Policy and Advocacy Officer

Lead coordination of policy analysis amongst AusAid-funded NGOs and provide field research and analysis to WV South Sudan (WVSS) and the WV partnership in South Sudan policy and advocacy. Ensure that the organization advocates appropriately and professionally on behalf of children in a way that demonstrates our Principled Level Choices (Christian, Community Based and Child Focused), with the community voice highlighted as an integrated component of local, national and international level advocacy.

The position will lead the policy component of the AusAid-funded Access to Strengthened Services for Early Recovery in Tambura (ASSERT) Project. It will build knowledge, coordinate and share NGO analysis of local level planning service delivery and function issues directly related to this project and other nationwide NGO basic services activities, especially those of AusAid-funded NGOs under the Early Recovery and Humanitarian Funding Round. The project is multi-sector including Water and Sanitation (WASH), Maternal Newborn Child Health (MNCH), and Governance activities with four expected outcomes, the fourth being "informed policy environment for strengthened governance structures for WASH and MNCH services". Through improved demand and supply of services - expanded services, better local government service capacity and improved governance structures - ASSERT will assist Tambura County to move from relief to development outcomes as envisaged under the broader AusAID goal to ‘support communities and community-led early recovery activities and thereby assist in laying a foundation for the Australian Government’s longer-term development programming in Southern Sudan’.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
• Establish, maintain and coordinate strong links and working relationships with relevant government ministries and departments, NGO partners and forums, and research and academic institutions on priority issues.
• Actively engage with WVSS Policy and Advocacy Officer, relevant World Vision networks and external coalitions regarding relevant policies and issues.
• Contribute field research, policy analysis and documentation to the NGO Secretariat’s Policy Working Group and other policy forums in Juba and the regions.
• Work closely with WVSS Policy and Advocacy Officer to promote South Sudan on the global agenda, providing information and policy calls for World Vision’s global engagement.
• Represent WV South Sudan during local, national, regional and WV Partnership policy and advocacy meetings and other forums (including workshops, conference calls etc) as deemed necessary by the ASSERT Project Manager.
• Organise regular meetings and discussions with government and other stakeholders at county, state, national levels to present policy analysis and advocate effectively.
• Organise donor and partner visits to the ASSERT Project and Tambura Area Rehabilitation Programme.
  
  MONITORING, RESEARCH AND WRITING
• Undertake field research, policy analysis and documentation of local level planning, service delivery and function issues directly related to MNCH and WASH in the ASSERT Project and other nationwide NGO activities.
• Monitor, identify and articulate key issues, trends, policies and practices, in relation to relevant policies both in country at local and national level, and at international policy level.
• Build knowledge and understanding of local level successes and challenges to this service delivery.
• Develop related policy positions and advocacy calls.
• Write policy briefing papers and reports on these local level planning, service delivery and function issues.
• Lead effective advocacy on this in South Sudan. In turn resulting in local government capacity building and strengthened MNCH and WASH service delivery.
• Develop and ensure continued updates of a portfolio of evidence from the field to support all policy positions and advocacy calls.
• Provide technical support and advice as the county and state government structures undergo decentralisation, to build capacity and improve service delivery.
  
  COORDINATION AND NETWORKING
• Coordinate and share NGO policy analysis of local level planning, service delivery and function issues directly related to the ASSERT Project and other NGO basic services activities.
• Coordinate the WVSS Policy and Advocacy Officer, the NGO Secretariat’s Policy Working Group and other NGOs to advocate on appropriate local level resourcing for service delivery.
• Communicate on a regular basis with relevant stakeholders and internal and external networks.
• Build strong working relationships with the WVSS Policy and Advocacy Officer, NGO Secretariat Policy Working Group and other NGOs.
• Provide timely evidence to the WVSS Policy and Advocacy Officer, NGO Secretariat Policy Working Group and other NGOs.
• Similarly, where relevant to Communications/Media, Support Offices and WVSS programs for consistent engagement.
• Work closely with WVSS Policy and Advocacy Officer and Support Offices to ensure global alignment of policy calls and advocacy messaging regarding Southern Sudan.
• Collaborate and work closely with Tambura ARP colleagues, Policy and Advocacy Officer, Programme Development & Management Officers, Programme Quality Officers, Communications staff and Sector Managers to ensure coherent messaging to WVSS’ in country audiences in relation to policy calls and advocacy messaging.
• Organise the Assert Project’s capacity building trainings for relevant county departments.
  
  OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
• Review select communications materials to ensure alignment with policy calls and advocacy messaging.
• Attend and participate fully in devotions, prayer meetings and group meetings, as required.
• Attend and participate fully in the Day of Prayer in October each year.
• Carry out ad hoc duties which may be required to ensure World Vision maintains its effectiveness.
• Support programs in areas related with WV's strategic interventions as designated by the supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:
• A degree or diploma in social sciences or a related field
• Previous experience with leading policy, advocacy and governance initiatives
• At least 2 years field experience in a relief or development environment
• Must be able relate and represent WV to major partners (e.g. donors, government officials etc), in a highly professional manner
• Capacity building experience in project design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation
• Computer knowledge including Word, Excel, Lotus Notes and Power Point
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Policy and Advocacy Officer