Policy and Advocacy Advisor 52 views

Job Description

Background

Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD) is a non-governmental, non-profit making indigenous organization that was founded in 2003 by four school clubs and fifteen youth associations. Currently, YNSD is an umbrella network of more than 160 youth organizations and associations operating at national level. YNSD strives for sustainable development through promoting partnership, networking and building the capacity of its member organizations.  www.ynsdethiopia.org.et

Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation implements Community Service Programing Addis Ababa, Sodo and Wolo. This Program envisions “equal opportunity for young people to learn and prosper, access to dignified and fulfilling work and contribute to their country’s overall development.”  The Community Service as Pathway to Work (CSPW) initiative aims to contribute to this vision by engaging young people (18 to 34 years) in a structured program of community service, training and by providing linkages to a comprehensive local network of public, private, and civic sector agencies that provide work-related placements and resources. The Program will make every opportunity available to engage differently-abled youth as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) which are directly impacted by the conflict and other vulnerable groups in the community.

Job Summary:

Youth Network for Sustainable Development/YNSD/ is looking for a Policy and advocacy advisor to provide technical leadership and support for the MasterCard foundation’s community service as a pathway to work/CSPW/ program that aims to provide community service opportunities and job preparedness skills for young people focusing on women, vulnerable and those from conflict affected areas while significantly contributing to the overall health and well-being of the communities. The Programwill be active in 150 woredas (districts) and city administrations across 5 regions, 29 (19%) of which will be in post-conflict areas, coordinated through cluster offices.

The Policy and advocacy advisor is responsible to strengthen YNSD’s advocacy and influencing work across the programs and the projects implemented. By working closely with program management and the Operations team, the advisor will develop new areas of policy research, provide social, economic and political analysis and deliver advocacy agendas and campaigns to influence the government and others linked to the CSPW programme of work. The position holder will also help strengthen the impact of YNSD’s work, deliver on influencing strategies and help the organization’s lasting change on youth mobilization. The policy and advocacy advisor will work closely with YNSD’s communications team.  The advisor will base at head office yet with significant interaction with cluster teams and other partners engaged in national and regional advocacy. The post holder will work collaboratively with key program partner organizations aiming to influence national processes and initiatives on youth community service and youth employment, and its implementation by national governments.

Primary duties and responsibilities: the Policy and advocacy advisor perform the following duties and responsibilities.

  • Developing and implementing effective influencing strategies towards the Government and other actors including impactful policy recommendations that will lead to sustainable change for young people and women;
  • Producing influential and convincing policy positions, briefings and analysis for both external and internal use; Contributing to the development of credible research products, and managing external consultants delivering research as required;
  • Provide strategic and timely analysis and explanation on policy development relating to CSPW s work on youth and women
  • Consult on and develop CSPW”s policy and advocacy positions.
  • Lead, coordinate and implement events to develop and socialize CSPW’s policy and advocacy related work.
  • Develop and deliver accompanying advocacy strategies to effectively disseminate research findings to policy makers and advocacy targets
  • Position CSPW to engage in critical policy debates relevant to youth and women development cooperation.
  • Building and managing influential advocacy and policy relationships with Government, NGOs, CSO’s, networks and partners, and developing creative ideas for furthering CSPW’s  influencing agendas in partnership with others;
  • Build and maintain relationships with a wide range of policy colleagues, organizations and institutions.
  • Create, identify and forecast opportunities to advance CSPW’s policy and influence
  • Maintain up to date expert knowledge on the youth and women policy landscape through monitoring and interpreting the external environment in which the program works and adjusting the strategic direction as appropriate
  • Identify key research and knowledge gaps and lead desk based research reports to fill them
  • Working with colleagues across policy, programmes, communications and campaigns to co-develop and deliver on an organisational influencing strategy focussing on youth and women specially in conflict affected areas
  • Support cluster office teams to develop policy and advocacy strategies and key messaging in response to youth community service, youth unemployment and gender and social cohesion inclusion ensuring youth and women rights and needs are met
  • Work with the communication team and program staff to develop key messaging in response to youth community service and youth unemployment
  • Provide support to senior staff and board members in their engagement with decision makers, including by drafting briefing notes, talking points and speeches
  • Develop and co-ordinate the use of policy-oriented key messages and materials for use in media
  • Ensure all departments are accurately and timely informed about relevant youth and women  policy, Government updates and understand how this will impact their work
  • Support the team’s work on monitoring and evaluation
  • Perform Other similar duties as assigned by immediate supervisor

