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Jobs and opportunities

Head of External Relations & Advocacy

1. JOB PURPOSE Describe why the job exists.

Deadline

1. JOB PURPOSE

Describe why the job exists.

  • Promote respect, protection and fulfilment sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) and gender equality by governments across the world through supporting relevant Strategic Framework priority outputs:
    • Contribute to the 1,000 Global target (and 160 in Africa) successful policy initiatives and/or legislative changes in support of SRHR to which IPPF advocacy contributed.
    • Contribute to the 70% Global target (and 50% in Africa) of all countries in the world are on track with their post-2015 targets improving SRHR.
    • Contribute to the 5,000 youth/women’s organizations Global Target (and 740 in Africa) to take a public action on SRHR to which IPPF engagement contributed.
    • Supporting MAs to mobilise up to 3 million activists
  • Galvanise commitment and secure legislative, policy and practice improvements in support of SRHR and gender equality through advocacy and accountability
  • Engage women and youth leaders as advocates for change including supporting work to encourage women’s and youth groups across the world to take public action for SRHR and mobilising IPPF’s activist supporter base
  • Engage with member associations to Enhance their advocacy work and build their capacity.

2. KEY TASKS

Please describe the main activities undertaken by the post holder. The list need not be exhaustive but should reflect the most important features of the post.

  • Manage the External Relations & Advocacy (ERA) staff team on a day to day basis
  • Deliver Strategic Framework Outcomes for the Federation by leading Secretariat Outcome 1 work, including developing and overseeing the collaborative implementation of the Strategic Framework
  • Chair IPPFAR Advocacy working groups for collective action and Advocacy Advisory Group for advocacy focal points from Africa Region Office
  • Oversee engagement across the Federation with women’s and youth groups to encourage them to take public action for SRHR, including supporting colleagues to build this new area of work, identifying targets, relationship building and management strategies
  • Oversee IPPF’s annual Vision 2020 campaign and MA activists, including overseeing co-ordination of input from teams across the Secretariat especially Communications. working closely with the Communications team and colleagues across the Secretariat to
  • Lead communications work for advocacy purposes/audiences including acting as a media spokesperson when requested by the Regional Director
  • Represent IPPF at meetings and events as appropriate, including speaking engagements at high-level meetings including at the United Nations, the annual donor meeting, advocacy meetings with government Ministers
  • Implement the external relations and advocacy strategy through:
    • Regional Advocacy
    • National Advocacy (both supporting MAs to do this – and building their capacity)
    • Africa Regional Office communications/publications
  • Spearhead an active role for IPPF in preparation for international events used to advocate SRHR issues and IPPF
  • Undertake, in partnership with the Regional Director, regional external relations initiatives deemed priority for IPPF Africa Region/Regional Office – this includes representation as well as maximising regional partnerships (such as with AU, regional economic communities or UN bodies)
  • Facilitate, oversee and ensure the effectiveness of interactions between the External Relations unit and other departments in the organisation
  • Represent IPPF on international Boards and Steering Committees of Strategic Partnerships as requested by the Regional Director
  • Oversee the development of policy papers, research reports, V2020 campaign reports and written/oral submissions to the UN and other similar processes
  • Oversee IPPF sign on to international advocacy calls/letters and ensure that global advocacy statements, reactions and policies made by IPPF comply with its aims and objectives and conform to appropriate standards
  • Work with OLE to develop indicators and means of measuring progress for ERAs work
  • Build coalitions and partnerships with other NGOs and relevant UN agencies and oversee relationship management by advocacy colleagues in CO and ROs
  • Collaboration with RDOs and other departments, oversee work with key parliamentarians, and Parliamentary Groups, and processes at international and regional levels e.g. PAP, Commonwealth, IPU, WAHO, ECSA, SADC, ICGLR, and other parliamentarian champions like G7 Parliamentarians, European Parliamentary Forum, African Parliamentary Forum for SRH)
  • Coordinate contributions to the Regional Plan, Work Programme Budget and annual report as appropriate – ensuring the Unit has the resources, time and skills/learning to deliver into these stages of the ARO business cycle
  • Ensure gender is effectively mainstreamed within the remit of the post and in line with IPPF’s Gender Equality Policy
  • Build and maintain positive relationships with all members of staff, and contacts within and outside the Federation
  • Become familiar with the Federation’s Health and Safety Programme and Guidelines for using Visual Display Units. To do everything possible to ensure a healthy and safe working environment, including following instructions and guidance
  • Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be requested from time to time.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

a) Any staff responsibilities carried by the post holder

Responsible for managing the ERA Team (including direct and indirect reports)

b) Any policies, financial responsibilities carried by the post holder

Responsible for compiling and submitting to his/her supervisor the division activities, budget and monitoring expenditure. /and provide regular and on time` accurate information on the achievements and SOB (Status of Budget)

Responsible for recruiting and managing appropriate, skilled and committed staff for the unit.

