Advocacy Officer (2 Positions)

Background

Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD) is a non-governmental, non-profit making indigenous organization that was founded in 2003 by four school clubs and fifteen youth associations. Currently, YNSD is an umbrella network of more than 160 youth organizations and associations operating at national level. YNSD strive for sustainable development through promoting partnership, networking and building the capacity of its member organizations.www.ynsdethiopia.org.et

Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation implements Community Service Project in Addis Ababa, Sodo and Wolo. This Project envisions “equal opportunity for young people to learn and prosper, access to dignified and fulfilling work and contribute to their country’s overall development.”  The Community Service as Pathway to Work (CSPW) initiative aims to contribute to this vision by engaging young people (18 to 34 years) in a structured program of community service, training and by providing linkages to a comprehensive local network of public, private, and civic sector agencies that provide work-related placements and resources. The project will make every opportunity available to engage differently-abled youth as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) which are directly impacted by the conflict and other vulnerable groups in the community. Multiple positions are announced below for hiring program team at Dessie and Sodo clusters who will be working at YNSD for the program implemented in the two clusters 

Job Summary:

Youth Network for Sustainable Development/YNSD/ is looking for anadvocacy officer to support the MasterCard foundation’s community service as a pathway to work/CSPW/ program that aims to provide community service opportunities and job preparedness skills for young people focusing on women, vulnerable and those from conflict affected areas while significantly contributing to the overall health and well-being of the communities. The project will be active in 150 woredas (districts) and city administrations across 5 regions, 29 (19%) of which will be in post-conflict areas, coordinated through cluster offices.

The advocacy officer is responsible to strengthen YNSD’s advocacy and influencing work across the programs and the projects implemented. The advocacy officer will be reporting to the senior program team. Under the direct supervision and coordination of the policy and advocacy advisor, contribute to support the cluster team in improving the outreach of its activities. By working closely with the policy and advocacy advisor, the program management and the operations team, the officer will support social, economic and political analysis and deliver advocacy agendas and campaigns to influence the government and others linked to the CSPW programme of work.

The position holder will also help strengthen the impact of YNSD’s work, deliver on influencing strategies and help the organization’s lasting change on youth mobilization. The advocacy officer will work closely with YNSD’s communications team.  The officer will work with cluster teams and other partners engaged in national and regional advocacy. The post holder will work collaboratively with key program partner organizations aiming to influence national and regional processes and initiatives on youth community service and youth employment, and its implementation by national governments.

Duties And Responsibilities:

• Support, develop and implement the advocacy work led by the policy and advocacy advisor for potential change on key issues related to CSPW program;
• Support the development and implementation of effective influencing strategies towards the Government and other actors including impactful policy recommendations that will lead to sustainable change for young people and women;
• Producing influential and convincing policy positions, briefings and analysis for both external and internal use;
• Provide strategic and timely analysis and explanation on policy development relating to CSPW s work on youth and women
• Lead, coordinate and implement events to develop and socialize CSPW’s policy and advocacy related work.
• Develop and deliver accompanying advocacy strategies to effectively disseminate research findings to policy makers and advocacy targets
• Position CSPW to engage in critical policy debates relevant to youth and women development cooperation.
• Contribute to CSPW’s campaigns, ensuring they are built around solid policy analysis;
• Organize advocacy debates to create opportunities for dialogue and influence of policy-makers;
• Build and maintain relationships with a wide range of policy colleagues, organisations and institutions.
• Create, identify and forecast opportunities to advance CSPW’s policy and influence
• Maintain up to date expert knowledge on the youth and women policy landscape through monitoring and interpreting the external environment in which the program works and adjusting the strategic direction as appropriate
• Working with colleagues across policy, programmes, communications and campaigns to co-develop and deliver on an organisational influencing strategy focussing on youth and women specially in conflict affected areas
• Work with cluster office teams to develop policy and advocacy strategies and key messaging in response to youth community service, youth unemployment and gender and social cohesion inclusion ensuring youth and women rights and needs are met
• Work with the communication team and program staff to develop key messaging in response to youth community service and youth unemployment
• Develop and co-ordinate the use of policy-oriented key messages and materials for use in media
• Ensure all departments are accurately and timely informed about relevant youth and women  policy, Government updates and understand how this will impact their work
• Support the team’s work on monitoring and evaluation
• Perform Other similar duties as assigned by immediate supervisor

Reports To:  Cluster manager

Number of Positions:  2 (one for Dessie and one for Sodo)

Location:  For Dessie and Sodo Cluster

Qualification requirements

• Master’s or Bachelor degree in political science, social or development studies, or a related discipline from a recognized university

Experience

• Minimum of three years of experience in implementing youth development programs
• Experience in report writing, drafting briefing notes, talking points and speeches
• Good record of impactful advocacy and a keen interest on community service, youth employment and GESI.
• A keen interest in media and strategic communications alongside significant advocacy experience.
• Advocacy skills, or any equivalent combination of experience and capacity that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is preferable.
• Experience cultivating relationships and collaborating with a variety of stakeholders including youth, government officials, NGOs, donors, the private sector, and community-based institutions;
• Experience developing and implementing effective capacity strengthening models and approaches for organizations and individuals;
• Experience working collaboratively with teams from diverse backgrounds;
• Experience donor-funded projects;

Skills and attitude

• Good understanding of the country and international policy and advocacy environments.
• Passion for advancing justice, rights and democracy; understanding of civic space and NGOs sector;
• Ability to assess trends likely to influence development processes.
• A keen interest in media, messaging and strategic communications
• Committed to the protection of team members and clients, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
• Able to role-model inclusive and culturally sensitive attitudes and behaviors
• Strong commitment to young people and an understanding of the factors affecting their lives;
• the ability to provide reliable support to young people in times of need and act with integrity;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish good relationships with young people;
• Ability to establish and maintain strong and broad stakeholder relationships;
• Patience, tolerance, and flexibility. Ability to work under pressure
• Formal communication skills for presentations and report writing
• Strong oral and written communication and presentations skills in Amharic, English, and the  local languages of the program implementation area ;
• Ability to treat young people’s concerns with respect, tact, and sensitivity,
• A great deal of resilience.
• Self-motivated with good organization, planning and management skills
• Results orientated; Motivated to develop professionally;
• Fully committed to YNSD’s goal and mission;
• Committed to excellence.
• Excellent computer skills using MS Office 365 Suite of products including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint;