Junior Program Officer (JPO), Lobby and Advocacy Technical Support, Central African Republic 77 views0 applications

Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is one of the leading CSO’s in the Netherlands, working in fragile contexts on Health, Resilience, Economic opportunities, Humanitarian aid and Security & Justice. Apart from our work abroad we also contribute to new forms of job creation and social innovation in The Netherlands.

Cordaid is a member of the international Catholic networks Caritas and CIDSE and we are active in worldwide civil society networks. We work in around 30 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

For the Cordaid Country office in Central African Republic, Cordaid is looking for a Junior Program Officer (JPO), Lobby and Advocacy Technical Support

Introduction In order to achieve the objectives on one of these lines of intervention, Cordaid in Central African Republic has received funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands over a period of five years for the implementation of a program entitled: “Strategic Partnership for Lobby and Advocacy (SPLA)” in six countries including Central African Republic.

The program in CAR focused on two components: access to justice and fighting against gender-based violence. In this framework, we work for the capacity building of civil society on lobby and advocacy to allow them to contribute to the restoration of the social contract in fragile regions. It aims to contribute and influence the implementation of legitimate, effective regulations, policies, systems and practices related to local security and justice, peace and gender.

Position and responsibility

The JPO will work under the supervision and guidance of the Lobby & Advocacy Coordinator together with the Country Director in collaboration with the Cordaid Strategic Partnership team in The Hague.

He/she will support L&A Coordinator in ensuring implementation of the lobby & advocacy strategy of the Dialogue and Dissent Strategic Partnership in the Central African Republic and will support her in strengthening the institutional and staff capacity of selected civil society organizations to conduct lobby and advocacy activities. The JPO will also contribute to the overall country lobby and advocacy support function in collaboration with the Country Director.

Specific objectives

• In close collaboration with the L & A Coordinator, contribute to the development and update of the S&J program’s intervention strategy in country;
• Support the Coordinator in designing and updating Country advocacy plans and strategies and in the implementation of lobby and advocacy campaigns towards stakeholders;
• Develop technical notes of the SPLA program by linking them with those of local partners;
• Support the coordination of lobby and advocacy activities of Cordaid and local partners as part of the strategic partnership;
• In collaboration with the Capacity Building Officer, provide support and coaching of local partners in the conduct of lobbying and advocacy actions and ensure technical preparation and organization of workshops and other lobbying and advocacy meetings of the Program and local partners;
• Under the guidance of the L&A coordinator, participate in advocacy by reaching out to government actors, private sector actors, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders;
• Carry out ongoing analysis of the national and international political context and formulate proposals for adjusting and adapting program interventions;
• Identify networking and advocacy opportunities at the national, regional and international levels;
• Align the national dimension of the SP’s lobby & advocacy strategy in the Central African Republic to the international strategies developed by the Cordaid lobbyists at Global Office;
• Ensure links and connections between the program’s lobbying and advocacy activities in CAR and those of Cordaid’s lobbyists in Global Office;
• Support lobby and advocacy actions of the program and local partners in conducting lobby and advocacy actions at regional and international levels;
• Facilitate the development of lobby & advocacy plans with clear lobby & advocacy targets and strategies for the Country Office and local partners, according to the goals of the Dialogue & Dissent strategic partnership;
• Identify the lobby & advocacy activities of the Country Office and signal opportunities for additional, complementary programs;
• Assist in proposal writing and submission to donors;
• Support the Program Coordinator in the preparation of quality reports for donors and Cordaid headquarters and for internal monitoring;
• Any other assignment that can reasonably be asked from the position.

Qualifications

· Master’s in communication, Development Studies, Governance, Human Rights, Conflict Studies or related social sciences;

· At least 2 to 3 years’ relevant work experience in a similar capacity within a fragile and stressful context;

· Proven experience in lobby and advocacy in relation to (inter)national political institutions and decision-makers;

· Proven experience in working with civil society, creating networks and coordination and to obtain contribution from others;

· Excellent communication skills in French as well as in English;

· Proven ability to draft context analyses, policy papers, advocacy positions, articles, blogs, press statements, etc.

· Meets the following competencies: conceptual thinking, networking skills, results oriented, environmental consciousness, collaboration skills, entrepreneurship and is a diplomatic, culturally sensitive and a strong team player.

Specifics of station The JPO will be based in the Cordaid office in Bangui. Occasional travel to other project areas, security permitting, will occasionally be required. This is a non-accompanied posting.

Contract information

The contract period is for one year starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period. We offer a competitive, fair and comprehensive salary and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. A Cordaid contract which includes R&R, a comprehensive insurance cover, social security and pension contribution, a holiday allowance, 13^th month, hardship allowance and cost of living allowance.