Advocacy Officer

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Advocacy Officer – 1 Position (Salyan)

Project: Promoting Inclusive Education (Supported by Felm Nepal)

Duration: Initially one year with possible extension based on performance and funding availability.

Reports To: Project Coordinator

Background

KOSHISH is implementing the Promoting Inclusive Education Project in Salyan District with support from Felm Nepal. The project aims to improve access to inclusive and quality education for children with disabilities and marginalized children by strengthening disability-friendly school environments, improving teacher capacity, promoting psychosocial wellbeing, enhancing community participation, and supporting local governments to institutionalize inclusive education systems.

To strengthen policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and community-led accountability, KOSHISH seeks a qualified Advocacy Officer to lead district-level advocacy and systems strengthening initiatives.

Position Summary

The Advocacy Officer will lead district-level advocacy, stakeholder coordination, policy engagement, and rights-holder mobilization to promote disability-inclusive education systems in Salyan District.

Under the supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Advocacy Officer will work closely with municipalities, schools, Disability Coordination Committees, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), caregivers, and community stakeholders to strengthen inclusive education policies, improve local resource commitments, and promote meaningful participation of rights-holders in decision-making processes.

The position will play a central role in strengthening inclusive education governance, policy influence, and community-led advocacy.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Advocacy and Policy Engagement

• Lead advocacy initiatives with local governments and relevant duty-bearers to strengthen disability-inclusive education systems at municipal and school levels. 
• Conduct policy and situational analysis on: inclusive education policies, disability rights frameworks, child rights policies, local education plans, accessibility standards, and budget allocations related to education inclusion. 
• Provide technical support to municipalities in the development, review, and implementation of inclusive education policies, plans, and frameworks, including integration of disability inclusion priorities into the School Education Sector Plan (SESP). 
• Develop advocacy briefs, letters, policy notes, position papers, and recommendations for local governments and relevant stakeholders. 
• Facilitate policy dialogue, consultation meetings, and coordination forums among municipalities, schools, OPDs, and communities. 
• Advocate for local budget allocation for: accessible school infrastructure, assistive devices, reasonable accommodation, psychosocial support services, inclusive learning materials, and school wellbeing mechanisms. 
• Track policy commitments and follow up on implementation progress.

Rights-holder Mobilization and Community Advocacy

• Support the formation, strengthening, and mobilization of SHGs, caregiver groups, and disability networks as platforms for collective advocacy and participation. 
• Build advocacy capacity of SHGs, caregivers, OPDs, and community groups on: disability rights, right to education, inclusive governance, accountability mechanisms, and local planning and budgeting processes. 
• Facilitate meaningful participation of rights-holders in municipal planning, consultation, education dialogue, and social accountability processes. 
• Mobilize communities to address stigma, discrimination, and harmful social attitudes affecting education access for children with disabilities and marginalized children. 
• Promote parent and caregiver engagement in school inclusion initiatives. 
• Support grassroots advocacy campaigns and community awareness initiatives.

Stakeholder Coordination and Representation

• Maintain effective coordination and partnerships with: Municipal / Rural Municipal leadership, Education Sections, School Management Committees, Disability Coordination Committees, Women and Children Units, Provincial education stakeholders, OPDs, SHGs, child clubs, community-based organizations, and civil society networks. 
• Organize coordination meetings, advocacy forums, and stakeholder dialogues. 
• Represent KOSHISH in district and local advocacy forums as authorized. 
• Strengthen collaboration between rights-holders and duty-bearers. 
• Support networking and alliance-building for inclusive education advocacy.

Capacity Building and Communication

• Facilitate orientation and capacity-building sessions for: local government representatives, school leaders, School Management Committees, teachers, SHGs, OPDs, caregiver groups, and community leaders. 
• Support development and dissemination of IEC / advocacy materials related to: inclusive education, child rights, disability inclusion, accessibility, and anti-stigma messaging. 
• Promote accessible communication and inclusive facilitation practices in all advocacy events. 
• Support strategic communications, campaign messaging, and documentation for advocacy visibility.

Project Planning and Implementation

• Lead implementation of advocacy-related project activities in line with approved work plan and budget. 
• Contribute to preparation of: Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), monthly plans, quarterly plans, and periodic review plans. 
• Coordinate closely with Project Coordinator, Psychosocial Counsellor, Social Mobilizers, and Admin & Finance Officer for integrated implementation. 
• Support field monitoring visits, donor visits, and review meetings. 
• Ensure timely execution and quality delivery of advocacy outputs.

Documentation, MEAL and Reporting

• Maintain documentation of: advocacy meetings, commitments made by stakeholders, policy engagement outcomes, budget advocacy results, SHG mobilization progress, and community-led advocacy actions. 
• Collect evidence, testimonies, case studies, and stories of change. 
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports related to advocacy outputs. 
• Support project indicator tracking in coordination with the MEAL team. 
• Maintain organized filing systems and means of verification. 
• Capture and document learning for organizational knowledge sharing and donor reporting.

Safeguarding, Inclusion and Accountability

• Ensure all advocacy processes are inclusive, accessible, and rights-based. 
• Promote safeguarding, child protection, and PSEAH awareness among stakeholders. 
• Ensure safe participation of children, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in advocacy activities. 
• Promote accountability and accessible feedback / complaint mechanisms for rights-holders. 
• Ensure compliance with KOSHISH safeguarding and organizational policies.

Others

• Perform other relevant duties assigned by the Project Coordinator or Program Manager in support of effective project delivery.

Qualification and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field such as: Social Science, Public Health, Community Development, Political Science, or a related discipline (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in an advocacy, disability rights, child rights, education programming, communications, or project implementation role, preferably within the NGO or development sector focused on social issues, mental health, or disability rights.
• Demonstrated experience in coordination with local governments and community stakeholders (e.g., OPDs and SHGs).
• Strong documentation and facilitation skills.
• Proven experience working in diverse and multicultural teams.
• Strong Command on MS office and fluency in both written and spoken English and Nepali.
• Demonstrated experience working with local governments, schools, and community structures.

Salary: Negotiable as per competence and experience

Applying Procedure:

Interested candidates are requested to fill in the application CLICK HERE

The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; however, the last date for submission is 10th September 2026.

Note:

1. Eligible candidates with disabilities, women and from the local area are encouraged to apply.
2. KOSHISH reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever.