Senior Advocacy and Governance Officer

EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT  

Senior Advocacy and Governance Officer

VACANCY REF: ACFSPOAG

DATE OF VACANCY: 27/10/2024

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger. Recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF saves the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. With more than 40 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programmes in over 45 countries benefitting seven million people each year. With head offices in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Canada, our international network shares its combined resources, breadth of experience and technical expertise in pursuit of a world without hunger. Every year, our 7,500+ field workers help over 21 million people in over 45 countries worldwide. As a non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious organisation, we are committed to principled humanitarian action as outlined in our International Charter of Principles: independence, neutrality, non-discrimination, free and direct access to affected populations, professionalism and transparency.

Contract type: Fixed term contract

Duration: 1 year

Duty station: Kathmandu Valley

Expected starting date: 01 January 2025 

Number of positions: 1

Main Responsibilities:

Key Responsibility 1: Overall Program Management and Coordination:

• Support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of governance and advocacy components of the project at federal and provincial levels.
• Ensure close coordination with the Program Manager and other stakeholders, including government ministries, CSOs, and development partners, to enhance collaboration and streamline project activities.
• Supervise provincial teams in Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim to ensure timely delivery of project outputs and outcomes, particularly related to governance, advocacy, and social inclusion.
• Contribute to the preparation and updating of project work plans, annual budgets, and monitoring tools for governance and advocacy activities.

Key Responsibility 2: Advocacy and Policy Engagement: 

• Support CSOs in engaging in policy dialogues and in the design, oversight, and review of nutrition-related public policies aligned with MSNP 3.
• Facilitate the organization of public hearings, policy roundtable discussions, and advocacy workshops to promote transparency, accountability, and policy reforms for nutrition governance.
• Lead the development and dissemination of advocacy materials such as policy briefs, position papers, and GEDSI-focused reports.
• Support and collaborate with partners and stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of evidence-based advocacy campaigns for improved nutrition governance.

Key Responsibility 3: Capacity Building of CSOs:

• Oversee the capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing CSOs' ability to participate in nutrition governance and multi-sectoral planning at both federal and provincial levels.
• Ensure the training and mentorship of CSOs in data utilization, monitoring, and evaluation, and advocate for nutrition interventions through existing platforms.
• Promote and ensure the integration of GEDSI principles into nutrition interventions by supporting CSOs in mainstreaming these aspects into their policies and programs.

Key Responsibility 4: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL):

• Develop and maintain robust MEAL frameworks for advocacy and governance activities in coordination with the project’s MEAL team.
• Ensure that CSOs are effectively utilizing available data for evidence-based advocacy and monitoring of MSNP 3 at federal and provincial levels.
• Lead documentation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned from the project’s governance and advocacy components.

Key Responsibility 5: Partnership and Networking

• Maintain effective working relationships with government ministries, CSO networks, donors, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the nutrition governance framework.
• Represent the project in advocacy forums, policy dialogues, and sectoral meetings at both federal and provincial levels.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing platforms for CSOs on nutrition governance and GEDSI through workshops, forums, and online platforms.

Key Responsibility 6: Risk Management

• Identify and manage risks associated with governance and advocacy activities, particularly in relation to stakeholder engagement, political changes, and coordination with multi-sectoral line ministries.
• Ensure proper documentation and reporting of all project-related risks, assumptions, and mitigation strategies.

Key Responsibility 6: Other

• Proactively support ACFs commitments to gender equality, child protection and disability sensitivity
• Comply with Safeguarding Policy and the relevant annexed policies, which fall under its scope.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Master’s degree in governance, international relations, development studies, social sciences, or a related field with at least three years of experience in program management, particularly in advocacy, governance, and multi-sectoral coordination within the nutrition or health sector; or Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline with at least five years of experience, preferably in International NGO. 
• Proven experience working with CSOs, government ministries, and development partners at the federal and provincial levels.
• Prior experience in mainstreaming GEDSI principles into governance or nutrition programs is highly desirable.
• Experience in organizing technical workshops at national and provincial level with government 
• Experience working in close collaboration with Ministries of Health, NGOs, UN and other international and local partners.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills in negotiation, communication and advocacy;
• Experience in Health/Nutrition advocacy would be an asset;
• Autonomy – Taking initiatives – Punctuality – Rigor 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and good working skills in a multicultural environment
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders and lead advocacy initiatives.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines in a complex environment.
• Level of English: Mastery, 
• Preferred fluency in local language of Madesh, Karnali and Sudurpaschim ProvincesPowerPoint

Applications:

Interested Nepali applicants with suitable skills are requested to submit a motivation letter, updated CV with two referees through email: recruitment@np-actionagainsthunger.org by 10 November 2024 by 5 pm Nepal time. The Vacancy Reference (ACFSPOAG) must be mentioned in the title of the email otherwise the application may be disqualified. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further process. ACF reserves the right to reject any or all applications. Telephonic inquiries will not be entertained.

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people with disabilities and members from disadvantaged /underrepresented ethnic groups.