Project Advocacy Officer

Project Advocacy Officer

Country/Region: Uganda, West Nile Region

Location: Arua

Organization: Save the Children International

Join us to lead sustainable change for children:

• Be part of a GLOBAL and DIVERSE technical community
• Get EXPOSURE in many different contexts.
• Test and scale up INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
• Influence policies that affect MILLIONS OF CHILDREN

OVERVIEW

Are you passionate about being an advocate for children? Do you want to use your expertise to bring about lasting change for children and be a part of an inspiring, dynamic global movement?

The Project Advocacy Officer is responsible for supporting the Project Manager to effectively and efficiently plan, manage and deliver  the Advancing Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights(ANSWER) project components of strengthening multi-disciplinary leadership of the project for improved implementation and accountability towards the demographic dividend road map by 2023, within the Impact Area in ways that meet both local and international Save the Children and respective donor requirements and guidelines.

Sounds interesting? Read more below.

THE ROLE

Key areas of accountability include:

Project planning and implementation Management.

• Effectively manage day to day direct implementation of the project youth meaningful participation and involvement in activities and operations to ensure compliance with the approved ANSWER project annual plan, phased budget, procurement plan, MEAL requirements, CO KPIs, essential standards and policies.
• Establish functional participatory platforms that advocate for increased investment in adolescents and youth within development and health policies and programmes at district level.
• Support youth to identify, participate in subcounty and district level budget and planning meetings and table their priorities for planning and action.
• Support the project team to produce a wide range of communications, media and information content – complementing with country office level products as appropriate.
• Take lead in screening project communications materials for appropriateness and accuracy including adhering to established and understood guidance on red lines.
• Prepare and conduct meetings with youth on progress of identified issues, and table SRHR and GBV plans/priorities to relevant subcounty and district structures.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of information and communications tactics and tools.
• Facilitate dialogues that can result into successful participatory youth programmes and actions.
• Functionalize district level multi-sectoral coordination meetings.
• Maintain high standard of integrity, transparency and accountability in the course of project implementation.
• Provision of regular operations and implementation updates on programme progress and challenges to allow for timely interventions and corrective actions by management.
• Ensure that project advocacy related interventions are effectively documented to show a trend of progress before, during intervention and after intervention evidence.
• Support in development of concepts and proposals for possible funding of advocacy needs as need may arise.
• Ensure clear quarterly accountability of all intervention inputs/resources given out or offered to the beneficiaries.
• With the support of the Country office ACCM team, Produce and coordinate communications and information materials to build the project’s visibility and engagement with Save the Children partners, and relevant stakeholders at Districts of operations.

Advocacy, Networking and influencing.

• Participate and support the plan for district level ASRH and GBV advocacy activities, meetings and engagements.
• Build strategic networks, coalitions and alliances with key actors on ASRH and GBV advocacy agenda.
• Develop strategies for collaborations within the target districts on ASRH and GBV in liaison with line manager, including male engagement.
• Take lead in documentation and share lessons and learning’s from advocacy engagements and business development.
• Ensure all information for external use presents accurate information and appropriate images and does not put Save the Children unnecessarily at risk.
• Be available for travel to the field sites to collect case studies and undertake photography commissions and case studies and coordinate with the photo/film team as well as the Humanitarian Communications team.
• Collaborate closely with Advocacy colleagues to ensure core messaging is consistent when being shared externally.
• Manage the production of compelling photo stories, case studies and audio-visual materials from the field to highlight project work, including the commissioning of photography and film when required and in line with SCI policies and procedures (all consent on file and available). Ensure branding and visibility in the materials.
• Determine how to use various different materials through different advocacy and communications channels (print, web page, social media, radio, television)
• Evaluate results and impact of Advocacy and communications activities.
• Ensures adherence to policy and procedure and that the rights of families and children are respected in all materials produced and disseminated (voice, photo, video, written)