Report to: Program implementation Director    

Location: Addis Ababa and frequent travel to the cluster cities

Employment Type: Full Time / Contact based

Job Requirements

Qualification: –

Education and Experience

Qualification requirements

  • Master’s degree in political science, social or development studies, or a related discipline from a recognized university
  • Experience
  • Minimum of Five years of experience in implementing youth development programs  with at least three years of senior level experience demonstrating strategic leadership;
  • A record of securing policy and/or legislative change through impactful advocacy, including building relationships with political stakeholders.
  • Experience of undertaking policy research and analysis.
  • Background in remote support for developing cluster offices and staff.
  • Experience in report writing, drafting briefing notes, talking points and speeches
  • Good record of impactful advocacy and a keen interest on community service, youth employment and GESI.
  • A keen interest in media and strategic communications alongside significant advocacy experience.
  • Experience in youth program management, particularly in youth community mobilization and youth unemployment mainstreaming GESI and meaningful youth engagement and advocacy skills, and/or youth program development or any equivalent combination of experience and capacity that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is preferable.
  • Experience cultivating relationships and collaborating with a variety of Ethiopian stakeholders including youth, government ministries and officials, NGOs, donors, the private sector, and community-based institutions;
  • Experience developing and implementing effective capacity strengthening models and approaches for organizations and individuals;
  • Experience working collaboratively with teams from diverse backgrounds;
  • Experience donor-funded projects;

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong commitment to working with youths
  • Leadership and influencing skills
  • Strategic thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills
  • Strong research, evaluation and analytical skills.
  • Good understanding of the country and international policy and advocacy environments.
  • Ability to assess trends likely to influence development processes and funding.
  • A keen interest in media, messaging and strategic communications
  • Committed to the protection of team members and clients, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
  • Able to role-model inclusive and culturally sensitive attitudes and behaviors
  • Strong commitment to young people and an understanding of the factors affecting their lives;
  • the ability to provide reliable support to young people in times of need and act with integrity;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish good relationships with young people;
  • Patience, tolerance, and flexibility. Ability to work under pressure
  • Formal communication skills for presentations and report writing
  • Strong oral and written communication and presentations skills in Amharic, English, and the  local languages of the program implementation area ;
  • Ability to treat young people’s concerns with respect, tact, and sensitivity,
  • A great deal of resilience.
  • Self-motivated with good organization, planning and management skills
  • Results orientated; Motivated to develop professionally;
  • Willingness and ability to travel (30% to 40% of the time) to program implementation sites;
  • Fully committed to YNSD’s goal and mission;
  • Committed to excellence.
  • Excellent computer skills using MS Office 365 Suite of products including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint;
  • Commitment to the programs and YNSDs’ principles and policy’s,
  • Awareness and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English.

Personal characteristics

  • Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices, and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
  • Value volunteerism: understand the sense of volunteerism and exercise it, show willingness to execute tasks as assigned by supervisors
  • Flexibility: demonstrate flexibility to accomplish tasks requiring a range of skills and abilities
  • Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
  • Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
  • Focus on members/beneficiaries Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of members and beneficiaries to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
  • Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities
  • Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problem, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness
  • Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
  • Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
  • Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
  • Commitment: shows dedication to the missions and visions of the organization

Only Short listed candidates will be contacted

Female Candidates are highly encouraged

Interested are required to send current CV through the following email address: [email protected] by referring the position title in the subject line of your email.

More Information

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