Closing date: 20 Jul 2009 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Kenya - Nairobi
JOB SUMMARY
The Head of Policy and Advocacy, in close collaboration with the Executive Director and the Senior Management Team, is responsible for providing strategic leadership, planning, delivery and reporting of overall ACORD thematic work under the Pan-African Programme. S/he will coordinate strategic analysis and monitoring of policy issues that will inform ACORD strategic thematic choices. S/he will provide Leadership in the development and implementation of external advocacy and alliance building strategy for the organisation that brings about quality programming and sustainable change. S/he will have the responsibility for supporting the development of advocacy capacity and policy development at national country program level. S/he shall promote a sound media relations strategy designed to influence internal and external processes and links national to Pan-African initiatives in adherence with the effective delivery of the Strategic Plan through the Pan-African Programme.
The Head of Policy and Advocacy will have the responsibility for coordinating the development and implementation of the Livelihood thematic program at Pan-African and Global levels and support initiatives at Area Programme level in line with Area Programmes’ strategies and the ACORD Pan-African Programme;
S/he will have the responsibility to conduct Performance Management processes and development plans for staff under his/her supervision.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
I. POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH
1. Gather intelligence to inform the strategic analysis and monitoring of policy issues in relation to ACORD’s thematic work at Pan-African, Regional and National levels;
2. Provide Leadership to thematic managers and thematic focal persons in Area programmes to anticipate, analyze and manage diverse policy and practice issues and make recommendation for focus for Policies and Practices changes (PPC) consistent with ACORD overall strategic directions and propose related methodologies to galvanize citizen, civil society and political support on these PPC;
3. Coordinate the generation of a new Pan-Africa Programme Strategy and the thematic strategic directions at the time of strategy renewal;
4. In collaboration with thematic managers and thematic focal persons in Area Programmes, define research priorities that will inform and support ACORD overall thematic work.
5. Anticipate, analyze and manage diverse policy issues and make recommendations consistent with ACORD overall strategic directions;
6. Promote cross-cutting research in the context of overall ACORD thematic work;
II. STRATEGY AND PLANNING
II.1 PLANNING
1. In coordination with the Programmes Operations and Development Manager, provide leadership in the development of an integrated Annual Work Plan for ACORD thematic work and Budget, including components of Policy, Advocacy, Research and Learning, in line with overall Programming Strategic Priorities;
2. Promote conceptual clarity and a shared understanding of ACORD thematic priorities at all levels of the organisation;
II.2 ADVOCACY AND ALLIANCE BUILDING STRATEGY
1. Provide leadership in the development and implementation of an external advocacy and alliance building strategy for the organisation that brings about quality programming and sustainable change;
2. Conduct policy analysis on key institutions, actors and civil society organisations for potential strategic partnerships in relation to Advocacy and Campaigning work;
3. Coordinate joint research, advocacy and campaign strategies with Pan-African networks, other actors working on the same issues and policy makers to influence regional, Pan-African and Global initiatives;
4. Facilitate and ensure Thematic Managers and Area Programmes’ thematic focal point persons participate in relevant external alliances and networks;
5. Monitor the development of adequate advocacy tools for successful implementation of advocacy and alliance building initiatives;
6. In collaboration with the Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management Coordinator, ensure appropriate tools are available to monitor the impact of ACORD’s Pan-African Programme, its thematic work and related advocacy campaigns;
7. Promote Area Programmes’ participation and involvement in Pan-African and Global advocacy initiatives;
8. In collaboration with thematic managers, support Area programmes to scale up their advocacy work in response to the growing policy analysis and convert it into sustainable advocacy strategy;
9. Recommend efficient methods for risk management in the implementation of advocacy and alliance building strategies;
10. Support and initiate strong policy analysis to inform ACORD’s programming work on an ongoing basis.
II.3 MEDIA RELATION AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY
1. Promote a sound Media Strategy to influence internal and external processes of a strategic nature;
2. Promote an effective media & communication plan and approach that links national to Pan-African initiatives in compliance with the overall strategic plan.
