Advocacy Consultant – Consultant

Background of the project 

The purpose of the proposed consultancy is to lead, develop and implement an advocacy strategy for the Central Africa Region at the IRC and to deliver a set of specific deliverables associated with this SoW. The Regional Advocacy Consultant, thereafter referred to as “The Contractor”, will lead the development and implementation of the Central Africa regional advocacy strategy and provide strategic guidance and support to advocacy efforts at a country and regional level. The Contractor will be responsible for developing policy positions & advocacy plans across regional and sub-regional themes, collaborate with relevant colleagues on internal & external communication needs for the Central Africa region and strengthen the IRC’s position in regional and international fora. The Specialist will develop and implement activities to enhance principled humanitarian and nexus actions; drive transformative and measurable improvements in the effectiveness of aid; engage and support in regional advocacy and raise attention to the dynamics affecting communities in Central Africa.

The Contractor’s work will be performed in Nairobi (Remote or at the IRC Office) and will last for a period of up to six months (through October 31, 2024).

KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Accountable to the Regional Vice President, Central Africa Region.
• Close internal coordination with Deputy Regional Director, Country Directors and Deputy Director -Programs, Director Awards Management, and Director Emergency Response, Communications colleagues, and relevant subject matter experts including Technical Advisors, frontline colleagues etc.
• Close external collaboration through Regional and national advocacy fora, international and national NGOs, relevant donors, UN agencies, etc.

Scope of work

• Advocacy Strategy: Lead advocacy strategy and messaging development and implementation for Central Africa regional and country-level policy goals, developing regional advocacy messaging and supporting the influence efforts of Country Offices through field visits and/or virtual meetings where relevant. Facilitate the implementation of regional strategies, including developing plans to reach relevant audiences, including donors, partners, and advocacy targets, through power mapping, elevation of the decoloniality agenda and tactical planning.
• Internal Collaboration: Facilitate mechanisms to ensure sharing of information and analysis, and alignment of policy/advocacy messaging and positioning across country programs, the regional office, and global headquarters. In collaboration with the Regional Communication Coordinator, serve as the primary point of contact for internal communications in the region. Ensure that information about the IRC’s response activities in Central Africa (CA) is disseminated to regional and HQ staff as appropriate.
• Policy Engagement and Agenda-Setting: Develop regional and country-specific policy agendas, in collaboration with internal and external experts, that respond to identified challenges in the humanitarian/development sectors and are aligned with S100 and one another, including through enhanced visibility and centrality of the IRC Watchlist. Develop analysis and position papers to inform advocacy work for the region and globally where relevant.
• Communications: Oversee production of polished and accessible external reports and other materials to inform key audiences about project activities and the needs of displaced people in CA and to influence policy decisions. Contribute to press releases and lead sign-off of relevant regional products, ensuring the accuracy and quality of information before dissemination. Keep records of all documentation produced. Organize events that will enhance the visibility of the IRC’s work and presence in countries of the Central Africa Region.
• Spokesperson: under the guidance of the RVP, act as an IRC influence spokesperson, providing briefings on the situation in Central Africa’s sub-regional contexts to key internal and external stakeholders, including policymakers, government officials, journalists, and donors. Support the RVP and/or engage with international and regional media to pitch stories about IRC’s response, advocacy priorities and partnerships, resulting in high-quality, top-tier coverage.
• Advocacy: Engage / support in regional and national dialogues with key policymakers and stakeholders to pursue country, regional and global advocacy priorities. Maintain active working relationships with external national, regional, and global stakeholders including other INGOs, UN Agencies, think tanks, analysts and community-based organizations.

Deliverables:

The final list of deliverables will be jointly revised and adapted with The Consultant at the start of the consultancy to account for any needed additional details or clarity in deliverables.

• Deliverable 1: A detailed workplan and revised list of deliverables to ensure proper completion of expectations of the Consultant SoW and objectives of this initiative.
• Deliverable 2: A summary assessment report of opportunities that exist for advocacy within the Central Africa region, based on a desk review of IRC Strategy 100 priorities, Watchlist, country program Strategic Action Plans and Business Development Strategies, Annual Reports and other relevant documents.
• Deliverable 3:A report of ongoing and existing advocacy initiatives within the Central Africa region (both at the regional level and within country programs) to understand their effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and craft policy papers for the development of coherent advocacy agenda(s) across contexts.
• Deliverable 4: A structured database to organize information related to advocacy opportunities and meeting schedules across the region, identify stakeholders and points of contact, and detail expected outcomes for the Central Africa Region –this will include their active participation in and convening of such meetings.
• Deliverable 5: Full Advocacy Strategy for the Central Africa region is developed, outlining the steps, goals, and specific actions and timelines needed for successful advocacy interventions across the region and country programs.
• Deliverable 6: A detailed work plan that outlines tasks, timelines, responsible parties, and milestones for advocacy initiatives linked to deliverable 5 above.
• Deliverable 7: Resources such as brochures, fact sheets, annual reports, or infographics are designed and produced to raise awareness about specific needs and issues that are of priority for the region (such as forgotten crisis, durable solutions for displaced populations, etc.), to elevate IRC programmatic profile in the Central Africa context and leverage funding for the delivery of life saving and life sustaining interventions through or in partnership with both local (including government institutions and civil society organizations) and international actors.
• Deliverable 8: Reports on communication and advocacy meetings / workshops are produced to keep a track record of these initiatives and action points are monitored.

Minimum Qualifications:

Requirements:

• Fluency in French & English are essential (both oral and written).
• At least 5-7 years of experience working on humanitarian, development and/or foreign policy issues in Africa.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy and communications efforts in relevant contexts with a focus on creativity and strategic thinking.
• Excellent research and writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent narratives.
• Excellent networking, interpersonal, communication, relationship-building and negotiation skills and an ability to cultivate and maintain a personal network of sources and contacts.
• Knowledge of humanitarian system and assistance, blockages to humanitarian access and solutions to protracted displacement, particularly in the Central Africa context including the Central Sahel region.
• Understanding of international relief and development issues, such as the role of international stakeholders, including regional institutions, the UN, donors.
• Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate successfully in easily understandable language with diverse individuals and groups.
• Proactive and able to work independently and as part of a team.