IRC recruits 01 Advocacy Coordinator

IRC recruits 01 Advocacy Coordinator

Working closely with the Field Director and the Ebola Response Team in DRC, you will develop IRC’s advocacy strategy for the Ebola response crisis on key issues including, but not limited to: humanitarian policy issues around the governance and management of the response; health policy and public health questions around technical issues within the response; and humanitarian protection and enabling medical access for Ebola patients and the protection of women and girls in this context.

Using IRC data, evidence from Ebola response operations in DRC, external sources, and working with advocates at capital level (NYC, Geneva, DC, London, Brussels), you will generate evidence, messaging and positions to contribute to policy change. You will also continuously monitor the evolving humanitarian and political context in DRC in particular North Kivu to understand the implications for IRC’s programming, policy messaging and for affected communities.

Your additional responsibilities will also include: representing IRC in external discussions and working groups to contribute to the development of inter-agency positions; working with IRC’s communications teams locally and in HQ to ensure public messaging is in line with country programme advocacy priorities and objectives. You will report to the Field Director.

RESPONSIBLITIES

•  Write a targeted advocacy strategy that promotes the protection of affected population due to EVD in North Kivu and steps to mitigate the impact of the crisis.
•  Working in collaboration with IRC advocacy colleagues in US, Europe and IRC’s think tank partners, develop and drive policy messages targeting in-country, regional, and international policy-makers, ensuring field priorities and perspectives are integrated and prioritized.
•  Write analysis papers, briefing notes, key messages, articles, presentations and other documents for internal and external locally and globally.
•  Monitoring the evolving humanitarian and political context in North Kivu in DRC (and where necessary other part of DRC) to provide written and verbal updates to senior staff in the Ebola response and country programme, HQ, and to external IRC partners.
•  Represent IRC in external meetings in DRC related to the Ebola response
•  Build and maintain relationships with diverse, like-minded organizations, groups and individuals to develop networks and increase collective impact.
•  Lead efforts to create a shared organizational understanding of IRC’s advocacy goals and define the roles different staff members can play in achieving them.
•  Work with communications colleagues, to develop communications products to advance IRC’s key messages in line with the advocacy strategy
•  Contribute to development of IRC’s global advocacy strategy for the Ebola crisis to ensure global level IRC staff can better able influence national policy.

Major Challenges/Difficulties of this role:

•  Coordinating effectively with partners including the Ministry of Health, NGOs and the UN (especially WHO).

Deliverables/KPI:

• IRC’s Ebola response crisis advocacy strategy.
• Evidence and data to inform advocacy strategy and decision-making.
• Coordinate closely with global policy and advocacy, comms and media teams.
• Policy messages, briefing/research papers.

Qualifications

Key qualifications: a deep understanding of programming approaches for epidemic response and ideally a strong understanding of health policy and public health; a good understanding of international humanitarian law; excellent writing, communication, critical thinking and analysis skills, combined with demonstrable prior experience of developing advocacy strategies. Field experience in a humanitarian context, including high level coordination and representation with governments, UN agencies, donors, embassies, and NGOs, is desirable.

Experience (Including sector/industry):

• 5-7 years of relevant work experience preferably in humanitarian and possibly EVD outbreak settings.
•  Previous experience of developing, implementing and monitoring advocacy strategies and an ability to critically evaluate and apply different influencing approaches.

Specific Educational Qualification:

• Graduate (post graduate preferred) in International relations, health policy, public health, law, social science, human rights or related field required.

Knowledge, Skills & Competences

• Demonstrated capacity for critical thinking and ability to communicate effectively and build consensus among a range of internal and external partners;
•  A deep understanding of international humanitarian coordination and response architecture;
•  Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French;
•  Knowledge or prior work experience in DRC is desirable;
•  Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations. Capacity to work well under pressure, strong organizational skills, and the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively cross‐culturally is essential.
•  Experience of and ability to live and work in stressful and highly insecure environments with a good knowledge of basic safety and security policies.