State Advocacy and Policy Officer (Accountability and Health Financing) at ActionAid Nigeria

Locations: Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno & Yobe
Slot: 5 Openings
Responsible to: State Team Lead
Grade: 7

Job Purpose

• The State Advocacy and Policy Officerswill be responsible for implementing an eight-year advocacy strategy to increase government financial resources for basic health services at the state level.
• They are expected to support the building of the capacity of Nigerian civil society to ensure that communities have adequate information about their health rights; that the voices of communities are heard by health policy-makers and stakeholders; and that health policy and health services are responsive to their needs.

Specific Responsibilities
Programme Implementation and Reporting:

• Contribute to the development of state level annual workplans and budgets, and quarterly mobilisation plans including preparing/revising state level work plans and budget plans
• Support the building of strong and mutually beneficial relationships with state-level government and other stakeholders, including civil society organisations, networks and movements, women’s rights movements, youth movements and disabled people’s organisations;
• Implement communication and advocacy actions to contribute to project results;
• Implement state level project deliverables;
• Monitor progressagainst state level annual and quarterly work plans and budget plans;
• Attend state level meetings with the StateTeam;
• Ensure there is regular communication of progress or escalation of challenges at the state level

Financial Management:

• Support the preparation of quarterly and annual state level narrative and financial reports to DFID and ActionAid;
• Participate actively in developing periodic/annual state plans and budgets;
• Support the monitoring, revising and correct administrative and financial management of project advocacy and policy objectives at the state level.

Other:

• Contribute to a personal and team culture that demonstrates ActionAid International’s values including: Mutual Respect, Equity and Justice, Integrity, Solidarity with People Living in Poverty and Exclusion, Courage of Conviction, Independence and Humility.

Internal Relationships:

• Entire ActionAidNigeria staff.

External Relationships:

• Government, Civil Society Organisations, networks and movements, women’s rights movements, youth movements and disability rights groups.

Persons Specifications

Education/Qualifications
Essential:

• Graduate Degree in a relevant subject.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate degree in public health, social sciences or management;
• Membership of relevant professional institute.
• Strong proficiency in Hausa or other local languages strongly preferred

Experience/ Knowledge:

• A minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience, of which 3 years must be on health accountability programmes or similar projects;
• Strong understanding of the Nigerian health system, civil society, and social justice movements at the state level;
• Demonstrable experience in implementing advocacy strategies to influence policy change at the state level;
• Knowledge of policy, CSOs, media and youth movements landscape in Nigeria;
• A good understanding and clear commitment to human rights-based approach and women’s rights.

Experience working in an international development organisation;

• Experience working on projects funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) or similar donors;
• Experience in community-based work and engagements with CSOs;
• Good knowledge of women’s rights, gender equality and human rights;
• Existing working relationships with civil society and feminist networks in Nigeria.

Skills/Abilities:

• Strong communication and writing skills;
• Strong research, analytical and writing skills;
• Strong analytical skill;
• Demonstrable IT skills;
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills;
• Strong organisational skills and co-ordination skills in meeting tight deadlines;

Desirable:

• Highly numerate.

Personal Qualities:

• A strong commitment to human rights and socio-economic justice;
• Self-motivated person able to work without close supervision;
• Strong team player, able to work closely with others remotely, ability to meet tight deadlines and multiple priorities;
• Flexibility to travel;
• Willing to work additional hours at crucial times
• Ability to relate with ActionAid Nigeria’s mission, values and objectives;