ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives for all children, girls, adolescent girls and young women. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls.  

In Ethiopia, Plan has more than 25 years of experience in implementing its programme. Currently, PIE mainly operates in seven geographical areas; Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, Gambella, Benishangul Gumuz, Afar, and Addis Ababa City Administration on different projects funded by different donors including sponsorship. 

Plan International Ethiopia's main purpose is to seek Gender Justice for Girls, Adolescent Girls, and Young Women. We aim to help create an enabling environment where girls, adolescent girls, and young women are safe, valued, equally cared for, and have equal opportunities. PIE will contribute to the global strategy by aiming to reach directly 2.1 million Girls, Adolescent Girls and Young Women over the period of the strategy 2020-2024 and to reach an additional 6.3 million beneficiaries through its interventions.

The position holder will be responsible to provide support for influencing and communication department in executing the humanitarian influencing and advocacy communication strategies in line with the country strategic plan priorities and global strategy with the aim of attaining gender justice for girls, adolescent girls and young women at humanitarian settings. 

MANAGEMENT SCOPE, REPORTING LINES, KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Ethiopia, Head of Influencing and Communication

Direct reports: None 

Key relationships 

Internal: The job holder has a close working relationship internally with the following departments and/or functions:

• Influencing and Communication: daily plan and coordinate the task; to seek guidance and clarity on the activities; to update the work progress and report achievements 
• Humanitarian section and Programs: weekly plan tasks and collaborate; to provide technical support(s) as related to humanitarian influencing
• Regional Office: monthly provide information & technical support, to plan and execute regional humanitarian influencing initiatives and to provide progress report  
• Global Hub Humanitarian Communication Team: quarterly seek guidance and clarity on global policies and new initiatives for better alignment
• Business Development:  Quarterly plan and facilitate tasks; provide technical support (especially during proposal development stage); - to seek information on donor’s requirement; for fundraising at Humanitarian operations  
• Finance: occasionally to facilitate payments 
• Logistic and Administration: occasionally request purchases and facilitate events, workshop and meetings
• External: The job holder has a close working relationship externally with the following departments and/or functions:
• Civil Society organization, likeminded organization and UN: monthly initiative discussions and arrange meetings and interviews; - to plan tasks and collaborate; provide technical support whenever needed; facilitate events along with other team members
• Government Offices: monthly initiative discussions and arrange meetings and interviews; to plan and collaborate; provide technical support whenever needed; facilitate events along with other team members  
• Implementing Partner: quarterly provide technical support; To train and provide orientation on the national level influencing initiatives and effort
• Media: quarterly arrange press conference; arrange training for media people especially editors; facilitate payments

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

• Mid contact: Occasional Interaction with Children

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• The position is typical office environment with frequently travel in Plan International Ethiopia’s emergency programming areas, to arrange and attend meetings/workshops. 

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Develop Strategies, Guideline, and Operational Plans and Review Periodically (30%)

• Assess and manage the risks of humanitarian influencing strategy as part of an emergency response,
• Develop guidance note on developing a humanitarian influencing strategy
• Conduct humanitarian policy and political analysis in development and humanitarian context to inform on influencing strategies and outcomes.
• Manage the reputational risks to avoid potential damage to Plan International image and reputation using accurate information in Plan International influencing, allowing its own practice by analyzing inconsistent circumstances of risks.
• Develop strategies, guidelines, and operational plans through major partners and stakeholder’s engagement.  
• Review and update strategies, guidelines and operational plans in light of both national and international developments. 
• Produce new material – e.g policy briefs and analysis from needs assessments or original research and sharing with key stakeholders.
• Maintain a list of known opportunities and upcoming events where advocacy messages can be used and decision makers can be targeted.
• Develop and execute annual plan in collaboration with major partners and stakeholders
• Develop Memorandum of Understandings and facilitate the execution of humanitarian operations

Carryout Advocacy Outreach (20%)

