Program Officer, Capacity Building & Government Relations at Policy Innovation Centre (PIC)

The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is the first national institutionalised behavioural initiative in Africa supporting government and stakeholders to make behaviourally informed decisions and generate evidence for impact driven interventions in critical thematic areas (Governance, Health, Gender & Social Inclusion, Education, Digital & Financial Inclusion). The PIC is positioned to support the delivery of better policies and innovative solutions for high impact interventions across Africa. The PIC is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), a leading think tank in Africa redefining evidence based policy advocacy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer, Capacity Building & Government Relations

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Overview

The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) seeks to hire a Program Officer for Capacity Building & Government Relations who will be responsible for managing and implementing programs that enhance the capacity of organizations, communities, and individuals while fostering strong relationships with government agencies, policymakers, and other key stakeholders. The position will focus on creating and executing strategies for capacity building, as well as supporting advocacy and policy engagement efforts with government entities, on behalf of behavioural insights lab of PIC.

Job Responsibilities

Capacity Building

• Develop and manage capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing the skills, knowledge, and organizational capacity of stakeholders, including government agencies, local partners, and community organizations.
• Conduct regular assessments to identify gaps in skills, resources, and organizational capacities.
• Lead and support the delivery of workshops, seminars, and other capacity-building events tailored to specific needs.
• Provide technical assistance and mentoring to help local partners and stakeholders improve their organizational effectiveness and sustainability.

Government Relations

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with government officials, policymakers, and other key stakeholders at local, regional, and national levels to support the Lab's objectives.
• Track and analyze relevant policies, regulations, and legislation that affect the PIC’s programs and advocacy efforts.
• Support efforts for embedment and utilization of behavioral insights in public policies across all sectors in line with BIL's goals. Facilitate dialogues between the Lab and government bodies to influence policy decisions.
• Act as the key liaison with government representatives and other stakeholders in policy discussions, conferences, and meetings.

Program Management

• Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of capacity-building programs, ensuring they meet objectives, timelines, and budget requirements. This applies to the GBV capacity building program and other similar Behavioural change programs within the portfolio of the Lab.
• Collaborate with external partners, including government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders, to ensure the successful implementation of programs.
• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems to assess the impact of capacity-building activities and government relations efforts.
• Prepare regular progress reports for internal and external stakeholders, including donors and government agencies, to ensure transparency and accountability.

Partnership Development & Resource Mobilization

• Identify and build strategic partnerships with government bodies, international organizations, and community-based organizations to leverage resources and enhance program impact.
• Contribute to fundraising initiatives by identifying opportunities for financial support, preparing proposals, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.

Knowledge Management:

• Promote knowledge-sharing practices within the organization by documenting lessons learned, best practices, and innovative approaches.
• Develop and maintain a library of capacity-building resources, tools, and templates for internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications/Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in capacity building, government relations, policy advocacy, or program management, preferably in the non-profit, international development, or public policy sectors.
• Experience working with government agencies, NGOs, or international organizations is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of successful program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Strong understanding of government structures, policies, and regulations.
• Experience in designing and conducting training programs and workshops.
• Experience in behavioural public policy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks and reporting processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with project management software.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Professional development opportunities.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.

Application Closing Date
10th February, 2025.

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

Note

• Please send your CV on no more than 2 A4 pages (minimum font size 10) and an accompanying covering letter of no more than 2 pages (minimum font size 10) answering the following questions:
  • What is your motivation for wanting to join the PIC?
  • What are the top three key attributes you would bring to the PIC?
• Only qualified candidates will be contacted.
• PIC may be unable to notify every applicant of the result of their application.If you have therefore not been contacted within 8 weeks of the closing date, then you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful. However, we may retain your data and contact you for future openings that match your skills and competencies.
• Equal employment opportunity statement: PIC is an equal employment employer. We do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, gender, disability, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable laws.