Senior Advocacy Officer

Position Title: Senior Advocacy Officer

Location: 50% Kathmandu, 50% in Sindhupalchowk District

LENGTH OF CONTRACT: 6 months (with possibility of extension)

RESPONSIBLE TO: Country Representative

LINE MANAGEMENT OF: Non

BACKGROUND: Mission East, founded in Denmark in 1991, is an international humanitarian organisation, working in Eastern Europe and Asia. The organisation’s activities in Nepal presently focus on building the inclusion and resilience for the most marginalised and vulnerable groups living in Karnali and Earthquake Affected population. 

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY: The key responsibilities of the position are collect and analyse evidences related to inclusion and exclusion in humanitarian response to EQ affected communities to feed into Mission East advocacy strategy in order to increase effectiveness of emergency response. The successful candidate will lead advocacy efforts on specific advocacy priorities. S/he will work closely with ME Program Team to develop and coordinate advocacy and public campaigns on ME priority themes.  

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Tasks And Responsibilities 

• Develop/update ME specific messages and identify advocacy targets on key priorities with the support of ME Program Team. 
• Produce materials for DRR policy advocacy, communications and media purposes on ME key priorities through field visits and desk based research, public-facing materials for advocacy and general communications, briefing papers. 
• Produce regular updates on the work of the ME policy and advocacy works.
• Deliver technical expertise on DRR policy advocacy, with a focus on the excluded and vulnerable children, people with disabilities, gender and social inclusion, in coordination programme team
• Assist in preparation/consolidation of advocacy strategy for Mission East and Ensure that advocacy strategies align with ME Nepal and Headquarter policies and action plans. 
• Contribute to design ME contingency plan, relief operation, assessments and funding proposals

Partner technical assistance and supervision

• Enhance the capacity of partners on local level DRR policy advocacy.
• Deliver adequate technical assistance DRR Advocacy and related topics to the implementing partners.
• Supervise and support implementing partners advocacy at the ground level

Coordination and Representation

• Lead ME engagement with other likeminded agencies, alliances and networks. 
• In conjunction with ME Program Team, represent ME in networks, fora, conferences and events. Support efforts to build ME presence and profile in establishing relationships with key advocacy actors
• Maintain regular contact and coordination with other INGOs, Networks, Alliances, and government officials and participate in coordination forum as required.

NECESSARY COMPETENCIES

Qualifications required 

• A sound background and experiences related to Advocacy and Disaster Risk Reduction/Emergency Response.
• Technical background in the domain of Advocacy on inclusion and DRR/Emergency Response
• Education should at least be to Master degree level, preferably in a social sciences related discipline or international development.  

Experience required

• At least 4 years of experience of in Advocacy
• Solid knowledge of Advocacy in Nepal.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and designing campaigns and lobby, preparation of relevant IEC materials.
• Experience in security planning and management.
• Previous working experience in remote and disaster affected area. 

Necessary Competencies

• Personnel management skills. An ability to delegate, follow-up and supervise as well as support.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to engage effectively with staff, communities and authorities
• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Excellent computer skills in Word, Excel, and Outlook. Access and/or GIS (database skills) an advantage

Applications (in English) with updated CV, cover letter and indication of at least two references should be sent to: MErecruitmentNepal@gmail.com or PO Box 8975, EPC 2328, Kathmandu, Nepal by 5pm on Tuesday 30th June 2015. Only short-listed candidates will be invited for interview. Preference will be given to women candidates with disabilities.