Afghanistan: Policy Advisor Lobby & Advocacy, Cordaid Afghanistan

Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is one of the leading CSO’s in the Netherlands, working in fragile contexts on Health, Resilience, Economic opportunities, Humanitarian aid and Security & Justice. Apart from our work abroad we also contribute to new forms of job creation and social innovation in The Netherlands.

Cordaid is a member of the international Catholic networks Caritas and CIDSE and we are active in worldwide civil society networks. We work in around 30 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

For the Cordaid Country office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Cordaid is looking for a Policy Advisor Lobby & Advocacy

Introduction

Since 2016 Cordaid Afghanistan has been working on the Strategic Partnership for Lobby & Advocacy ‘Capacitating change: Restoring the social contract in fragile contexts’. This multi-year program is implemented by local civil society organizations in 10 provinces of Afghanistan. The strategic partnership works towards a strong civil society and healthy state-society relations. It does so by working with and through civil society actors, strengthening local communities to have a voice in decisions affecting their lives.

Position and responsibility

The Policy Advisor Lobby & Advocacy will ensure implementation of the Afghanistan lobby & advocacy strategy of the Dialogue and Dissent Strategic Partnership, take responsibility for the lobby and advocacy results according to the goals of the program, coordinate advocacy activities of the Country Office in Kabul, and be the main link to our GO international lobbying and advocacy trajectories.

In addition, the Policy Advisor will support the Strategic Partnership team in strengthening the institutional and staff capacity of selected civil society organizations to conduct lobby and advocacy activities.

General objective of the posting

To advance lobbying and advocacy efforts before national and international stakeholders in country and when required internationally, and to ensure continuous policy analysis, developing lobby & advocacy plans, coordinating lobby & advocacy initiatives, linking the Afghanistan lobby within the Strategic Partnership with the international lobby within the Strategic Partnership, ensuring lobby & advocacy capacity development.

Specific objectives

1. Political analysis and lobby & advocacy plan

a. Carry out ongoing political analysis in the context of the Strategic Partnership that feeds into existing or new lobby & advocacy plans;

b. Facilitate the development of lobby & advocacy plans with clear lobby & advocacy targets and strategies for the Country Office and local partners, according to the goals of the Dialogue & Dissent strategic partnership;

c. Evaluate and review SPLA partners lobby and advocacy approaches and advice accordingly;

d. Guide best practices and contribute to the development of supporting processes for policy implementation.

1. Coordination lobby & advocacy activities

a. Coordinate lobby & advocacy activities of Cordaid and local partners, in the framework of the Strategic Partnership;

b. Develop and maintain a network of influential decision-makers/ stakeholders in Afghanistan at national level;

c. Engage in strategic advocacy activities, by reaching out to government actors, UN agencies, donors and other relevant stakeholders and by representing Cordaid in networks, conferences and relevant platforms;

d. Advance lobbying and advocacy actions to national and international stakeholders in country and when necessary and in coordination with GO at the international level.

1. Act as a focal point for linking the lobby of the Strategic Partnership in Afghanistan to international lobby carried out by Global Office lobbyists working for the Strategic Partnership

a. Align the national dimension of the SP’s lobby & advocacy strategy in Afghanistan to the international strategies developed by the Cordaid lobbyists at the Global Office;

b. Participate, where appropriate, in international lobby & advocacy activities, in close coordination with Cordaid lobbyists at Global Office.

1. Lobby & advocacy capacity development

a. Participate in the assessment of the capacity of partners and key actors at local and national level to deliver on advocacy objectives;

b. Participate in activities for capacity development of implementing partners and knowledge sharing in the field of lobby & advocacy.

Qualifications

· Masters in Development Studies, Law, International relations, Governance, Conflict Studies or related social sciences.

· At least 5 years’ relevant work experience in a similar capacity.

· Proven experience in lobby and advocacy in relation to (inter)national political institutions and decision-makers.

· Proven experience in working with civil society, creating networks and coordination and to obtain contribution from others.

· Good oral and written communication skills in English language.

· Proven ability to draft context analyses, policy papers, advocacy positions, articles, blogs, press statements.

· Proven network of relevant stakeholders in the country.

· Proven networking skills.

· (geo) Political acumen.

Specifics of station

This is a non-accompanied posting.

Contract information

The contract period is for one year starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period. We offer a competitive, fair and comprehensive salary and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. A Cordaid contract which includes R&R, a comprehensive insurance cover, social security and pension contribution, a holiday allowance, 13^th month, and hardship allowance.

Further information & how to apply

Applications including a motivation letter and extensive CV in English, including the contact details of at least three professional references, should be forwarded on attention of Mr Jaap van Hierden before 17 August 2019.

An integrity screening will be part of the application procedure.

Please note that we accept applications through our website only: https://www.cordaid.org/en/vacancies/international/?cd_job_id=138801