricted funded projects of IPPFAR and will ensure adherence to internal and donor standards, policies and regulations. S/he shall design and administer grants in IPPFAR and Member Associations, developing and refining manuals, building capacity on financial and accounting systems, ensuring alignment with program objectives, and managing procurement systems. For more details about this position, please see the job description attached (below).*