Advocacy Specialist

This post sits within the East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) as part of the Regional Communication and Advocacy Section.  In supporting Country Offices to progress on UNICEF vision, mandate and commitment, the Communication and Advocacy section of EAPRO serves as the centre of excellence in advocacy, communication and brand. By coalescing our collective efforts, UNICEF aims to be the leading advocate for children, enabled by a cohort of networked, strategic, innovative, and effective advocates who deliver change for children in every part of the world.

Advocacy is at the center of UNICEF’s mandate. We advocate to decision makers for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. The Advocacy Specialist reports to the Regional Chief of Advocacy and Communication (P5).

The P3 Advocacy Specialist is accountable for coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating strategies to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people. This includes supporting the implementation of regional and national advocacy strategies.

The Advocacy Specialist works in close coordination with Programme Division, other HQ Divisions, Regional, Country Offices, National Committees, and other relevant internal and external stakeholders.

This staff member will drive the development of effective, integrated advocacy strategies across UNICEF EAPRO in collaboration with UNICEF Regional, Country Offices and National Committees. S/he will work collaboratively with colleagues across UNICEF at headquarters, country and regional level, as well as with external partners, to drive changes in policy and practice and secure political and financial commitments for children. S/he will target global advocacy fora and support effective advocacy at the national level.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Advocacy strategy development:

• Lead efforts to develop robust, integrated regional advocacy strategies on immunization, strengthening Primary Health Care, improving food environment, adolescent girls’ empowerment and climate action, in line with global guidelines.
• Provide technical support to COs to develop country-specific advocacy strategies on key priorities.
• Propose new approaches and innovative ideas as part of the strategy development process.
• Provide guidance to COs and RO on strategic advocacy tactics and partnerships, promoting knowledge exchange on best practice and lessons learned from different countries and regions.

Advocacy strategy implementation:

• Coordinate the implementation of advocacy strategies and plans, working across teams in relevant Country Offices and regional teams to effectively coordinate implementation of a range of advocacy tactics, such as: developing advocacy briefs and products, producing advocacy narratives, shaping creative activations to drive public engagement, working with the media, and organizing advocacy events.
• Support priority advocacy and communications moments or activations, in coordination with HQ and CO teams.
• Working with COs and regional teams, provide support and guidance to COs and ROs in analyzing the effectiveness of the strategies, approach and activities at country and regional level, and lead the analysis of approaches, outputs and outcomes.

Advocacy M&E:

• Establish baselines against which advocacy outcomes are regularly monitored; analyze the effectiveness of the strategy, approach and activities, and drive the day-to-day production and dissemination of advocacy M&E results on a regular basis.

Team Building, Project and Budget Management:

• Coordinate across divisional, international and inclusive teams featuring a variety of advocacy and non-advocacy professionals to deliver strategic advocacy initiatives.
• Manage day-to-day delivery of key projects/ workstreams, reviewing work plans to ensure progress and delivery while addressing obstacles and bottlenecks. Ensure effectiveness and transparent use of budget and resources.

Advocacy Capacity Building:

• Contribute to building internal UNICEF capacities in advocacy, through proactive and regular contribution to development, refinement and contextualization of advocacy capacity building modules for regional and country teams through direct coaching, guidance, training and sharing of advocacy expertise, in collaboration with the division of Global Communication & Advocacy.
• Support Country Offices for building advocacy capacity internally and for partners for strengthening collaborations and engagements on specific strategies.

Stakeholder engagement:

• Identify, build and maintain formal and informal advocacy partnerships and networks through proactive collaboration with strategic internal and external partners, where relevant at national and regional levels.
• Adopt a consultative approach and solicit the support of key stakeholders at critical points of implementation of advocacy strategies, as well as on global advocacy moments and opportunities to advance efforts on specific agendas.
• Undertake other key responsibilities to support the performance and impact of the Communication and Advocacy Section as required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• Advanced university degree is required in one of the following fields: Social sciences, Public Policy, International Relations, International Development, Communication or other relevant fields.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience in partnership development may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in advocacy and campaign strategy development and execution, preferably at both regional and national levels.
• Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies and public engagement is required.
• Strong track record in writing engaging campaign narratives and delivering creative campaign tactics based on a clear theory of change is required
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including monitoring of results is required
• Knowledge of international development, and children’s rights will be essential.
• Ability to operate independently and provide expert advice and support on advocacy and campaigns.
• Experience of working for an advocacy organization e.g. international or national NGO, UN or other multilateral organization and knowledge of the United Nations system or other international organisations are an asset.
• Experience in training and facilitation will be an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/572141