Policy and Advocacy Manager (Readvertised)

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IRC - The International Rescue Committee

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Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power. Given the disparity faced by women and girls, IRC seeks to narrow gender inequalities and ensure social inclusion of all vulnerable groups in broader policies, processes and actions affecting their lives.

The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, the civil society, and the private sector. Currently, the IRC in Uganda has presence across six sub-regions and six refugee settlements, implementing programming in the sectors of health, protection, and rule of law (PRoL), women’s protection and empowerment (WPE), economic recovery and development (ERD), and education. IRC Uganda also implements cross-cutting programming focused on systems strengthening and accountability to affected persons.

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is a core component of the IRC’s work with a comprehensive package aiming to ensure care before, during and after pregnancy – including safe and respectful maternity and delivery services for women and newborns; access to clients’ contraceptive of choice; treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; post abortion care; and clinical care for survivors of sexual assault.

Project Overview: Uganda is host to the largest refugee population on the African continent and the third largest in the world. It is also dealing with multiple shocks from over the border displacement, outbreaks- including COVID-19, Ebola, and the growing impacts of climate change.

To address numerous SRH needs for humanitarian populations in Uganda, the IRC has been piloting SHIFT (Shifting Paradigms for SRHR in Emergencies) a transformative approach to local partnerships that aims to overcome partnership inequalities, challenge the status quo and shift power back to local institutions, change agents and women and girls to sustainability advance SRH in fragile settings. SHIFT is being implemented in collaboration with the Agency for Cooperation in Research & Development (ACORD Uganda) and Women and Rural Development Network (WORUDET), two dynamic civil society organizations working in Uganda refugee settlements, as well as Lamwo and Yumbe health districts. Please note that project funding for the SHIFT partnership has recently ended but for this new project, the IRC Uganda intends to build on our existing partnerships with WORUDET, ACORD Uganda and district health authorities.

The project will focus on advancing the learning agenda on self-care in humanitarian and fragile settings, using innovative self-care programming in Uganda as a learning lab. This program, which will be implemented in partnership with local organizations and institutions, will support IRC’s broader goals to expand a coordinated movement to transform self-care for women and girls living in humanitarian and fragile settings.

The IRC will be implementing this project in Bidibidi and Palabek refugee settlements in Yumbe and Lamwo districts, respectively. These locations were selected because of the already existing structures, complementary funding, and the presence of local partners. Furthermore, the two field locations offer two different contexts, one of acute emergency and another - a protracted state. Additionally, the IRC already provides SRH service in both locations Specifically, the project aims to: 1)Design, implement and generate evidence on innovative SRHR self-care interventions in refugee settings. 2)Contribute to a locally led movement for self-care that serves the unique needs of displaced populations in the country.

Scope of Work: This position will be based in Kampala and directly reports to the Project Coordinator. The Policy and Advocacy Manager will be responsible for assisting the Project Coordinator in managing, coordinating, and monitoring the national level policy and advocacy deliverables of the project. S/he will manage the project portfolio that includes working with the local partners, national level SRHR fora, MOH to identify policy gaps, advocacy agenda and support evidence generation in line with the project goals. S/he will also work closely with the global policy lead on the project to ensure alignment across national and global policy objectives and deliverables for the project. S/he will work with the local partners, program, and advocacy staff to develop advocacy goals for the project.

Duties and Responsibilities: •In collaboration with the Project Coordinator, global advocacy lead, and local partners, develop an advocacy strategy for the project. •With oversight from the global advocacy lead and the Project Coordinator lead the production of relevant high quality external policy, and advocacy materials including talking points, letters, briefing notes, position papers, and advocacy reports. •Support local partners and program staff to review current SRHR, self-care and adolescent health policies and respective instruments to identify any policy gaps, relevant policy actors and understand policy dynamics in the country. •Support local partners and program staff to generate evidence that would facilitate SRHR policy advocacy. •Working with local partners support the development of the global self-care for SRH policy advocacy strategy/roadmap including clarity on the process (steps involved), approaches, and division of labor. •Identify and document any emerging SRHR and self-care policy opportunities, challenges and working with the project team to suggest how they could be optimized or addressed. •Work with local partners to interface with other SRHR policy advocacy actors to ensure harmonized advocacy efforts. •Participate in documentation and dissemination of the project’s policy and advocacy deliverables and project results. •Work closely with project behavioral insights team and global advocacy lead to develop and implement a research uptake plan for findings from project research. •Initiate and grow relationships with local partners, government, and non-government stakeholders vital to the success of the project. •Represent the IRC at national level forums and meetings including technical working groups and report back to project team. •Support the project’s global advocacy lead on any necessary global workstreams such as collaborative development of a global call to action on self-care for SRH in humanitarian settings. •In conjunction with project staff and the global advocacy lead, closely monitor relevant policy debates and discussions, ensuring that relevant information is analyzed and disseminated in a timely and effective manner for appropriate decision making. •Contribute to annual work plan development, procurement, and spending plan. •Participate in grant opening, quarterly project cycle meetings and project review meetings as per program schedule. •Compile and submit timely project reports to Project Coordinator for technical review as per donor regulations. •Any other duty assigned by the Project Coordinator.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should possess strong project management skills, a proven record of successfully working with and supporting local partners, multiple years of experience in policy and advocacy, and a strong ability to successfully manage cooperation between national and local authorities, donors, and other stakeholders.

•Degree in public health, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or related field •Experience in developing and successfully implementing advocacy campaigns or strategies on a national, regional, or global level. •At least three (3) years demonstrated experience in managing and supervising a team. •Expertise and experience working in Sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) and health system strengthening in humanitarian setting will be a plus. •Experience working in humanitarian settings with INGO/NGO. •Significant exposure and background successfully collaborating with local partners •Proven ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and work with limited supervision •Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations at all levels •Demonstrated skills in financial management – with knowledge and experience in managing complex budgets and ensuring donor compliance •Experience in successfully managing various forms of partnerships with stakeholders, including national and local authorities, UN agencies, local NGOs, etc. •Fluent in written and spoken English. •A background in social behavior change communication or research is a plus. •A dynamic and flexible individual with ability to multitask and who can work under pressure •Team player •Familiar with IRC’s PEERS an advantage •Strong budget management abilities •Good communication and interpersonal skills •Excellent Microsoft word and Microsoft excel, power-point presentation skills

Working Environment: Current security level is yellow across all IRC operating areas in Uganda, except for Karamoja region which is orange. The security situation across the country is generally calm with main concerns related to petty crime.

The position is based in Kampala, with expected travel to project field locations.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity: We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: rescue.org