Responsible for advocacy for resources mobilisation with a wide group of diverse donors

Responsible for the ERA budget (core, restricted, and reserve allocations) and the advocacy element of Restricted Projects managed by others as appropriate

c) Any advisory responsibilities carried out by the post holder

Advises the Regional Directors and Directors on trends, opportunities and strategies related to global SRHR advocacy, accountability, women’s and youth groups, Vision 2020 campaign and activist mobilisation; and advises on advocacy on Sexual and reproductive rights and gender equality on issues, strategies and actions

Advises ERA staff on direction, strategies, partnerships and problem solving

Responsible for supporting the performance of the ERA Team and ensuring adherence by Unit staff to IPPFAR and ARO policies, values, procedures, rules and regulations and any other instruments guiding relationships with partners

PERSON SPECIFICATION

4. EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS and PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Please describe the likely educational/training background of the post holder.

  • • Post-graduate Degree or equivalent standard of education essential - ideally in international development, public policy or other social sciences
  • • Qualifications in the following policy issues such as preventing gender-based violence, international financing for health, citizen engagement, right-based approaches desirable
  • • Skills such as bid writing and management, partnership brokering, project management desirable
  • • At least ten years’ experience in international development-related work including experience in external relations; advocacy and resource mobilisation, with at least three years’ experience in senior management
  • • At least five years experience in a senior management position.

5. PROVEN ABILITY

Please describe the minimum level of professional experience required to fulfill the post.

  • 10 years of significant experience to global advocacy, accountability and campaign strategy development and implementation in the international development sector
  • 10 years’ experience in staff, process and project management and experience of managing consultants
  • Strong understanding of and experience in international development and humanitarian sector, SRHR, gender equality and women’s empowerment and UN processes and inter-governmental negotiations essential
  • Significant experience in developing negotiations and agreements, in complex settings both within an international organisation and with external partners
  • Significant experience of working in a complex international organisation dealing with a breadth of fast-changing and controversial issues
  • Experience of resource mobilisation, bid writing, securing consortium partners for programs
  • Management of research and development of policy positions and policy reports for publication

6. SKILLS

Please describe the skills which will be applied in the post, including languages

  • Exceptional communications skills, verbal and written including ability motivate activists through on-line campaigning
  • Assertive and diplomatic skills and ability to use ‘soft power’ to motivate colleagues in remote locations
  • Excellent representation, public speaking and presentation skills
  • Excellent networking skills. Ability to seek and seize opportunities to work collaboratively with other NGOs and civil society coalitions internationally
  • Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with donor institutions including governments and foundations and create resource mobilisation opportunities
  • Project management skills including ability to line-manage staff who manage other staff, sometimes remotely
  • Policy, strategy and system development skills
  • Strong business and political acumen and ability to manage risks to organisation’s reputation including when advising the Regional Director, Senior staff, Governing Council, volunteers the youth
  • Strong analytical approach and analysis skills
  • Strong time management skills to meet changing priorities
  • Financial management skills to oversee delivery and reporting of restricted funded projects
  • Fluency in written and spoken English and French essential. Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese is an added advantage
  • Technology literate including use of social media.

7. PERSONAL COMPETENCE

Please describe the characteristics of superior job performance

  • Awareness of and sensitivity to the multi-cultural environment in which IPPF operates.
  • Ability to travel internationally – about 30 days a year.

*Salary will be negotiated depending on the candidate’s experience and skills for the position.

Interested individuals should submit a CV and a 1-page cover letter to: [email protected] 

Closing date: Tuesday 28th January 2020.

IPPF offers a wide range of benefits and is an equal opportunity employer. 

If you do not hear from us by 15th March 2020, please assume that your application was not successful.

Applications are particularly encouraged from women and candidates openly living with HIV.”

IPPF has​ been made aware of various fraudulent vacancy announcements circulated via e-mail from websites falsely stating that they are issued by or in association with IPPF.  These correspondences, which may seek to obtain money from the recipients of such correspondence are fraudulent and IPPF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

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