Plan International Uganda - Country Manager Advocacy and Influencing: Kampala (1 Position)

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

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We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
Plan International Uganda started its operations in 1992 and currently has diversified programme portfolio in the Central, Eastern, Northern and West Nile regions.

The organisation is an equal opportunity employer and is currently seeking to recruit a competent person to fill the position of Country Manager Advocacy and Influencing.

The Country Manager Advocacy and Influencing is responsible for leading the implementation of Plan International Uganda Advocacy Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Implementation Plan by taking an integrated approach to policy change and influencing with a strong link to campaigning and communications.

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The position ensures excellence in Plan International’s public and private advocacy in full alignment with the Country Strategy and Plan Global Programme Strategy.

S/he works with National Programme Managers, Project Managers and Coordinators to develop key advocacy messages, defining effective tactics and strategic partnerships, leveraging our influencing strength to mobilise support and raise awareness in Uganda and also externally with donors and the whole Plan International federation.

This position is part of the Country Programme Team and partners to align project activities to national advocacy demands, ensuring that advocacy is research and evidence based. S/he advices CMT on developing position papers and establishing strategic partnerships.

Dimensions of Role:

Strategic planning and delivery – the position holder is in charge of developing, implementing and updating the Advocacy Strategy and the SDG Influencing Plan to ensure its relevance to the Country Strategy, the Global Strategy and the operating context.
Advocacy and Influencing – the post holder maintains regular and structured communication with key stakeholders (government, CSOs, private sector), staff at local, district, national, regional and international levels. The position has a strong external dimension of representing Plan International at national and international level, aligning projects to the Advocacy Strategy and the SDG Influencing Plan. Identify major gaps between policy and practice.
Staff Management – this position does not have direct staff to be supervised, but it may have dotted lines to those specific project positions that are directly responsible for implementing advocacy activities.
Budgets/Assets – the post-holder manages the budget at Country Office on advocacy and advises programme team at national and Programme Unit (PU) level on project budget allocation.

Risk management – the post is responsible for managing and mitigating all risks related to advocacy and influencing in close collaboration with the Risk Manager.
Partnership Management – mapping and meeting potential partners, collaborators and networks; support their capacity building process and manage relationship building in collaboration with the Partnership Support Coordinator.
Reach/Breadth of the post – the position is mainly at national and local levels, with strong interaction at Programme Unit level, as well as occasional regional and international relationships and requires interpersonal professional working relationships with children, parents/guardians, community leaders, local/national organisations, media, donors, government officials, other stakeholders (both state and non-state actors) and other professionals.

Key End Results of Position:
Strategic Leadership:

Leads and manages the design and implementation of the Advocacy Strategy in coordination with staff and partners by taking an integrated approach to policy change and influencing. Reviews and updates the Advocacy Strategy and the SDG Influencing Plan as appropriate in response to the evolving context and programme design.
Maintains strong linkages between Advocacy, Communications and Programmes so that advocacy is evidence based and programme driven and projects are enhanced through advocacy.
Advises the Country Management Team on key advocacy issues, such as developing position papers, managing potential communication risks and leading on a range of cross-organisational priorities and strategies.
Creates relationships, systems and pathways to ensure that our advocacy work is well integrated into the organisation at all levels so that we can fully realise our potential for campaigning, quality learning and impact reporting.
Builds strategic partnerships with organisations and key stakeholders that will assist Plan International Uganda in meeting its policy agenda outcomes.

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Advocacy and Influence:

Develops and implements the Advocacy Strategy and the SDG Influencing Plan in coordination with the Programme Team at CO and PUs and partners, as well as engaging Plan International wider federation.
Strategically plans and implements stakeholder engagement and develop relationships to increase Plan International’s profile amongst target, influential audiences and reach policy makers.
Keeps Plan International Uganda always well informed of changes in the policy landscape through regular intel gathering, liaising with key UN, Government, NGOs and other interlocutors in the country so that programmes are fully informed to address policy gaps.
Defines key advocacy opportunities, targets and tactics at district and national levels and align programme and project design to these targets.
Leads the development of advocacy plans with objectives and operational plans to deliver Plan International Uganda’s strategies.
Works in partnership with the Communications Manager to ensure advocacy engagement is accurately reflected in external communications and that advocacy messages are adapted and communicated to various stakeholders.

Research, Policy Development and UN reporting

Leads the development of clear and consistent advocacy messages, ensuring that all advocacy messages, documents and strategies are evidence-based, drawn from field experience and assessments of high quality and effective.
Leads the development of high quality analysis, policy briefing, recommendations and positions relation to Plan International Uganda’s advocacy and policy priorities.
Identifies research opportunities working with the MER Manager and Programme team to strengthen Plan International Uganda’s influencing work and ensure that it’s evidence based.
Leads the proactive involvement of Plan International Uganda in key UN human rights mechanisms processes, especially on CRC and CEDAW.
Engages with UN agencies and key human rights stakeholders on strategic partnerships and close working relations to ensure Plan International Uganda’s active involvement.

