Advocacy Officer
CARE International is looking for a
ADVOCACY OFFICER
Location: CARE International Secretariat, Geneva
Supervisor: CARE International Head, Global Advocacy
Start Date: September - October, 2011
BACKGROUND
CARE International (CI) is a global confederation of twelve independent non-profit, non-sectarian
humanitarian organizations working together to fight poverty and provide assistance in humanitarian
emergencies. In fiscal year 2010, CARE worked in 87 countries around the world, implementing long-term
programs to fight poverty, responding to humanitarian emergencies, and advocating for policy change to
improve the lives of the poorest people.
Global advocacy is one of the six strategic directions of CI’s Strategic Plan for 2007-2012.The goal of CI’s
global advocacy is to influence national and international policies that affect the lives of the poorest and most
vulnerable communities through coordinated and joint action by CI members, country offices and the
Secretariat. CI’s Global Advocacy Strengthening Strategy for 2010-2012 is being realised through two result
areas: 1) prioritizing issues for global advocacy, and 2) developing and strengthening CI management,
protocols, systems, processes and capacities. The global thematic priority areas identified are: women,
peace and security; food security; maternal health; and climate change, and CI engages in strategic intergovernmental,
governmental and multi-stakeholder processes at global, regional and national levels in this
context. Global advocacy is also carried out on rapid responses to humanitarian crisis and countries in crisis.
CI works on advocacy under a gender equality and women’s empowerment framework.
The Secretariat coordinates CI’s global advocacy, including the implementation of the Plan and
Strengthening Strategy, and takes the lead in some parts of their components. The Secretariat’s advocacy
team is located in the international advocacy coordination and representation office in Geneva (Secretariat’s
headquarters) and representation offices to the UN in New York and to the EU in Brussels. The CI Advocacy
Officer will be part of the Secretariat team in Geneva.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Contribute to and support the implementation of CI’s Global Advocacy Strengthening Strategy
and CI’s work on agreed priority issues (in 2010-2012: women, peace and security; food security;
maternal health; and climate change) and key events (estimated 20 per cent of time1), including:
* Support the development and implementation of advocacy strategies on global priority issues led by
appointed CI members and with participation from the membership, country offices and the
Secretariat; and the coordination of CI-wide interventions in key events, as needed.
* Monitor and report on relevant policy developments; develop research and analysis on relevant
topics; and draft CI positions, briefing papers, strategies, articles, lobbying letters and talking points.
* Work with members, country offices and the Secretariat leading harmonization of advocacy M&E
and accountability frameworks and develop assessments of CI’s work.
* Work with communications and media Secretariat staff in public messaging related to advocacy
initiatives.
* Participate in international advocacy teams and delegations.
1. Time allocated to specific responsibilities is indicative, as this will vary in accordance with the implementation
process of CI’s Global Advocacy Strengthening Strategy.
2. Contribute to rapid advocacy responses to humanitarian crisis and countries in crisis, including
by liaising with relevant parts of the Secretariat and supporting the engagement of relevant members
and country offices (estimated 5 per cent of time).
3. Facilitate the sharing of relevant information, experience and best practice in CI on advocacy
(estimated 35 per cent of time), including:
* Develop and maintain internal systems and mechanisms to ensure timely sharing of basic advocacy
sources of information within the CI confederation, such as ongoing initiatives, decisions from CI’s
governance structures, advocacy strategies, position and briefing papers, reports, assessments,
tools, existing capacities, and other relevant materials produced by CI members, country offices and
the Secretariat.
* Work with members, country offices and relevant parts of the Secretariat, in particular those with a
communications mandate, to ensure coordination with relevant information management initiatives.
* Develop and maintain CI’s website page on advocacy in coordination with relevant parts of the
membership, country offices and the Secretariat.
* Prepare regular updates of CI’s advocacy work, mainly for internal audiences and when needed for
external use.
4. Contribute to enhanced advocacy protocols, systems, processes, and capacities (estimated 25
per cent of time), including:
* Support implementation of CI’s sign-off processes, protocols and procedures by building awareness
within CARE and supporting their implementation, review and further development.
* Prepare analysis, surveys and reports on, and provide support to, relevant areas that could improve
CI’s global advocacy work, such as harmonization of advocacy M&E and strengthening of CI’s
advocacy capacity.
* Develop orientation and training materials for CI’s staff working on advocacy.
5. Support administration for the CI Secretariat advocacy function (estimated 10 per cent of time),
including:
* Assist in the preparation of annual operating plans, budgets and reports for CI’s advocacy work.
* Organize conference calls, meetings and workshops, including preparatory processes, documents
and reports (e.g. of the Advocacy Media and Communications Sub-Committee of the CI Board’s
Executive Committee, teams coordinating thematic and event-related advocacy, and the wider CI
advocacy community).
* Liaise with the representation offices to the EU and UN and provide support as appropriate.
* Participate in relevant internal meetings.
* Support administrative functions.
6. Undertake any other duties as required, including backstopping of the CI Head, Global Advocacy when
necessary (estimated 5 per cent of time).
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal:
* CI Head, Global Advocacy
* CI Representative to the UN
* CI Representative to the EU
* CI Communications Coordinator
* CI Communications Officer
* CI Emergency Group staff
* Deputy Secretary and other Secretariat staff
* Advocacy staff of all CI members and country offices
External:
* Advocacy staff in peer organizations
* Contacts in UN and governmental organizations as part of coordinated efforts within CI
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The CI Advocacy Officer is based within the CI Secretariat in Geneva. International travel will be required on
occasion.
QUALIFICATIONS
* Masters degree (or a combination of a Bachelors degree and relevant experience) in international
relief and development sector, international relations, international law or related field.
* At least five years’ experience in development and successful implementation of advocacy and
campaigning in a not-for-profit setting, preferably in an international environment.
* Proven ability to produce advocacy materials and to develop mechanisms to share and manage
advocacy information and knowledge.
* Understanding of multilateral institutions and related decision-making processes as well as
knowledge of humanitarian and development issues.
* Experience travelling, working or living in a developing country.
* Fluent written and spoken English, proficiency in another major language used by CARE
International is a plus.
CORE COMPETENCIES
* Excellent research and analytical skills.
* Excellent teamwork and inter-personal skills.
* Culturally sensitive and comfortable with working with others at a distance within a complex
organisational setting.
* Excellent communications skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in writing in English
(another language used in CI is a plus).
* Adaptability and the commitment to work within a small, flexible team.
* Ability to plan, organize and deliver results.
* Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines and to multi-task.
* Committed to CARE’s vision and mission and to achieving gender equality.
APPLICATIONS
Candidates must be Swiss or EU nationals or hold a valid work permit. Interested and qualified candidates
should submit their CVs and a short motivation letter to cirecruitment@careinternational.org by 15 August
2011. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted after the closing date.
