Advocacy and Communication Advisor

The Plan International African Union Liaison Office (Plan AULO) is strategically positioned to develop and strengthen its relationship with the African Union Organs and Mechanisms to drive change on the continent, by leveraging Plan’s global and regional presence to ensure improvements in legislations and policies that impact on the rights and wellbeing of girls and young women. In doing so, AULO will focus on two main priorities areas: (i) child marriage and other harmful practices, (ii) girls in crisis and other emergency situations. We will drive change by using the existing Human Rights Treaties and take advantage of spaces, opportunities, networks and collaborations within continental spaces and platforms. The Pan African Advocacy Strategy (PAAS) which is intended to guide Plan’s advocacy work across the continent, provides the rallying point for Plan International AU Liaison Office to push the boundaries and take bold steps in the call to ending child marriage and other harmful practices and advocate for the implementation of legislative and policy frameworks that take cognizance of the unique response requirements for girls affected by humanitarian crisis situations.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

 

Skills Specific to the Post

 

• Good understanding of the African Union system and related human rights mechanisms.
• Good understanding of developmental issues at the continental level.
• Experience in developing and implementing communications strategies.
• Knowledge in digital communication and social media.
• People skills – able to interact, negotiate, influence, network, advocate and facilitate.
• Writing skills – able to write press releases, speeches and presentations.
• Event management skills.
• Ability to speak more than AU language (particularly French) will be an added advantage
• Strong understanding of gender equality, child rights and climate change issues, including international frameworks and agreements.
• Excellent project management skills, with experience managing budgets and reporting, including desired experience in capturing progress toward policy change via Outcome Harvesting or outcome mapping or similar methodologies;
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills:
• Experience developing and coordination social media

Technical Competency Framework:

Influencing 2 Able to build collaborative working relationships (including with coalitions and networks) at relevant context(s)

Able to present complex ideas to different audiences in clear way

Behavior: Promotes equality, including gender equality, inclusion and girls’ empowerment in Plan’s work and in its work with partner

Ability to work collaboratively with others

Ability to thrive in a cross-cultural environment

Discreet when engaging with external powerful external stakeholders (such as representatives of politics and the media)

Flexible, self-starter, team player, able to work without supervision

Enthusiastic, focused

Excellent relationship building skills – networking, influencing and stakeholder management skills

Promotes equality, including gender equality, inclusion and girls’ empowerment in Plan’s work and in its work with partners

Uses evidence-based results to make choices and drive change

Capacities and developmental stages of children, adolescents and young people

Desirable

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g. Law, Communications, child rights, environmental policy, gender studies, international development)
• At least five years of experience in policy advocacy, communications, project management and team leadership.
• Strong background in project management, policy analysis, and advocacy, with a deep understanding of gender equality issues, especially girl’s rights.
• Fluency in English (additional language such as French an asset).