Action Against Hunger is recruiting a suitably qualified Sierra Leonean as a Senior Advocacy and Gender Officer to support the development and implementation of the mission’s advocacy and Gender strategy and lead on delivery of agreed advocacy objectives with the project team

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Implement the advocacy project
• Identify and utilize advocacy channels for the project team to aid implementation of advocacy activities of the project.
• Support community structures to implement social accountability schemes to lobby district and community stakeholders for improved service delivery
• Support community structures to develop and implement community action plans to achieve improved WASH, Care services, Mental health and food security in their communities.

• Form partnership to implement the project activities:

• Work with the project team, HoDs, field coordinator to maximize their engagement to implement all advocacy activities.
• Work in partnership with colleagues to produce robust M&E plans for the advocacy component of the project.
• Work with the project team to identify allies, partnerships and coordinate with other networks in the district to maximize the chance of securing advocacy wins.
• Initiate and maintain strategic relations with CSOs, media, district council and all relevant ministries, agencies and departments in the district.
• Developing and coordinating partnerships with other parties on advocacy activities (NGO, civil society) and facilitating joint advocacy activities

• Represent Action Against Hunger/project in external engagement

• Represent Action Against Hunger in the advocacy working groups in the district particularly relating to implementation of the project.
• Attend and participate in district advocacy initiative to augment the implementation and attainment of the project advocacy objectives.
• Develop contact list of key advocacy players and media outlets in order to have an effective and efficient channel for advocacy and communication in the district.

• Report on advocacy activities and opportunities in the district

• Provide monthly updates to the project team and HoD ACG on the progress of key achievements of the project.
• Monitor advocacy stakeholders’ activities to learn and tap on key advocacy in the district.
• Participate in the different project activities organized by the project team, CSOs, Community Based Organization, or individually in the district particularly relating to the project objective.

• Coordinate implementation of Gender analysis and related activities in the project

• With with HoD ACG to coordinate the gender analysis.
• Work with program teams to ensure interventions are gender sensitive (sexes disaggregation, ages) by going through concept note.
• Develop and maintain database of gender actors, and liaise with key district stakeholders and CSOs to facilitate and enhance gender equality when implementing the project.
• Represent Action Against Hunger in Sexual Gender Based Violence working group and participate in gender related community of practice in the district.
• Monitor and report on the project related gender issues in the district
• Conduct periodic sessions to build the capacity of the project team on key gender issues.
• Support the gender champions to coordinate implementation of agreed action plans on the Gender Minimal Standards.
• Support in writing stories related to programme and project development as they relate to gender equality issues.

Gender Action

Activities:

• Help ensure all aspects of Action Against Hunger activities adhere to program quality standards and policies (accountability and mainstreaming) in a coherent and integrated manner.
• Ensure that gender considerations are made as much as possible

Others

• Ensure the highest standards of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within the organisation.
• Be aware of, understand, and comply with all of Action Against Hunger’s policies and procedures.
• Actively participate in any emergency response if called upon to do so (within the existing programme area or in a new one).
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned
• Ensure timely filling and submission of ACF timesheets

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science Degree Communication, Management, Social Sciences or other related field.
• Previous experience in a similar position or good knowledge and experience of advocacy environment.
• Has served as advocacy officer for at least 2 years in aid/development sector
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) and local language
• Excellent writing skills and capacity of analysis, compilation and synthesis of information
• Good knowledge of media, humanitarian and local context and actors
• Ability to take pictures in a professional way
• Good knowledge of Windows XP and MS Office 2007 (Word, Excel, Outlook, IE)
• Ability to use social networks such as Facebook, Tweeter, Instagram
• Good organization skills and ability to set priorities
• Communication skills and ability to relate to people
• Ability to negotiate and conflict management skills
• Dynamic, flexible and pro-active attitude: real autonomy required
• Ability to work in diverse environment with short deadlines and intense pressure