ROLE PURPOSE: The Head of Advocacy and Campaigns will undertake advocacy work to advance Save the Children’s policy positions and influence decision-makers, both at national level and internationally. In so doing, the Head of Advocacy and Campaigns will contribute directly to helping Save the Children achieve its ambitious programmatic objectives benefiting the most deprived children in Kenya, as set out in our Country Strategic Plan 2016-18. The postholder will shape and implement Save the Children’s efforts to influence and bring about change in the awareness, attitudes, behaviours and policies related to the rights of children in Kenya. The Head of Advocacy & Campaigns will be the focal point at the national level for coordinating efforts on the implementation and periodic progress review of the country office advocacy strategy, in addition to providing practical support to and strengthening the capacity of thematic Technical Specialists and field-based advocacy focal points working at county level. In addition, s/he will oversee a team handling internal and external communications, including media engagement and enquiries regarding Save the Children in Kenya. Finally, the post has management oversight of public campaigns with a special focus on Save the Children’s next global campaign (NGC), expected to launch in mid-2016, which will focus on inequality and the removal of critical barriers to survival and learning for millions of excluded children.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Director of Programme Development and Quality
Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country. We employ nearly 300 staff and will have an operating annual budget in 2015 of approximately US$18-20 million.
Staff directly reporting to this post: Communications Manager; Campaigns Manager
Key staff engaging directly with this post: Thematic Technical Specialists (Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Child Poverty); field-based Health & Nutrition Advocacy & Policy Coordinators; field-based Programme Managers and Area Programme Managers
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
The Head of Advocacy and Campaigns will establish, promote and regularly update Save the Children Kenya’s advocacy strategy to ensure that our country office:
- Is informed on the extent to which both the emergency response and development interventions are affecting the lives of the targeted populations.
- Has evidence-based knowledge on the positive and negative impact that both the emergency response and development interventions are having over the communities where we work with.
- Receives regular, timely and context-specific, meaningful feedback from our staff, partners, programme participants (who are or are not targeted by our interventions), and that feedback effectively informs and signals areas where strategic attention is required.
- Achieves the global organisational Essential Standards for Advocacy and Campaigns:
- *National advocacy and campaigns strategies (developed with support from members) are in place for the agreed global campaign and for key thematic areas, which includes clear policy change objectives in line with the global campaign strategy and with the thematic Global Initiatives and global advocacy strategies**.*
- A percentage of total grant expenditure for Advocacy and Campaigns is agreed in order to deliver on our full Theory of Change.
- Active advocacy, campaigns and external communications are used to influence public opinion and political commitment nationally in support of children’s rights.
Advocacy
- Identify policy and practice change that will promote and protect the rights of children.
- In collaboration with thematic Technical Specialists (TS), define key advocacy opportunities and targets at national and regional levels.
- Develop and lead the implementation of an advocacy strategy to guide Save the Children’s work in Kenya, working closely with thematic TS and other Programme Development & Quality (PDQ) team members to encompass issues such as (but not limited to) rights violations, investment in children, access to quality healthcare, emergency response and humanitarian access, child protection, education (including in emergency situations), as well as long-term needs of affected populations, and addressing a wide range of audiences.
- In collaboration with CRG and other thematic Technical Specialists ensure that voices of children form the basis of Save the Children’s advocacy strategy.
- Identify and measure indicators for assessing the impact of Save the Children’s advocacy work in Kenya under the approved advocacy strategy.
- Ensure that all advocacy messages, documents and the above-said advocacy strategy are evidence-based drawn from field experience and assessments.
- Ensure that all staff in the country programme are aware of and properly understand the approved advocacy strategy and can actively contribute towards its objectives.
- Provide direct technical support and guidance to field-based advocacy focal points – including Health & Nutrition Advocacy & Policy Coordinators in Bungoma, Turkana, Wajir and Mandera.
- Ensure that the Save the Children Kenya Country Annual Plan and reports have clear advocacy objectives, based on the country’s advocacy strategy.
- Draft and support the production of advocacy material to be used at national, regional and international levels.
- Work with staff operational in the field to identify key coordination or protection issues that need to be raised with key donors or other agencies/coalitions at national and county level, and if needs be (and if approved by the Save the Children Kenya Country Director) internationally.
- Support the Kenya Senior Management Team in high-level advocacy work towards national Government line ministries, key UN agencies, donors and other agencies.
- Compile and circulate weekly and monthly updates on the situation including figures, and key highlights.
- Undertake a range of lobbying, communications and other activities to inform and persuade policy makers, including donors and politicians, of the value of Save the Children’s policy recommendations.
- Keep a watching brief on policy makers and other key players in relation to children’s health, protection and education issues and identify opportunities to raise awareness and influence policy change.
- Build alliances and partnerships with other NGOs in country to influence other organisations/coalitions and undertake coordinated advocacy.
- Contribute to international advocacy strategies and work, within Save the Children and externally if approved by the Kenya Country Director and regional and head offices of SCI.
- Contribute to the development of proposals and ensure that all Save the Children projects have a clearly developed advocacy component
- Develop and maintain a network of external contacts with key individuals in the government, NGO sector, civil society and the media.
- Represent Save the Children at various policy forums and advocacy opportunities at national and international levels.
- Ensure that any action undertaken to implement advocacy work (in country and internationally) has been duly approved by the SCI DRC Country Director.
- Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way that reflects Save the Children's commitment to safeguarding children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy.
Campaigns
- Ensure maximum visibility of the NGC within Save the Children and externally.
- Facilitate and lead the development and implementation of an overall advocacy and campaign strategy in Save the Children Kenya within the framework of the global campaign.
- Support the Campaign Manager to: develop communication and campaigning approaches and materials appropriate for the Campaign; Develop public communication messages, such as press release and policy positions statements appropriate for the NGC; Support field-based advocacy focal points, area programme managers and programme managers in field locations to mainstream the NGC strategy into their programmes at the local level and to ensure a link between local and national advocacy and policy work on the campaign, and; ensure that any action undertaken to implement NGC work in country has been duly approved by the Country Director.
Communications and Media
- Provide line management supervision to the Communications Manager to ensure that the Kenya programme achieves the global organisational Essential Standards for Communications and Media:
- Communications and media opportunities are identified and responded to in order to ensure that Save the Children is a credible source for the media, partners, donors, governments, communities, children and Save the Children staff.
- A Communications and Media Plan is in place and aligned to the:a) principles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (particularly our role in speaking out for and with children)b) global internal communications plan and global media plan
c) Country Strategic Plan 2016-18
- Measures are in place to produce accurate, high quality, user-friendly, child-centred communications and media work.
- *Communications and media work are built into annual planning including proposal development and incorporate ways to allocate resources and build capacity (c**ase studies, leaflets, factsheets, promotion materials, press releases, media packs, social media, videos, photos, reports, summary reports, sitreps, news)*
- Train key senior staff on communications and media and support the Country Director and other senior managers in their roles as the Save the Children Kenya designated spokespersons.
- Support the Communications Manager to draft media briefings, talking points, Q&As, press releases and media statements based on the advocacy priorities identified.
- Work with the Communications Manager and Technical Specialists to ensure the collection and documentation of interesting case studies, success stories, lessons learnt from field-based programmes in all locations and sectors, for use in advocacy and media work and for quality reporting purposes.
- Ensure that any action undertaken to implement communications or media work in country is compliant with Save the Children’s global communications and branding standards and has been duly approved by the Save the Children Kenya Country Director.
Performance management and capacity building
- Line-manage direct reports.
- Lead, manage and motivate direct reports, ensure they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance regularly (in line with Save the Children performance management procedures).
- Create and maintain a cooperative and positive working environment where staff have clear roles and responsibilities, participate in decision making and are supported in progressing towards their objectives.
- Lead on capacity building of staff through coaching, mentoring and training.
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
- Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
- Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
- Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Masters degree in Public/Social policy, Law, Public Health, Sociology, Nutrition or other relevant qualification, together with a minimum of 5 years advocacy related work experience
- Excellent command of English, both verbal and written.
- Significant experience of planning and implementing successful advocacy work.
- Clear understanding of the range of possible advocacy tools available to influence key targets, and their applicability in a complex situation.
- A clear understanding of key humanitarian and development actors - including UN agencies and bilateral donors - and how they coordinate and operate.
- Proven experience of external representation and direct lobbying of high-level targets.
- An ability to synthesise complex information into concise and compelling policy briefing notes and advocacy documents.
- Proven experience of using media for advocacy purposes.
- An ability to coordinate and work with diverse groups of people based in multiple locations.
- An ability to manage complex workloads and stressful situations.
- Good personal organisational skills, including time management, and ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
- Information Communication Technology advanced skills
- Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children International’s aims, values and principles.
- Working experience in challenging and insecure areas, leading on advocacy initiatives focused at both county and national levels.
- Experience in promoting children’s rights, including participation in programming, design, implementation and evaluation.
HOW TO APPLY:
If you wish to express interest for the above positions please visit SCI Kenya Website:https://kenya.savethechildren.net/jobs. Upload your detailed CV & Cover letter as One (1) document; including current contacts of three referees and immediate supervisor details. Deadline for this position is 18th December 2015.
Quote the job title on the subject line.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Save the children recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to equal employment opportunities and the protection of children from abuse.
