Advocacy Advisor (Zambia & Uganda)

Title: Advocacy Advisor (Zambia & Uganda)

Department: Programs, Africa

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has fueled the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of more than $50 million and won the respect of law firms worldwide. Our global pro bono network includes over 2,100 lawyers across 6 continents, 88 countries, and 125 law firms, contributing over $30 million USD in pro bono legal services annually. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org

The Job: The Advocacy Adviser (Zambia and Uganda) will support the ongoing implementation of our multi-country (Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya) Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) project (The project).  S/he will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the implementation of all aspects of the project in Zambia and Uganda under the guidance and support of the Senior Technical Adviser in the Africa Program.  This position requires a person with a deep desire to support and nurture youth-led and women’s rights programming.

The position will be based in  Zambia on a remote work basis and will be for an initial term of 2 years with likely extension dependent on the availability of funding.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Program Management

• With the support of the Senior Technical Advisor, s/he will be responsible for the country-specific planning, implementation, and reporting of the project.
• Ensure project learning is generated, documented and shared within the project in line with the Centers’ reporting systems and guidelines.
• Liaise with partners and program staff to ensure relevance and quality of activities.
• Ensure timely production and submission of project reports and other knowledge products in accordance with donor requirements.

Advocacy Support

• Support research initiatives that provide evidence for the delivery of project priorities.
• Conduct analysis on trends / issues related to ASRHR in the project areas, with a view to informing advocacy strategies and partner support.
• Develop and ensure effective messages and clear positions are crafted and delivered to different audiences in line with the project and the Centre’s thematic focus.
• Develop and maintain an excellent working knowledge of current and emerging legal and policy trends relevant to the country and partner strategies.
• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of partner advocacy strategies.
• Provide ongoing support/accompaniment to partners under the project as they roll out and implement project outcomes.
• Develop and facilitate the process of identifying program and advocacy priorities in collaboration with the Center program teams and partners.
• Develop and roll out a capacity support plan for partners to translate advocacy priorities into concrete actions with key deliverables.
• Represent the project at any relevant meetings within delegated authority.

Qualifications:

• A degree in law from a recognized University with 3+years’ related professional experience.
• Knowledge of international human rights, women’s rights and Africa regional human rights mechanism.
• Advocacy experience at the national or regional levels, including as part of NGO coalitions.
• Excellent writing, editing, research and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, presentation, and written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to work and adopt to a fast-paced dynamic work environment.
• Orientation to continuous Learning.
• Orientation to detail in work requiring effective and accurate data analysis.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
• Very detail-oriented, with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with colleagues.
• Excellent social and networking skills, ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.
• Willingness to travel to all project locations and other locations as necessary
• Fluency in English required.

Compensation: The Center offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones.
• Growth: You will be working with and learning from some of the top legal and operational minds, all passionate about advancing reproductive rights worldwide. You will also be eligible for a stipend to use towards professional growth.
• Global: You will get a front-row seat to the fight for reproductive rights globally. You will have access to Employee Resource Groups to connect to colleagues with similar interests/backgrounds/views.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights.