Advocacy officer One Health

ORGANISATION

Vétérinaires Sans Frontières International (VSF-Int) is a network of NGOs (the 13 national VSF organisations in Europe, Canada and Australia), working all over the world to support small-scale farmers, livestock keepers and local animal health and welfare initiatives. Through the implementation of our projects and programmes, we serve the most vulnerable populations whose livelihoods depend on livestock, and we act collectively to support small-scale family farming, pastoralism, animal and human health and a healthy environment. The members of VSF International are autonomous organisations that directly implement projects in the field, but they are all aligned around the same vision, inspired to One Health, under the motto “healthy animals, healthy people, healthy environment”.

The network facilitates collaborations in the field, supports the overall quality of the programmes, and coordinates communication and advocacy activities at the international level. With joint advocacy, communication and awareness raising efforts, the VSF network seeks to influence policy dialogue on One Health, small-scale family farming and pastoralism.

CONTEXT AND ROLE

On 2020, VSF International published a technical and a policy brief on One Health implementation in the Global South, to provide evidence on the added value of One Health as a framework to achieve sustainable improvements for the well-being of humans, animals and the environment in the Global South through multisectoral and transdisciplinary collaborations between NGOs, local communities, research, international organisations, funding bodies and governments.

More recently, in 2023, VSF International developed, through an external consultancy, a One Health Advocacy Strategy and Theory of Change, which defined three high-level outcomes: (a) increased international political commitment on One Health; (b) prioritisation of and implementation of One Health in-countries to improve livelihoods of small farmers and prevent health risks; (c) multi-disciplinary and community-driven approaches accounting for local knowledge are central to One Health implementation.

The rationale for this newly created position is to lead advocacy on One Health for VSF International, targeting mainly policymakers, donors and multilateral organisations at the international level, and coordinate the advocacy efforts of VSF-Int members.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Advocacy Officer One Health will be responsible for:

• Designing and Implementing the VSF International’s advocacy action plan on One Health:
  • Reviewing the existing policies and practices of the VSF network, the advocacy strategy and Theory of Change on One Health, and developing a two-year action plan to put in place the strategy.
  • Ensuring the progress of the activities foreseen in the action plan.
  • Following-up and monitoring the state of the art of OH policies and funding mechanisms at global level.
  • Building and maintaining relationships with Quardipartite agencies (WHO, FAO, WOAH, UNEP), target donors/policymakers, and representing the network within specific network/fora related to OH.
  • Organising and/or participating to events, conferences, webinars, etc. as part of the advocacy action plan.
  • Developing tools and papers to be used in advocacy activities.
  • Building partnerships and alliances for joint advocacy initiatives on OH (e.g. with other networks/NGOs from complementary fields, research centres, international organisations, etc.)
• Supporting VSF members’ advocacy activities on One Health:
  • Coordinate advocacy initiatives on One Health among the VSF-Int member organisations
  • Oversee in-country advocacy led by VSF country offices in few selected countries.
• Mobilizing resources:
  • Actively seek funding opportunities to secure an advocacy/campaigning position at VSF-Int.

The Advocacy Officer will operate under the supervision of the VSF-Int Coordinator and reports progress to the VSF International Board and General Assembly. The Advocacy Officer OH will work in coordination with the advocacy officers from other VSFs, the VSF-Int One Health expert, the One Health Working Group (made of experts from different VSFs), and with the different staff members of the VSF network, which will provide technical inputs and primary information from the field.

PROFILE

Education:

• Advanced degree (MA, MBA or equivalent) in political sciences, international relations & development, law, economics, or other relevant subject from a recognized institution.

Knowledge and experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in advocacy, lobby & campaigning preferably in the NGO sector or in international contexts.
• Experience in establishing advocacy & campaign strategies, team management and project cycle management.
• Experience in organising events.
• Experience in fields related to One Health approach, animal health, livestock, pastoralism, rural development, etc. If no previous experience, the candidate must have a strong motivation to learn about those topics.
• Excellent knowledge of both English and French, spoken and written.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, TEAMS etc.) and other digital platforms such as Zoom, videoconference and webinar platforms, and relevant IT resources for managing workflow and virtual collaboration through meetings, workshops, webinars, etc.

Core competences/attitudes:

• People Skills: Able to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and able to generate engagement with other stakeholders and partners.
• Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of VSF. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
• Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to VSF’s core values and humanitarian principles.
• Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to establish and maintain good working and networking relationships in a multinational and multicultural environment, and to collaborate remotely with distant teams and stakeholders.
• Work style: Is well planned and organized even within a complex working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Is willing to travel.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Fixed-term contract of 2 years, 50% FTE (possibility of extension, subject to funding).
• Position based in Brussels. Remote working from other countries can be considered.
• Flexibility in terms of working arrangements. VSF International strives for a good Work/Life balance.
• The opportunity to work within a stimulating multicultural environment where innovation and creativity are encouraged.
• International travels (max. 2-3 per year).