III. COORDINATION OF THE DELIVERY ON THE LIVELIHOODS THEME
1. Provide leadership in the context analysis, development and implementation of the Livelihood thematic programme at Pan-African and Global levels and support initiatives at Area Programmes level in line with Area Programmes’ strategies and the ACORD Pan-African Programme;
2. Keep abreast of research and policy developments on food sovereignty, international trade issues and agricultural policies;
3. Gather relevant intelligence on issues of food sovereignty so as to keep ACORD and its partners on top of the knowledge in the area and meaningfully and innovatively inform the advocacy and lobby work;
4. Develop and maintain sustained partnerships and alliances with Civil Society Organisations and Social Movements at regional, Pan-African and Global levels to advance the work on food sovereignty in Africa;
5. Develop and implement an advocacy and lobbying plan at regional and Pan-African level toward critical actors and change makers in relation to food sovereignty;
6. Facilitate and consolidate learning, knowledge generation and harmonisation of processes in relation to food sovereignty across the organisation;
7. Raise a sustained public profile of ACORD and its agenda through creation, development and maintenance of good relations with media and other campaign bodies on issues of food sovereignty;
8. Manage the budget of the livelihoods thematic programme and ensure its adequate implementation in line with the annual action plan.
IV. CAPACITY BUILDING AND LEARNING
1. In collaboration with the Human Resources Management Department, develop and implement a capacity building plan for ACORD staff to enhance existing skills and knowledge in areas of advocacy, campaigning, lobbying across the organisation;
2. In collaboration with Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management staff, promote the development of practical tool kits to guide ACORD’S thematic work;
3. In collaboration with Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management staff, capture best practices and success stories arising from the implementation of the overall thematic work and disseminate them internally and to the external audience;
4. Coordinate the documentation of best practices and success stories in relation to overall ACORD thematic work for sharing at annual learning events and with partners in Africa and internationally ;
5. Draw lessons from internal and external evaluations in relation to thematic work to inform the definition of new strategic priorities and their successful implementation at National, Regional, Pan-African and Global levels.
V. PEOPLE MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
1. Provide leadership support to staff under his/her supervision;
2. Create a team approach that focuses on results delivery, empowerment and accountability. Support and encourage innovation and creative thinking and ensure the working environment supports the team to effectively undertake their responsibilities and maximize their potential. Implement an effective performance culture;
3. Undertake the performance planning process with supervised staff and ensure the development of Individual Operating Plans in line with the ACORD Performance Management System;
4. Propose development plans for supervised staff and ensure their implementation in collaboration with the Human Resources Management Department;
VI. FUNDRAISING AND REPORTING
1. In collaboration with the Partnership Development Unit, search the external environment and contribute to fundraising initiatives through concept notes and proposal writing;
2. In coordination with the Head of Finance and the Partnership Development Manager, manage the approved budget in line with the Annual Work Plan for thematic work;
3. Produce quality quaterly, bi-annual and annual reports on the implementation of the Annual Work Plan for thematic work for monitoring and evaluation purposes;
4. In collaboration with the Partnership Development Department, coordinate timely production of donor reports as per the requirements;
SUPERVISION & COLLABORATION
The incumbent of this position directly supervises the positions of Gender & Conflict Themes Manager, the HIV & AIDS Thematic Manager and the Policy and Advocacy Officer based in London.S/he shall also supervise the role of Livelihoods Policy Advisor and Communication & Media Relations Assistant.
S/he will work in collaboration with colleagues in the Programming Department;
S/he shall work closely with colleagues in other departments- Human Resources Management and Development, Partnership Development, Finance.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
Education/Qualification and Experience
- Masters in Development Studies (minimum) with competences in Communications, External Relations and Marketing;
- Seven (7) years experience (minimum) hands on experience in Strategic Policy and Advocacy work at Pan-African and/or Global levels with International Non Governmental Organisations;
- Seven (7) years experience in Policy and Advocacy work at Pan-African and International levels preferably on issues related to Livelihoods, Gender & Conflict and HIV & AIDS;
- Very good understanding of Civil Society work patterns in Africa and at international level;
- Strong Experience in Media work and lobbying at Pan-African or International level;
- Strong Experience in Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis;
- Strong experience in Alliance Building, Partnership Development and Management.
Technical Expertise
- Excellent Communication (written and oral) and External Relations Skills: Bilingual(English-French) is a mandatory requirement;
- High level conceptual, strategic thinking and analysis;
- Good organisational research, negotiation and analytical capabilities
Required Competencies
- Adaptation Skills: ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
- Highly motivated, responsible, self-directed, resourceful and flexible;
- Conceptual, strategic and analytical skills;
- Collaboration and Team Work;
- Partnership and Negotiation skills;
- Creativity and ability for innovation;
- Communicate with impact with various stakeholders;
- Decision-Making and problem solving skills;
- Able to manage workload and meet deadlines
Reference Code: RW_7TTK2E-84
