Position:                                          Advocacy & Communications Officer

Reports to:                                     Project Manager

Technical line:                                Advocacy and Communication Team

Location:                                         Choma Zambia

Length of contract:                        18 months

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,990 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti.

About the Country Program in Zambia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Zambia since 2021 implementing both development and humanitarian programmes through a multi-sectoral strategy where Nutrition, Health, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH and Protection, Gender and psychosocial support are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience.

Summary of position

The Advocacy & Communications Officer will support the Advocacy and Communications Unit to expand Action Against Hunger’s advocacy reach across and target national government structures at all levels and regional decision-makers. He/she will align and streamline internal advocacy efforts across the organization through the development of evidence-based policy positions and coordinating policy and advocacy activities. A cornerstone of this approach is the Advocacy Strategy for Action Against Hunger’s Lusaka, Zambia

The Advocacy & Communications Officer:

· Purpose: Facilitate and support advocacy and engagement structures at local, regional and national level to promote Action Against Hunger.

· Provide support to implementation of Country office Advocacy and Communication strategy

·  Engagement: Position based in Lusaka Zambia with key audiences across the project offices and in close collaboration with the Regional and HQ technical specialist.

· Collaborates with other ACF Networks and country offices to develop and deliver advocacy capacity building activities and conduct orientation activities on advocacy integration.

· Delivery: Develop and implement advocacy and communication plans, activities and products for Country office projects and support implementation of the advocacy and communication activities including products (presentations, internal briefing notes, policy briefs, op-eds) for both internal and external use.

Essential job functions

 Government Relations and Influencing

· Assist with Action Against Hunger’s efforts to influence policies, promote social protection and nutrition financing in international development.

·  Support relationship-building with Governments, Parliamentarians, policy and decision makers relevant to delivering advocacy objectives.

Policy Research and Product Development

· Support the Advocacy & Communications Unit with the research and development of policy products (e.g., briefing notes, key message documents, policy statements).

· Support the Advocacy & Communications Unit in the production and targeted distribution of policy products and key messages.

Project Management

· Organize external meetings and events, including ensuring effective preparation for, scheduling, tracking and follow up.

· Draft quarterly and annual unit reporting and drafting any separate reporting necessary to Action Against Hunger.

· Track results of policy and advocacy initiatives at the output and outcome levels.

· Support in ensuring organizational policy and advocacy systems and processes are robust, effective and sustainable.

· Organize and execute Country project activities

 Advocacy Capacity Development

· Facilitate training in advocacy skills to country office staff

· Support country office in development of county advocacy and Communication action plans

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

·The duties of the job require regular job attendance.

· Must be available to work outside normal office hours or at the weekends as needed or required by contact with the missions or other obligations.

· Must be able to travel coach fare for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the country programs if appropriate.

· While visiting the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases.

Gender Equality commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

· Foster an environment that reinforces values of people of all genders equal access to information.

· Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.

· Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.

·  Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.

·  Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.

· Value and respect all cultures.

Physical demands

• To travel to Action Against Hunger’s areas of operations, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/ or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases

Requirements

  Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

·  Bachelor’s degree in social science or related field.

·  At least 4 years’ work experience in an Advocacy and Communication role or a role that involves Advocacy and communication for an NGO.

·  Membership with a relevant professional body

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of current lobbying and policy development landscape.

• Knowledge of the charity landscape and the current challenges being faced by charities and NGO’s.

·       Experience in successful policy and advocacy work, preferably in international development, with preference for those that have professional experience working in Africa.

• Proven track record drafting and contributing to a range of products (presentations, internal briefing notes, policy briefs, op-eds).

• Recognized capacity in translating complex information in a compelling and accessible way for non-technical audiences.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and advocating for gender equality and child rights policies.

• Demonstrated ability to develop analytical evidence-based policy papers and reports.

• Excellent English language skills.

• Ability to provide or recommend solutions to problems; show flexibility to assume additional responsibilities

Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, including ability to find, absorb, analyze and prioritize information from many different sources, and proven experience of strategy development.

• Outstanding interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, including the presence to deal effectively with diverse constituencies including senior management

• nitiative in thought leadership, innovation and creativity.

• Ability to work and contribute positively in a team.

• Commitment to Action Against Hunger’s work and values.

Benefits

Application Process.

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated resume and both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing non discrimination in employment.