• Conduct policy analysis and integrating conflict sensitivity and contribution to peace in its strategies and throughout the humanitarian program cycle - project design, partnerships, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Identify and influence major stakeholders and partners  
• Coordinate the delivery of internal and external policy and advocacy briefings and materials
• Gather selected relevant studies already conducted by other partners / stakeholders
• Develop key influencing/advocacy messages, defining effective tactics and leveraging the influencing strength to mobilize support for desired change
• Think creatively and come up with ideas about potential advocacy entry-points on ERM specific priorities
• Develop action plan to engage major stakeholders and partners locally and internationally.
• Identify gaps and maintain good working relationships with critical partners and stakeholders  
• Rollout campaigns and organize events (national and international level) (20%)
• Work closely with the Program and Business development team to ensure influencing is evidence-based and the Programs and influencing approach is applied (lessons from the field, case studies, and research when needed).
• Build effective internal and external working relationships.
• Arrange and conduct planned campaign  
• Schedule and carefully coordinate campaigning events  
• Organize targeted events in collaboration with targeted partners  

Partnership Management (20%)

• Establish and maintain formal and informal relationships with external stakeholders, including organizations and individuals, involved in humanitarian and other analysis related to the context of Ethiopia as considered relevant for CO needs in conflict sensitivity; ensure the incorporation of key research findings and recommendations; facilitate collaborative and/or applied research, preferably from the beginning of the research cycle, to advance contextual understanding, conflict sensitivity, and peacebuilding for Plan International Ethiopia;
• Identify plausible partnership engagement modalities
• Building relationships with those in power and those who have less power, but have similar goals like Plan International with the aims of strengthening their power,
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value Plan International brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates Plan’s unique value as a partner. 
• Monitor and influence policy processes in order to identify emerging opportunities for policy and advocacy work through the National Development Plans and the Sustainable Development Goals
• Establish clear lines of accountability for influencing
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation of partnership programs implementation 
• Review the impact of partnership effectiveness periodically  

Public Mobilization (5%)

• Develop updates on current events which are of interest to Plan International Ethiopia Strategic focus. 
• Identify processes, events, institutions and other influential platforms relevant for identifying opportunities for campaign activity and partnerships. 
• Organize effective consultations forums and events with wide range of stakeholders including relevant key government officials. 
• Perform any other duties within the scope of the position as assigned by the supervisor
• Secure support of critical professional support of available 
• Lobby the key targets along with building and working with coalitions

Planning and reporting (5%)

• Track progress in order to adjust the Humanitarian Influencing Strategy and report how the objectives of the strategy are achieved,
• Develop an M&E framework for influencing from the outset, including in emergency and humanitarian settings.
• Work with colleagues in Influencing and Communications and MEAL to do the annual, quarterly and other plans as necessary for the department and the unit. 
• Work with Program, Partnership, HR and other relevant teams to respond to various relevant requests and support in reporting.
• Work with the Influencing and Communications department and other relevant departments to make sure that PIE’s annual, quarterly and other reports are done on time and to the desired quality. 

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications/ Experience Essential:

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience for master holder and 8 years for BA holders
• Experience in developing and implementing influencing and campaign strategies 
• Familiarity with government structures and policy decision making process and Experience in strategic engagement, public mobilization, and Knowledge of human right issues. 

Qualification Desirable:

• Demonstrated experience in planning, implementation and evaluation of humanitarian projects
• Experience in developing strategic alliances at civil society level
• Some kind of specialty in Human Rights and Advocacy
• Ability to influence policies at ground and national level
• Proven ability to work with media, diverse networks, coalitions and partners to achieve common goals
• Ability to write clear and concise reports, statements, and to meet short deadlines
• Experience training and capacity building other staff in principles of influencing and media. 
• Computer literacy skills with excellent oral and presentation communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to manage complex and sensitive organizational relationships to achieve cross-organizational, mutually agreed goals.
• Strong advocacy, influencing and networking, and negotiation skills,
• Conflict management;
• Management of gender and rights approach.
• Capacity for analysis and synthesis,

How to Apply

The closing date for the application is November 19, 2021. Qualified candidates should submit their application with the below link.

CLICK HERE

This position is only open to Ethiopian Nationals, who must be eligible to live and work in Ethiopia.

Please note that: 

• Applications and CVs written in English will be accepted and
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Please note that we are not accepting CVs that are not sent through the indicated link.

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

More information about Plan International can be found on the website