Advocacy Coordinator

December 16, 2023

187

POSITION OVERVIEW

The advocacy Coordinator role will lead in shaping and coordinating the implementation of Power Up!´s consortium’s joint advocacy that amplifies our intersectional and political analysis, positions and agendas related to bodies, voices and resources. This is a consortium level role with a specific focus in advancing the LBQTI+ issues and agendas. Key to this role is to promote mutual capacity strengthening relationship building and political alliances with local partners/collectives and womxn human rights defenders who are marginalised, excluded and discriminated against. In doing so, the Advocacy Coordinator adds value and supports the work of PU! members and local partners and advises and guides the PU! Working Groups in its profiling and influencing work, including risk management. In order to be successful in this role the candidate should have great coordination and communication skills and deep curiosity to learn about feminist movement building and movement led approaches to advocacy.

ABOUT JASS

The Power Up! Consortium is an alliance women’s rights organisations including JASS (Just Associates), Yayasan Pemberdayaan Perempuan Kepala Keluarga (PEKKA), and Gender at Work (G@W).
Power up! works in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (MFA). Collaborating in a 5-year program (2021-2025), the Consortium engages with womxn human right defenders (WHRD) and their organisations and networks to build, organise, mobilise and transform power around three strategic agendas- bodies, voices and resources. Our aims are the prevention and elimination of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls; strengthening womxn’s strategies for economic resilience and stability, including access to and control of resources and land.
Within this, the partnership focuses on amplifying the voices, agency and leadership of constituencies that have been marginalised in their communities and social movements (LBQ women, HIV+ women, sex workers, women workers and rural and indigenous womxn). Their capacity to sustain pressure and influence policies, resources, institutions, and social normas is essential to the advancement of gender equality and womxn’s rights at all levels and to ensure womxn’s greater safety in the face of increased backlash and violence.

The consortium’s work is spread across 6 geographic regions (17 countries) and prioritises Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and Southeast Asia.

KEY RESPONSABILITIES

Coordination of joint advocacy and influencing initiatives (60%)

Facilitate joint conversations within PU! to promote an understanding of and learn from each of PU! members approaches to advocacy and strategic engagement, and identify joint strategies that demonstrate a clear added value of the consortium;
Lead the development of a strategy and coordinate the implementation of the consortium’s joint advocacyand strategic engagement work, including supporting PU! members to ensure alignment and coherence of advocacy and communications plans;
In coordination with the PU! Coordination Committee?, prepare key messages/positions and contribute to policy debates and discussions related to the Strengthening Civil Society and Power of Women strategic partnershipsof the Dutch MFA, including the development of future policies and partnership frameworks;
Proactively offer innovative ideas and proposed action to PU! Coordination Committee on policy actions and key messages which contribute to the influencing activities targeting the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutchembassies and other strategic donors and international actors;
Actively advocate PU! and PU! partner’s? key messages in relevant knowledge and learning spaces and platforms that support LBQTI+ issues and agendas;
Provide inputs in the development of PU! annual plans and reports and ensure that intersectional lens iseffectively integrated throughout advocacy and communication activities, work plans, reports, research, and analyses;
Support the PU! Communications Working Group in developing communications products for external positioning and influencing; and;
Together with the Knowledge and MEL Specialist, identify feminist approaches and synthesise best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to advocacy and strategic engagements and amplifying voices of womxn.

Support to LBQTI+ groups/collectives (40%)

Support PU! members and local partners in the development of context and political analysis, advocacystrategies and its implementation that concern LBTQI+ groups/collectives in pan Africa and MENA regions; lead/coordinate the development of key messages/positions;
In coordination with PU! members and its partners, identify key local, national, regional/global/internationalspaces for dialogue and influencing, and support LBQTI+ partners in their participation in these spaces;
Identify capacity strengthening (CS) on advocacy? opportunities for LBTQI+ groups/collectives and support/coordinate with PU! members and/or PU! Coordination Committee for the planning and implementation of CS activities;
Support cross-movement organising efforts of PU! members and its partners (convenings, joint agenda development, articulations, networking, etc.); and;
Provide the PU! Coordination Committee and when relevant/necessary, the PU! Executive Committee with updates/progress, including risks and issues.

YOUR PROFILE

An Advocacy Coordinator adds value and supports the work of PU! members and local partners, and advises and guides the PU! Working Groups in its profiling and influencing work, including risk management. In order to be successful in this role, the candidate should have great coordination and communication skills and deep curiosity to learn about feminist movement building and movement led approaches to advocacy.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

A feminist advocate and/or activist with deep intersectional knowledge of gender and womxn’s rights issues especially those affecting LBQT+ persons;
Strong embeddedness in feminist social movements and LBQTI+ networks and platforms and alliances across Africa and internationally;
Profound knowledge of the Pan- African political and social movements context, desirable knowledge of broader feminist movements and the interlinkages with LBTQI+struggles
Minimum 5 years of experience in advocacy and influencing and in supporting/accompanying grassroots feminist movements and LBQTI+ persons/groups/collectives in Africa andMENA regions;
Ability to navigate spaces/contexts that are oppressive [communities, States] where colonial laws are held high and patriarchal systems dominate;
Strong analytical skills, sound judgement, capacity to think strategically;
Ability to produce high quality policy and advocacy materials, high level strategic documents and advice;
Proven process facilitation and coordination skills, sensitivity to language inequity, aptitude for building trust and addressing tensions and conflict in a way that strengthens partnerships;
Ability to take initiative and leadership, contribute to quick decision making, and problem solve;
Strong ability to work both independently and as a member of a project team;
Strong verbal and written communications (English preferred & French ideal), negotiation and interpersonal skills;
Interest and ability to travel occasionally; comfortable working across timezones?
Ability to work independently, operate under pressure, manage multiple tasks, deliver time sensitive, high-quality work.
Flexibility for learning different approaches to advocacy and strategic engagements in very diverse contexts.

COMPENSATION

JASS is committed to equitable salary and benefits based on roles and responsibilities, regardless of location. The salary range for the position is between USD4,083 to USD4,916 per month depending on relevant years of experience,knowledge and skills. Benefits include employer-paid health insurance, generous vacation leave, national holidays and sick leave.
The initial offer of employment is for 1 year (with 3-month probationary period), with a possibility of renewal based on mutual satisfaction.

[email protected]

Send the following materials (in English)

Full CV (detailing the nature, scope and scale of responsibilities held)
A letter of intent (maximum 2 pages) highlighting relevant skills and experience for this position (please note where you learned about the vacancy)
Names and contact details of 2 professional references

The deadline for applications is 22 December 2023. Due to the volume of applicants, only candidates
who advance to interviews will be contacted. Due to the large volume of applications, we are not able to answer/entertain queries. The successful candidate is expected to assume the role on 1st March 2023. Power Up! is not able to support visa or relocation costs.

Apply for this position

ABOUT US

JASS is an international feminist networked anchored in the Global South dedicated to strengthen the voice, visibility, leadership and collective organising power of women for a just and sustainable world for all. We equip and strengthen the leadership and organising capacity of women leaders and their organisations in Mesoamerica, Southeast Asia, and Southern Africa.

JASS is committed to creating an equitable, inclusive, feminist working environment for all employees. We value and are enriched by diversity; and our leadership, staff, cultures and structures reflect this. We strongly encourage qualified candidates of all races, ethnicities, *colours*, religions, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations and abilities, to apply. For this role, candidates from the Global South, particularly one of JASS’ three regions, will be prioritised.