Policy Advisor - Nigeria INGO Forum at iMMAP

Background

• The Nigeria INGO Forum (NIF) was formed in late 2014 to develop a collaborative platform for effective and principled INGO interaction, engagement and coordination for humanitarian, recovery and development interventions in Nigeria.
• Since inception, NIF has become a critical platform for ensuring effective information sharing and analysis; leadership on advocacy and policy engagement; and liaison with government/donor/UN engagement ensuring the perspectives of INGOs and affected populations are ultimately included in decision-making processes.
• NIF is governed by a core membership of 54 members (and 7 observers) with new member applications pending approval on a regular basis.
• Since November 2020, the INGO Forum is administratively hosted by iMMAP in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja as well as Maiduguri. NIF policy advisor.

Description of Duties

• The Policy Adviser is a critical position within the INGO Forum.
• This position will take leadership of the policy and advocacy engagement of the INGO Forum.
• The Policy Advisor coordinates advocacy for the 54 INGO membership, identifies national, regional, and international opportunities and develops key positioning for the humanitarian and development agendas.
• The Policy Advisor will serve as the focal point for external advocacy, networking, coalition building and timely research and analysis.
• The Policy Advisor sets the policy agenda and delivers on advocacy initiatives aimed at improving humanitarian and sustainable outcomes for people affected by conflict, environmental crisis, poverty and other protection and operational challenges in Nigeria.

Generic Responsibilities

• Facilitate and lead on strategic collective and/or coordinated initiatives to advocate in the best interest of INGOs operating in Nigeria, and of the conflict-affected population.
• Lead the advocacy and communications team and manage its resources.
• Represent the forum with external stakeholders including government, donors, international organizations

Specific Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and update NIF common strategies and action plans for Advocacy and Communications in coordination with NIF members and represents their priorities across the humanitarian, development and peace-building agendas.
• Develop policy and advocacy outputs including briefing notes, policy and position papers, statements, etc. representing INGOs agreed-on positions and approaches.
• Ensure key tools for advocacy and communications are developed and utilized, including stakeholder/power mapping, sign-off procedures, events/opportunity calendars, progress trackers, etc.
• Provide timely policy analysis and information on key priority topics to support the representation and coordination of the INGO Forum Steering Committee, Country Directors Plenary and Humanitarian Managers Platform.
• Ensure evidence-based advocacy and information through frequent visits to the field and regular engagement with INGOs operational teams in coordination with NIF team.
• Identify strategic entry points in Nigeria, regionally (Lake Chad Basin, African Union) and internationally to elevate Nigeria priorities.
• Work closely with the INGO team, including the Director, Deputy Director, NW Coordinator, and Government Liaison colleagues, to ensure that the positions are well coordinated, and the team informed and able to speak to common issues.
• Develop talking lines and joint messages on key issues for NIF team and INGOs.
• Act as focal/liaison point for international and regional advocacy groups, journalists, and other external stakeholders seeking NGO positions on relevant issues.
• Identify and ensure NIF is well prepared to engage in Nigeria focused platforms and events nationally, regionally, and globally.
• Engage and support in data collection efforts to canvass NGO opinion, perspectives and experiences on key issues related to the enabling environment.
• Work with NIF team to support relevant and appropriate information flows to members, NGO representatives, and key stakeholders in Nigeria and externally, and facilitate coordination among NIF members to reach common positions around key issues.
• Representation and lobbying in line with policy strategy and other agreed priorities, when required with local, state and Government of Nigeria; the UN; visiting officials; and donors in line with agreed division of labour with Director and Deputy Director.
• Ensure NIF's communication material promotes INGO common messaging by supervising and guiding NIF communications team.
• Ensures that NIF advocacy and communications strategies and their implementation plans are well coordinated with NIF members building on their thematic and geographical expertise, and advocacy/communications capacity. 

Requirements
Generic professional competencies for this position:

• Master's qualifications in International Relations, Politics, International Law (IHL / IHRL) or Development Studies.
• Advanced professional with at least five years of relevant experience within the humanitarian field.
• Solid understanding of international legal and policy processes relating to displacement.
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts. 
• Professional knowledge of international relations, advocacy and law.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities, particularly in analysis, drafting of messages, coordination and networking .

Context/specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• At least five years of progressive experience of leading advocacy and policy engagement portfolios at NGO or UN level in conflict or post conflict contexts.
• Able to proactively lead on formulation of policy analysis, strategy, messages and identification of key targets for impact and influence.
• Proven experience in identifying and mobilising national, regional, or international opportunities.
• Exceptional networking skills and strong experience working with and/or influencing donors, UN, government, and other critical stakeholders.
• Proven experience in drafting position papers.
• Strong understanding of the interlink between advocacy and communication messaging.
• Commitment and solid understanding of humanitarian principles .
• Ability to work under pressure and juggle multiple priorities at once.
• Knowledge of Nigeria highly desirable (or complex emergency context)
• Experience of working in a recovery setting and demonstrated understanding of humanitarian, development, and peace linkages (highly desirable)
• Working in policy and advocacy around development-related issues desirable.
• Working on advocacy for humanitarian access/ principled humanitarian response desirable.