Advocacy Coordinator at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is a leading international organization helping children in need around the world. First established in the UK in 1919, separate national organizations have been set up in more than twenty-eight countries, sharing the aim of improving the lives of children through education, health care and economic opportunities, as well as emergency aid in cases of natural disasters, war and conflict.

In Nigeria, Save the Children has been working since 2001. The early focus was on getting children actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. Today, Save the Children is working in seven federal states - Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi and Kaduna - focusing on providing basic healthcare and protecting children.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Advocacy Coordinator

Location: Lagos
Reports to:  Advocacy Adviser, Lagos State.

Role Purpose

• To provide support to the Advocacy team on Policy analysis, new Programme development, advocacy initiatives, strategy development and pro-poor governance agenda in the delivery of basic social services with focus on the sustainability of the Stop Diarrhoea Initiative and improving access to Child Health Services in Lagos state in general.
• He/ She will work closely with the State Ministry of health; Ministry of environment and relevant LGA departments to ensure the Child health project objectives in Lagos state is achieved.

Key Areas of Accountability
Programme Development and Quality:

• Support actively in the process of developing the organization’s short- and long-term governance and advocacy agendas.  As directed, and particularly as it relates to exploring governance-related barriers to the elimination of exclusion and inequity, undertake research and analysis on possible new areas for SC programming.
• Support the Advocacy Adviser to prepare concept papers and other relevant documents, and initiate and describe project ideas and initiatives in accordance with the country strategy, the current contextual environment, the institutional capabilities of potential partners, resource availability and funding sources
• When working on specific high-priority initiatives, the Advocacy Coordinator will support collaborative effort with senior staff and support the analysis process, developing policy positions and programme strategies, establishing new networks and partnerships, and managing coalitions.
• Assist colleagues to strengthen their knowledge and skills/capacities to incorporate governance frameworks, policy research, analysis and advocacy into their work.
• Contribute to development of advocacy strategies proposal writing and fund raising 

Communication and Representation:

• Support representative efforts at local, national and international levels with local authorities, partners etc. as required, mainly in events relating to basic services (health and education) programme.  Represent SC UK and communicate SC UK's public policy and advocacy positions as and when appropriate to institutions, government, international, national and local organisations as required.
• Support the coordination of the drafting and submission of strategic, planning and reporting documents, including but not limited to strategy documents, the operational plan and annual reports, and ad hoc requests for updates and reports from SC HQ and Regional Office.
• Support the development and maintenance of a professional network for governance issues within Nigeria and within SC globally.
• Support the dissemination of important information and messages

Programme Management:

• Support the Supervision of consultants involved in writing project designs, case studies or reports, facilitating training events, and conducting policy research, or other such contracted services.
• Support the implementation of the governance programme including quality control, negotiation with local partners, financial management, documentation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting etc
• Provide technical support to the Local Government Coordinators and officers in achieving key  advocacy objectives in intervention Local Government areas (LGAs)
• Take the lead in ensuring the establishment of Child hygiene and Women Clubs in intervention LGAs

Skills and Behaviours(our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Accuracy and timeliness in all areas of responsibility
• High level of accuracy in work, and ability to analyse complex sets of relationships and situations
• Holds self and others accountable

Ambition:

• Creating best-in-class EA function
• Future-orientated, thinks pro-actively

Collaboration:

• Working effectively with stakeholders to achieve common goals
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Designing more effective admin systems
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency, demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

Skills & Experience
Essential:

• A development worker with postgraduate qualification in social sciences related to the position in question.
• Basic training in advocacy/campaign.
• At least 4 years programming  experience in policy advocacy, stakeholders engagement and governance with I/NGO in Nigeria
• Very good understanding of national policies and strategies, programmes and stakeholders in Nigeria within advocacy and policy discourse. 
• Demonstrable management experience and very good understanding of child survival issues, school health and common childhood illnesses in Nigeria.

Desirable:

• Profound  knowledge in Nigeria governance and health systems and political terrains
• Ability to clearly communicate  and easily relate to federal, state, and LGA  authorities

Prior Experience Expectations:

• Building external networks
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management
• Governance and advocacy
• Enhanced voice accountability
• Training and Facilitation

Application Closing Date
24th November, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online