Senior Advocacy and Policy Adviser

TITLE:  Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Development, Quality, and Advocacy    
LOCATION: Kabul, with travel
GRADE: INT Tier 3    
CONTRACT LENGTH: Fixed Term

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 
Level 3:  the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff. 
We need to keep children and all beneficiaries safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation.

ROLE PURPOSE: 
The Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor will provide analysis, research, and policy support to SCI's policy and advocacy efforts in Afghanistan. The advisor will be responsible for providing regular context updates, supporting the rollout and implementation of specific advocacy engagements, organizing meetings with key stakeholders, including donors, partners, and other actors, and providing technical support for the development of policy positions. The Advisor will be expected to provide general coordination and drafting support to the Advocacy team, as well as various working groups and ensure information on policy and advocacy issues is adequately disseminated with key actors. The Advisor will also be expected to support the development of briefing material, draft talking points, and key messages for external engagement as needed.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 
Reports to: PDQ-A Director  
Staff reporting to this post: 
Direct: 
Indirect:

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 
Key Responsibilities/Accountabilities:

1.    Identify key strategic interventions for Save the Children's Country Office (CO) in Afghanistan and prepare, plan, and organize engagements and develop a comprehensive strategic engagement plan in line with the advocacy strategies.  Collaborate closely with internal teams to ensure that strategic interventions align with Save the Children's overarching mission and goals in Afghanistan. Develop a detailed plan to implement the strategic engagement effectively, maximizing impact and outreach.
2.    Draft and develop regular general context analysis about the political, economic, humanitarian and development situation in Afghanistan and produce other reports and write-ups on advocacy issues and on stakeholder engagements in Qatar and beyond on Afghanistan and share them with the Country Office.   
3.    Prepare briefing documents, policy papers and other relevant products to prepare Save the Children in Afghanistan's advocacy efforts with key stakeholders to ensure timely and consistent engagement with advocacy targets. 
4.    Conduct regular media monitoring, information gathering, and context analysis to update the Country Office on any changes in the context. 
5.    Map out upcoming advocacy events and opportunities related to Afghanistan in the region and globally and prepare Save the Children's CO to be positioned to engage as required.  Establish a comprehensive calendar of relevant advocacy events and develop a proactive plan for the CO to capitalize on these opportunities, including pre-event networking and post-event follow-up plans to maximize outcomes.
6.    Map out key policymakers, donor aid agencies, and other stakeholders with whom Save the Children should be engaged. Regularly update stakeholder mapping to include emerging influencers and decision-makers and regularly identify potential synergies and areas of collaboration with key stakeholders, fostering a strategic approach to engagement.
7.    Establish and maintain a good relationship with policymakers, donors, and other relevant actors and share updated information with the Afghanistan Country Office regularly. Initiate regular briefing sessions to ensure a collective understanding of stakeholder dynamics.
8.    Participate in briefing calls with relevant internal and external actors. Actively contribute to briefing call planning, ensuring that key advocacy messages are effectively communicated. Follow up on action items arising from briefing calls and facilitate communication between internal teams and external stakeholders.
9.    Report on any agenda set on Afghanistan in aid agencies and share a comprehensive analysis of the report with the Country Office.   Provide real-time updates on policymakers, aid agency, and other stakeholder agendas related to Afghanistan, offering insights and recommendations for strategic alignment.  
10.    As required, ensure that the Country Office is presented on events, conferences and meetings organized by different agencies.   Actively seek opportunities for Save the Children's visibility and representation, ensuring that the Country Office's presence aligns with strategic goals and objectives.
11.    Provide support to the Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications, and Media team on all related activities and initiatives. Support branding and event organization and showcase Save the Children's priorities, programs, capacities, and impact.  
12.    Provide technical support and backstopping to the members of the ACCM team and other teams to ensure timely deliverables. 
13.    Perform other duties assigned by the line manager.

BEHAVIOURS (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 their team to do the same

•    widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others

•    future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS  

•    Holding a master's in public policy, development assistance, international relations, or Political science.  Having at least 5-7 years of proven experience in policy development, strategic planning, and donor engagement.  

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

•    Having at least 5-7 years of proven experience in policy development, strategic planning, and donor engagement.  

•    Good communication and interpersonal skills 

•    Positive experience in managing donors. 

•    Ability to work under pressure. 

•    Ability to work as a team player.  

•    Excellent writing and editing skills in English required. Pashto and/or Dari writing is highly preferred. 

•    Good self-starter with effective time management skills. 

•    Strong skills in coordinating and collaborating with others in partnership.  

•    Positive, solution-driven, respectful, and with a 'can-do' attitude. 

•    Experience working in humanitarian emergencies across multiple areas of Afghanistan is highly preferred.  

Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to perform additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 
The role holder is required to perform the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety
The role holder is required to perform the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.