Staff Support, Mentorship, and Development

Provides high quality line management and development for talented staff, building a strong team and embedding robust planning, implementation reporting and evaluation processes into our advocacy and influencing work. Manage consultants when required.  Supports the Advocacy team, defines expectations, provides leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluates direct reports regularly.  Advises on the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff is appropriate and ensures availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff.

Dealing with Problems:

This position is critical and very strategic, dealing with diverse demands and pressure from different parts of the organisation to often tight deadlines: Country Office, Programme Units, Regional Office, National Office and International Headquarters as well as key stakeholders and partners.
The ability to prioritize and maintain focus while still demonstrating high levels of customer orientation are thus key for this position.
Partnership building and management, as well as capacity development of partners.
Maintaining an active profile for Plan International Uganda while ensuring strong management of potential media and public advocacy risks.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Communicates with tact, diplomacy and maintains professional working relationships at all times.
Close collaboration and interdependence with the Programme Team and Resource Mobilization Unit at CO level and other support departments (Finance, Admin, Risk Management, HR, Sponsorship)
Regular working relationship with Programme Unit teams.
Local, national and international media houses, Civil Society Organisations, Government institutions and UN agencies to ensure Plan International’s work is well linked to other initiatives.
Plan International Federation: other COs, Regional Offices, National Offices and IH.

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Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives: See Section 7e
Knowledge

A degree in law, international relations, politics or social science. Masters in Human Rights desired.
At least 5 year’s professional experience working to influence human rights laws, policies and institutions, preferably with NGOs, intergovernmental organisation or governments.
Experience of influencing and advocacy work including lobbying, policy development and information provision in humanitarian issues.
Experience in networking and coordination, planning and implementing campaigns and events that drive influence and stakeholder engagement.
Excellent skills in advocating towards government officials and understanding of UN and donor operations at country level, including UN human rights reporting mechanisms.
Proven experience to develop and implement advocacy strategies.
Demonstrable leadership within a networked environment.

Skills

Superior communication and writing skills with the ability to translate complex issues into a level appropriate for the general population and policy makers.
Strong analytical, negotiation and problem solving skills.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing with a variety of audiences, including community advocates, service providers, members of the public and local officials
Excellent planning, management and coordination skills with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities.
Excellent representation and interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people from diverse cultures, ability to lead and motivate people to work in teams.
Partnership building and management, working through partners.
Skilled in the use of computer software.
Skills in working with children and facilitating child participation is desired

Values and Behaviours

1. Strive for lasting impact:

Shows commitment and understanding to always act in the best interest of the child and respect to human rights.
Promotes a culture of learning and sharing.
Demonstrates a high degree of confidentiality.

2. Open and Accountable:

Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Plan International values, striving for lasting impact
Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity, capacity to include and empower others.

3. Works Well Together:

Comfortable working with others, as part of a team or as a team leader. Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters; approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
Thinks strategically, reflects about achievements and recognizes people’s contribution.

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4. Inclusive and Empowering:

Demonstrates commitment to working with vulnerable children and promoting equality for girls

Physical Environment and Demands:
Office based with frequent travel to the field within and outside Uganda (at least 30% of time).
Additional Responsibilities:
Child Protection Policy Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff)

Adhere to the Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and reporting any Child Protection Protection (CPP) issues.
Responsible for the implementation of the CPP standards as they apply to area of responsibility plus the development of actions to address identified gaps and monitoring their effectiveness.  Ensure that all Plan International partners, visitors and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with, are made aware off and have signed and returned a copy of the child protection policy. Inform the partners, visitors and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.

10 Sponsorship Commitments Responsibilities

Design and support implementation of programmes that are aligned with the Sponsorship Commitments, ensuring that the interventions benefit Sponsored Children.

Level of Contact with Children:

This position has been classified as “Mid contact”:

Occasional interaction with children
Plan International is an equal opportunity employer suitably qualified candidates should submit letters of application, together with a CV, contact telephone numbers, copies of relevant certificates, names and contact details of three references (where one should be for the HR for those whose contracts are still running) plus salary history should be included and sent to the undersigned not later than Friday 21st July 2017.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Please consider your application unsuccessful in case you do not hear from us by 30th September 2017.

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Country Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager, Plan International Uganda
mail: uganda.recruitment@plan-international.org

NB: Only soft copies of applications will be considered and indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line.
As a Child Centred Development organisation, Plan International Uganda strives to ensure that children are kept safe in all the areas we operate. The organisation further has a Child Protection Policy that every staff is required to sign. Potential candidates will be required to provide information confirming whether or not they have ever been convicted of any child abuse crimes.

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