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Title : Regional Head of Advocacy, Communications and Rights
Location : Nairobi or Addis Ababa
Responsible to: Regional Director
Grade : NS1 (on National terms and conditions in either Kenya or Ethiopia)
HelpAge International (HelpAge) is a global network of not-for-profit organisations with a vision of a world where older people fulfill their potential to lead active, dignified, healthy and secure lives.
With more than 70 affiliates and 300 partners across more than 50 countries the HelpAge International network brings together hundreds of organisations worldwide.
The incumbent will be part of the senior management team for East, West and Central Africa region providing strategic direction on communications and advocacy and building a strong regional profile for HelpAge.
As a member of the International Advocacy and Communications Team, the Regional Head of Advocacy, Communications and Rights will lead on advocacy, campaigning, rights and communications work in the region and contribute to the development of HelpAge International’s global campaign agenda.
Manager of:
- African Union liaison post, Consultants on Advocacy related work, Interns and Regional Communications and Information Coordinator
Key relationships:
- Advocacy and Communications Team in London, Head of Strategic Alliances in Africa, Regional Advocacy staff in other regions, Affiliates and partners, Heads of programmes in the Regions, Regional Directors, Key Government Ministries, Regional Programme Staff and Head of Communications and Brand.
Background
HelpAge International is a global network of not-for-profit organisations with a mission to work with and for disadvantaged older people worldwide to achieve a lasting improvement in the quality of their lives. HelpAge works with over a 100 affiliates organisations in 70 countries.
HelpAge has Regional Offices in East West Central and Southern Africa to manage HelpAge programmes in Africa. Its past and current programmes have focused on developing older persons’ organisations and networks at sub-national, national and regional level, realizing older persons´ rights and contributing to policy development on ageing in the region.
The post holder will work in close coordination with the Country Directors (CDs) and Advocacy and Communications Department (ACD) in London that is responsible for building profile and promoting understanding of HelpAge, its work and the issues with which it is concerned, through media, publications, advocacy and campaigning work.
The post-holder leads on advocacy at national level (together with CDs) and at Pan-Africa level (together with Regional Offices and Affiliates), coordinates campaigns and publications, leads on website management, handles media contacts and represents Africa at HelpAge International’s global as well as UN and donor meetings.
Job Purpose
The post-holder will be part of the senior management team for the region providing strategic direction on advocacy and building a strong regional profile for HelpAge. As a member of the International Advocacy and Communications Team, the Regional Head of Advocacy, Communications and Rights will lead on advocacy, campaigning, rights and communications work in the region working to and contributing to the development of HelpAge Internationals global campaign agenda.
Main priorities and tasks
Strategic advocacy and campaigning;
Build profile and influence of HelpAge International across Africa and contribute to global campaign agenda, for example promoting and developing the use of the Global AgeWatch Index and Age Demands Action campaign.
Support RD/CDs/NCOs – to develop regional and national advocacy and communication strategies in line with country/regional targets and the International Advocacy and Communication strategy
Develop a regional advocacy and communications team to ensure peer-learning and coordinated action on key advocacy issues.
Ensure regional programmes include evidence collection, documentation needed to communicate findings and recommendations clearly to media, government and other stakeholders.
Proactively develop and contribute to proposal writing to raise resources for advocacy and communications work in the region.
Manage liaison with key external stakeholders like the African Building Blocks e.g. (SADC), African Union in liaison with Regional Directors and Program Heads, Donors etc.
Building Capacity;
- Build capacity around advocacy and communications within the region to create positive change in the lives of older people and support NCOs in their work.
- Provide support to partners and staff in terms of ensuring the inclusion of advocacy, campaigns and older people’s rights in the designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of regional and country programmes.
- Provide technical support and input on older people’s rights and mainstreaming ageing in partner organisation’s programmes.
- Support the RDs, CDs on development of local network plan and hold responsibility for delivering Age Demands Action and other HelpAge campaigns in Africa in collaboration with Regional offices.
Media
- Ensure spokespeople on key strategic areas and campaigns are trained and accessible and build national and regional media (traditional and social media) profile of HelpAge
- Manage a number of proactive advocacy/media agendas at anyone time in line with country/regional strategy.
- Liaise with media proactively around key campaigns/events (2/3 a year) and reactively in response to enquiries and coverage of ageing issues (through letters to editor etc.)
Communications;
- Manage the Regional Communications Coordinator and oversee implementation of the communications strategy in the region.
- General;
- To contribute to team and departmental meetings.
- The jobholder may be required to undertake additional tasks, commensurate with status, after consultation and the provision of necessary support and training.
- The jobholder is expected to operate within all HelpAge policies and procedures.
Person specification
Qualifications
- A university degree, preferably on International Relations, Social Policies or equivalent
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- At least seven years’ of relevant strategic experience in advocacy and campaigning with development agencies or equivalent
- Experience of managing advocacy and policy campaigns
- Knowledge of/interest in international development and/or ageing issues
- Proven success in developing and implementing creative campaigns and building networks for change
- Ability to identify opportunities to engage the public in advocacy strategies and convert these into clear campaign messaging and activities
- Understanding of how popular mobilisation helps to realise changes in policy and practice
- Proven track record in speaking at media and high level UN, AU and government meetings
- Have strong media contacts
- Proven representational, leadership and motivational qualities
- Excellent project management skills, with a track record of taking large scale projects from concept stage to execution
- Fluency in English (speaking and writing)
Desirable
- Experience of monitoring and evaluating the impact of publications
- Working knowledge of French
Specific skills and aptitudes (Essential)
- Ability to work as a team and on own initiative
- Ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload and to work under pressure to deadlines
- Proven ability to write accessibly for different audiences and to interpret information for them
- Quality check on publications
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to advise staff on high level advocacy and campaigns
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
To apply for this position, please send an updated CV and covering letter by 4th April, 2014 explaining how you meet the criteria for the role to:
Regional Human Resource Coordinator
HelpAge International
East, West and Central Africa Regional Development Centre,
P.O. Box 14888 – 00800
Westlands, Nairobi
Email: hr@helpage.co.ke
Previous applicants need not re-apply
