We’re hiring: Policy and Advocacy Manager

Policy and Advocacy Manager

About Orchid Project

Orchid Project has a vision of a world free from female genital cutting (FGC).  We are a small but growing, dynamic not-for-profit organisation with a proven track record of delivering programmes, policy, advocacy and communications in support of an end to FGC.  More than 4 million girls a year are subjected to female genital cutting. This involves partly or fully removal of a girl’s external female genitalia.  In the short term, it can cause serious bleeding, infection and sometimes death. It dramatically disadvantages girls for the future: many girls never return to school and are often forced into early marriage. As well as the physical damage, cutting significantly curtails the education, incomes, and independence of women and girls.  It is a fundamental breach of the human rights of women and girls, and it causes lasting health, education, economic and social harm.  Many communities are ending cutting – and we know this can be accelerated to meet the world’s target of ending this practice by 2030 – but at the moment, the population is growing faster than the prevalence is falling, leading to a rising number of girls being cut each year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, programme work to end cutting has been disrupted worldwide and an additional 2 million girls are now at risk of being cut in the next ten years according to UNFPA.

Orchid Project works in three ways:

• Advocating for resources and commitments to end FGC
• Sharing best practices, and communicating the scale and impact of FGC and how it is ending
• Partnering with grassroots organisations working towards abandonment in practising countries 

Orchid Project is currently a team of 10 full-time staff. For additional information and to read our strategy please visit our website orchidproject.org

Values

We are collaborative, we are respectful, and we are open and accountable. All staff are expected to uphold Orchid Project’s values and work together to achieve transformational change.

Role Summary

The Policy & Advocacy manager will report to the Head of Policy & Advocacy to develop and drive all Orchid Project’s influencing work to achieve a world free of FGC, in line with Sustainable Development Goal target 5.3.2.

With knowledge and experience of the FGC/gender equality or related sectors, you will be able to inspire people with the vision of ending FGC, using your advocacy and policy expertise to deliver global breakthroughs which will accelerate an end to FGC. You will be passionate about women and girls’ rights, social change and making a real impact on the world, with valuable skills, commitment and energy to bring to a growing charity.

An exceptional communicator and advocate, the Policy & Advocacy Manager will be a source of technical expertise to the wider team and partners, an excellent project manager and convener and adept at building and sustaining positive and collaborative relationships with our global partners, donors and allies

Role Description

Global & regional advocacy and policy influencing

Advance the advocacy and policy priorities of the organisation so that Orchid Project maintains its prominent position in the sector, and in particular:

• Play a leading role in building partnerships and coordinating joint advocacy projects with key stakeholders for maximum impact on prioritisation and resourcing of initiatives to end FGC
• Work to ensure that global, regional and national policies reflect the importance of FGC, through policy analysis and outputs, influencing and relationship building
• Develop and implement workplans that support the Orchid Project advocacy strategy, prioritising activity that makes the most impact, setting clear objectives and goals for lasting change, with particular emphasis on global advocacy initiatives
• Lead and advise on the development of national/regional advocacy in practising country contexts
• Engage with key policy instruments and policy frameworks, including to ensure action to end FGC is mainstreamed into broader policy initiatives across gender equality/GBV/VAWG/SRHR
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting in relation to advocacy projects for internal and external audiences, including donors.

Partnership Management

• Act as the main focal point for Orchid Project’s role in The Africa-led Movement to End FGM/C  (ALM) and support global and regional advocacy efforts within the programme. Lead implementation of the activities under Orchid Project’s deliverables within the ALM Consortium 
• Work with Orchid Project’s key partners to co-convene the Asia Network to End FGM/C and drive delivery of activities to support the Network. Build and maintain new and existing partnerships at national, regional and global levels towards furthering the organisation’s strategic aims. 

Capacity building and technical support

Work sensitively with our grassroots partners and civil society organisations globally to develop their advocacy, movement-building and policy influencing skills

• Provide technical input to support in-country and regional implementation of advocacy and movement-building initiatives
• Work with partner organisation staff to identify advocacy capacity building needs and implement support packages
• Develop resources (online and offline) and toolkits to support capacity building goals

Knowledge & Research

Support the organisation as it builds its profile and outputs in relation to research and evidence, in particular:

• Support the research team in developing policy and advocacy recommendations for new research reports.
• Ensure understanding of wider research on FGC and related issues and implications for advocacy and policy, ensuring the staff team is kept updated on key developments
• Support the identification of evidence gaps within the sector, and consider ways to fill them

Other tasks

• Orchid Project is a small team in an entrepreneurial environment, and you may be required to undertake tasks outside of your job description from time to time.

Working relationships

• Reporting to Head of Policy & Advocacy
• Working closely with Policy & Advocacy Officer and team members to deliver advocacy, policy, strategy and communications tasks
• Potentially managing and working with Orchid Project consultants.

External

• Lead on liaison with activists and Orchid Project fellows
• Work closely with consortium partners and sector partners to deliver advocacy and policy work
• High-level politicians, global stakeholders, INGO colleagues, and policy stakeholders.

Person Specification

Essential

• At least 5 years’ experience in advocacy and policy work in the human rights, women’s rights, international development or health sectors
• Passionate about human rights of women and girls and excellent knowledge of global issues and relevant institutions
• Strong understanding and experience of strategic advocacy approaches and channels, and evidence of achieving proven results
• Proven experience in working with global or regional advocacy networks
• Experience in providing support to partner organisations in advocacy/ movement-building
• Experience of writing successful policy briefs and positioning papers or similar evidence-based content aimed at influencing a specific target audience
• Proven experience in engaging with high profile officials and politicians at national and global levels
• Exceptional project management and organisational skills
• Excellent communicator, both written and oral – with particular confidence in public speaking
• Excellent analytical skills
• High level of computer literacy
• Able to work on own initiative to balance priorities, with flexibility
• Able to work remotely, and as part of a team
• Fluent in English
• Sometimes willing to work outside office hours/at weekends, happy to travel overseas, sometimes at short notice

Desirable

• Experience of working on FGC or a related human rights issue
• Proficiency in French
• Experience in implementing FCDO programmes

Additional information 

• All candidates must be Kenyan nationals only

Other benefits and conditions of employment 

This will be applicable when a permanent staff contract is offered. 

• 25 days annual leave per annum
• Contributory pension
• 6 month probationary period

Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion at Orchid Project

Orchid Project is committed to being actively anti-racist. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. We value lived experience and encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the Person Specification.

Safeguarding

Orchid Project is committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults, staff, representatives and partners from any unwanted behaviour. All staff are expected to abide by Orchid Project’s Safeguarding Policy. Training will be provided as part of induction, and relevant background and criminal record checks will be carried out. By submitting your application, you confirm that you agree to these checks being performed and that you will provide all necessary information to support this. For further information regarding Safeguarding please visit https://www.orchidproject.org/safeguarding-policy/

How to apply

To apply for the role, please email HR@orchidproject.org a CV and cover letter in two different documents. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

Timeline 

Closing date: 5pm (UK time) Friday 19th of August 2022, We encourage you to apply early as your application will be reviewed as soon as it is received.  We reserve the right to close this job advert sooner subject to finding a suitable candidate.