Advocacy Adviser at Save The Children

Key Areas of Accountability
Programme Development and Quality:

• To contribute to the development of policy positions based on international context, Save the Children experience, and international evidence in collaboration with colleagues in the Policy and Research team within with emphasis on child survival programming.
• To draft, as appropriate, the organisation submissions to health policy consultations, and to research and write policy position papers, briefings, publications and responses.
• To develop a network of key health contacts in the international policy community and to build relationships with key contacts in government, international bodies, corporates, the International Save the Children Alliance, NGOs and others as required.
• To monitor trends in the external environment, identifying opportunities to promote our advocacy objectives.
• Support actively in the process of developing the organization’s short- and long-term governance and advocacy agendas. As directed, and particularly as it relates to exploring governance-related barriers to the elimination of exclusion and inequity, undertake research and analysis on possible new areas for SC programming.
• Prepare concept papers and other relevant documents, and initiate and describe project ideas and initiatives in accordance with the country strategy, the current contextual environment, the institutional capabilities of potential partners, resource availability and funding sources.
• When working on specific high-priority initiatives, the Advocacy Adviser will collaborate with senior staff and support the analysis process, developing policy positions and programme strategies, establishing new networks and partnerships, and managing coalitions.
• Assist colleagues to strengthen their knowledge and skills/capacities to incorporate governance frameworks, policy research, analysis and advocacy into their work.
• Contribute to development of advocacy strategies proposal writing and fund raising.

Communication and Representation:

• Act as SC’s representative at local, national and international levels with local authorities, partners etc. as required, mainly in events relating to basic services (health and education) programme.
• Represent SC UK and communicate SC UK's public policy and advocacy positions as and when appropriate to institutions, government, international, national and local organizations as required.
• Support the coordination of the drafting and submission of strategic, planning and reporting documents, including but not limited to strategy documents, the operational plan and annual reports, and ad hoc requests for updates and reports from SC HQ and Regional Office.
• Develop and maintain a professional network for governance issues within Nigeria and within SC globally.
• Dissemination of important information and messages.
• Deputise the Senior Advocacy Manager.

Programme Management:

• Supervise consultants involved in writing project designs, case studies or reports, facilitating training events, and conducting policy research, or other such contracted services.
• Support the implementation of the governance programme including quality control, negotiation with local partners, financial management, documentation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting etc
• Provide technical support to the Local Government Coordinators and officers in achieving key advocacy objectives in intervention Local Government areas (LGAs)
• Take the lead in ensuring the establishment of Child hygiene and Women Clubs in intervention LGAs

Skills and Behaviours
(Our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Accuracy and timeliness in all areas of responsibility
• High level of accuracy in work, and ability to analyze complex sets of relationships and situations
• Holds self and others accountable

Ambition:

• Creating best-in-class EA function
• Future-orientated, thinks pro-actively

Collaboration:

• Working effectively with stakeholders to achieve common goals
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Designing more effective admin systems
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency, demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

Skills & Experience

• Post Graduate Degree at Masters level in international development, policy analysis, political science, sociology or related field. A Ph.D in these subject areas is preferred.
• 7-10 years substantial experience of health-focused advocacy or advocacy work in a related field, as well as contributing to the development of advocacy strategies. Extensive demonstrable experience in governance and accountability programming within the context of health.
• Appreciable experience and network with government institutions and agencies at local, state and federal level on WASH, nutrition and health interventions/policies is essential and will be an advantage.
• At least 5 years INGO experience of policy research, having written and published policy reports and briefings and evaluating evidence of their impact
• Superior written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex arguments into accessible English for a non-specialist audience, and the ability to write articles that would be published in the mainstream press
• Excellent verbal communication skills, appropriate for high-level external representation (for example lobbying Ministers, presenting to Select Committee)
• Level of IT Expertise Required - Excellent
• Profound knowledge in Nigeria governance and health systems and political terrains
• Ability to clearly communicate and easily relate to federal, state, and LGA  authorities

Prior Experience Expectations:

• Building external networks
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management
• Governance and advocacy
• Enhanced voice accountability
• Training and Facilitation