Associate Director – Advocacy and External Engangements 87 views0 applications

Associate Director – Advocacy and External Engangements

World Vision

The Associate Director -External Engagements is responsible for leading advocacy, government and external engagement and supports and advocates for World Vision’s humanitarian, recovery and development work in Somalia.

The position holder will ensure visibility of World Vision work and engage with a wide range of stakeholders to influence public policy and funding for the benefit of the most vulnerable children in Somalia.

The position holder is also responsible for government engagement and will provide management support to a team in Mogadishu in ensuring that government is engaged and informed of World Vision programs. He/She will also be responsible for ensuring that administrative services are provided to the various teams that support the Somalia program in an efficient and seamless manner.

Key responsibilities

1. Advocacy

• Together with other stakeholders, advocate for policies and laws that benefit Somali’s most vulnerable children

• Develop policy papers to influence key decisions makers on issues affecting children and their communities
• Keep abreast of the evolving contexts in Somalia and its impact on delivery of services to most vulnerable children and advice changes
• Report on emerging trends, concerns and opportunities for management action and adoption

1. External relationships:

• The position will be the focal point for all external engagements on advocacy and policy.
• The position will build and manage key networks and relationships with a variety of stakeholders that impact on the well-being of children.
• Drive external engagement for the office through networking, building relationships and fostering new alliances and networks in collaboration with Somali Resilience Program Chief of Party and Program Development and Quality Assurance Director

1. Government relations:

• Key contact person for all government engagements including correspondence with key government officials and close follow up on action points on partnerships, meeting invitations and joint conferences to ensure effective coordination
• Coordinate, foster and manage relations with state government offices, especially the relevant ministries and local
• Develop and document World Vision government relations processes and systems that ensures all staff, operational policies, procedures, and systems are compliant with the requirements of all relevant government entities
• Monitor and prepare participation of World Vison leaders to Diplomatic/State functions, government public functions and key celebrations hosted by the government

1. VIP Protocol Management – Coordinates the hosting of VIP events and visitors with the relevant sectors and departments.

Requirements include:

• Master’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Linguistics, Public Relations, Human Rights, Development and/or Humanitarian Issues, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years senior advocacy experience in a fragile or hardship context
• Excellent written and verbal English skills
• Proven experience in public speaking and conveying key messages in a concise manner
• Ability to influence others using diplomacy to bring about change
• Experience in producing written materials for advocacy purposes including developing high level policy papers
• Proven networks and relationships in Somalia
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 50% of the time.

Due to the number of applications received, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

World Vision adheres to strict child and adult safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks which will include criminal background checks. They will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Academic certificates will be verified with the issuing institution.