JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNS SPECIALIST AT WATERAID RWANDA

 Introduction

 WaterAid’s Vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities, WaterAid works with partners to maximize its impacts for policy change/influence.

WaterAid Rwanda (WARw) works through supporting local organizations and government to plan and implement inclusive and sustainable services of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).  WARw also seeks to influence the policy change through government and other key WASH stakeholders to secure and protect the right of poor people to safe, affordable water and sanitation services.

Occupying the position of Advocacy and Campaigns Specialist is an exciting opportunity to work with WaterAid and contribute to the achievement of the national and global goals towards realizing the WASH access for everyone everywhere.

Job purpose

The Advocacy and Campaigns Specialist is responsible leading WaterAid’s strategy for effectively advocating and campaigning to achieve its advocacy goals. The remit of this role includes developing compelling advocacy and campaign strategy as well as drawing on learning and evidence from WaterAid’s own work when shaping narratives on WaterAid’s advocacy agenda whilst creating strategic allies to raise the voices of people with the least power upholding WaterAid’s profile and reputations and perspectives on WASH/development discourse.

Key responsibilities

Advocacy

• Develop advocacy and campaign Strategy.
• Undertake political Economy Analysis to shape the influencing strategy for WaterAid, including identification of priority targets, developing compelling arguments that will have traction and positioning WaterAid amongst allies working on issues.
• Draw on WaterAid’s own work and projects and produce informative documentation that suits lessons sharing and advocacy.
• Suggest on priority country programme advocacy direction and actions, including drawing on programme practice work to engage in policy influence.
• Track, synthesize and share important information on political and policy developments from a diverse range of sources on a range of issues including policy decisions, budgetary allocation and disbursement, sector strengthening initiatives, reforms in the WASH sector etc.
• Work with the Head of Policy, Advocacy Research and Advocacy in identifying legislative, political and policy opportunities to drive forward policy change agenda and engage with priority targets to maximise those opportunities.
• Work with the Head of Policy, Advocacy Research and Advocacy in developing strong influencing alliances both within and outside WASH sectors(including unusual alliances) that can drive forward WaterAid’s policy agenda
• Support communications colleagues to develop compelling advocacy narratives that can be used in public communications.
• Assist the Head of Policy Research and Advocacy to assess the results of advocacy and policy interventions to inform and refine the advocacy strategy and WaterAid’s policy agenda.
• Work with the Head of Policy Research and Advocacy on WaterAid’s collaboration with WASH organisations, rights-based groups, organisations working on equity and inclusion and other relevant organisations. This includes identifying complementary advocacy partnerships that can drive forward a common policy agenda, supporting advocacy skills-building and generating platforms to increase access to decision-makers
• Contribute to evaluation and learning processes as part of the ongoing process of improving the effectiveness of advocacy work in the country.

Campaigns 

• Work with WASH and rights-based civil society organisations and other stakeholders to develop and deliver coordinated communications and campaigns activities, in line with a common WASH advocacy agenda, that elevates the voices of marginalised groups of people and strengthens accountability of decision-makers and other stakeholders
• Project management of major campaigning plans within WaterAid and with allies, to ensure timely and high-quality delivery around key advocacy moments
• Working with advocacy team, identify political opportunities to elevate WaterAid’s advocacy agenda and develop strong communications and community engagement to maximise these opportunities
• Support civil society allies to develop communications and campaigns skills and profile on a common WASH and rights-based agenda
• Lead on ensuring WaterAid Rwanda’s visibility in national, regional and global campaigns on the WASH agenda.
• Identify public and popular ambassadors and influential figures who can support and amplify WaterAid Rwanda’s advocacy agenda

 To apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work within ethical background of WaterAid. WaterAid is committed to ensuring that wherever we work in the world there is no tolerance for the abuse of power, privilege or trust.

WaterAid reinforces a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of inappropriate behaviour, abuse, harassment, or exploitation of any kind. The safeguarding of our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf, is our top priority and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All staff and volunteers are required to share in this commitment through our Global Code of Conduct. We will conduct the most appropriate pre-employment references and checks to ensure high standards are maintained.

WaterAid is an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, fairness and equality. Should you have a disability and require any additional support, please contact us at [email protected]

Interested applicants fulfilling the above-mentioned criteria are invited to submit their Curriculum Vitae and Cover letter specifying three referees (former direct supervisor) as well as their emails and telephone to: [email protected]. Certified academic credentials will be presented after official notification of employment offer,  prior to singing the contract.

The deadline for submission of applications is Friday 25^th June 2021 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email or phone for interview.

Done at Kigali, 18^th June 2021

Jacqueline KABERA, Admin. P&OD-Manager, WaterAid Rwanda