Youth Advocacy Officer at Women Friendly Initiative (WFI)

Reports to; Director of Programs

Job Details
The successful candidate will:

• Coordinate WFI state level advocacy to government, community-based stakeholders, health professional bodies, interfaith - religious leaders and health providers to make ASRH & FP issues visible, highlight barriers to ASRH and FP and participate in rallies/ outreaches to draw attention to adolescent health issues.
• Together with other Consortium partners and stakeholders, advocate for the health and wellbeing of especially, adolescents, and youth including their SRH &R and FP in Lagos and Kano.
• Work with other members of the team to link and build synergy between State FP Commodity Logistics’ Management System and traditional and non-traditional family planning providers in targeted slums and hubs to ensure availability of contraceptives.
• Support the development of advocacy roadmap for adolescent friendly health services for different stakeholders (Government, Community leaders, CSOs, Health professionals and private sector)
• Engage stakeholders at the state and community levels to build and maintain goodwill towards the project and accurate understanding of project goals to ensure community ownership
• Participate in the development of the advocacy measurement indicator metrics and tools from the project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Systems;
• Work with the M&E team to ensure WFI project's advocacy indicators are effectively developed and captured
• Work closely and manage relations with other Consortium Partners and community partners

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Law, Public Health or any related health field with 3-5 years’ experience in SRHR advocacy including family planning and contraception.
• The post holder will possess a high degree of analytical skill, ability to facilitate change, ability to influence, and ability to communicate key advocacy messages effectively and convincingly to a diverse audience at state, local, and community levels.

Essential Skills:

• Proven capacity to oversee development and implementation of work plans, reports and monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Substantial experience in advocacy and policy development and research.
• Good understanding of ASRH advocacy, family planning challenges and key advocacy messages and tactics for influencing decision, policy makers, state and non-state actors and community gatekeepers.
• Knowledge of the media and its role in raising awareness and shaping public policy on ASRH.
• Good understanding of strategies for achieving increased access to and uptake of  ASRH including family planning services through participatory processes, and the links with gender, diversity and other aspects of identity.
• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills and demonstrable ability to think strategically, innovatively and practically to ensure achievement of desired change objectives.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences at state, local, and community levels.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with public and private partner agencies and key contacts in the government, NGO, civil society and the media.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively handle multiple tasks and meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability and ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Good computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, email / internet) and ability to be self-supporting in most administrative tasks.
• Fluent English language skills (written and verbal).
• Commitment to the values, mission, aims and policies of Women Friendly Initiative.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience in training others in advocacy techniques and influencing tactics.
• Prior work experience in advocacy in Nigeria.
• Knowledge of the adolescent youth friendly policies, functions, structures and decision-making processes of key national institutions with regard to ASRH and family planning.
• Experience working on ASRH and Family Planning HIV/AIDS projects will be added advantage.
• Local language skills (Ability to communicate in Hausa will be an advantage for Advocacy Officer in Kano and in Yoruba for the Advocacy Officer in Lagos).