Financial and Budgeting Monitoring

• Support ANSWER project manager on financial and budgetary monitoring. This responsibility includes.
• Developing and submitting timely and quality regional (split in districts) project advocacy cash needs on monthly basis.
• Manage the ANSWER project regional advocacy spending against budget to ensure acceptable monthly performance and funds are optimally used for the intended purpose as per approved fund summary and annual plan.
• Undertake monthly budget monitoring in order to ensure accuracy of financial reports, manage budget variances, explain variances and propose measures for managing the variances.
• Ensure that all financial policies and regulations relating to cash flow management, expenditure controls, cash management, accounting information, and advances management are adhered to.

Project Reporting

• Responsible for the preparation of timely and high-quality regional activity reports and quarterly project progress and end of fiscal year narrative and quantitative reports which are in accordance with the donor and SC reporting schedules and formats/guidelines.
• Ensure that issues raised in the reports are comprehensively addressed in a timely manner.
• Actively contribute to line ministry (MOH, MOES) working groups related to ASRH and GBV to ensure working within government policies and guidelines.
• On a monthly basis Identify potential risks and threats to the programme and alert management on the same for action.

   Monitoring Evaluation Accountability & Learning

• Support to ANSWER project concepts and study processes which include assessments, baseline, research and evaluations etc.
• Ensure that the ANSWER project adheres to and 100% meets quality benchmarks.
• Collecting and managing complaints and feedback in close coordination with MEAL team and Programme Officers
• Ensure regular monitoring of programme results, documentation of programme, case studies, lessons learnt, significant changes and best practices and coordinating learning and reflection meetings/sessions.

 Child Safeguarding

• Work with Child Safeguarding Focal persons to ensure all youth advocates are oriented on Safeguarding.
• Closely review documents and agreements to ensure all partners, contractors, visitors, volunteers etc. comply with Safeguarding and code of conduct standards.
• Ensure compliance to child Safeguarding policy in all.
• Coordinate with line manager on identified Safeguarding issues while ensuring that all issues are reported in timely manner or as required by policy and local procedures.

Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation

• Contribution to Quarterly reports that should be prepared and submitted on every 5^th day of first month in new quarter.
• Ensure periodic reports are prepared and filed for every completed activity in accordance with donor and SC requirements.
• Promote and undertake the documentation of good practices and synthesis of lessons learned, and ensure that these are reflected in the monthly, semi-annual and annual reports.
• Contribute to data collection, analysis and reporting on key programme indicators.
• Produce accurate, clear and consistent coordinated advocacy and communication outputs relating the project including key messages, Q&A’s, internal email updates, dashboards, factsheets, for media and advocacy work.

To be a strong supporter and advocate for children in this role you will need to have:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in political science, Governance, Mass communication, International Development or community development with experience in ASRHR and GBV programming, post graduate training in either public health, Health Systems Strengthening, Community Health, Reproductive Health, Gender, Advocacy etc. will be of added advantage.
• At least 3 years’ progressive experience in advocacy work, as well as contributing to development and implementation of advocacy strategies. Experience in community mobilization and engagement is an added advantage.
• Highly knowledgeable of Child Rights Governance; Public Investment in Children.
• Excellent understanding of Uganda’s budget cycle (at sub county, district and National level)
• Superior in written and communication skills (English) including ability to translate complex arguments into accessible English for a non-specialist audience, and ability to write articles that would be published in accordance with SCI communications procedures.
• Excellent verbal and communication skills, appropriate high level of external representation (for example lobbying with sub county and district stakeholders)
• Experience in developing advocacy strategies, knowledge, and understanding of a range of advocacy techniques.
• Experience in teamwork and outstanding inter-personal communication skills.
• Ability to speak the local language fluently is a strong requirement. Ability to ride a motorcycle (Honda XL 125). 

Application Information:

Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at https://hcri.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Application closes on 13^th February 2023 at midnight Uganda time.

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