Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations Advisor

GRACA MACHEL TRUST OVERVIEW

The Graça Machel Trust (GMT) is a Pan-African advocacy organization focused on child health and nutrition, education–especially girls’ education, women’s economic empowerment and leadership. Our mission is one to amplify women’s movements, influence governance and promote women’s contributions and leadership in the economic, social and political development of Africa. The Trust has financial inclusion, agribusiness and enterprise development-focused networks in 17 countries in Africa. The Trust also advocates for the protection of children’s rights and dignity, and an end to stunting and malnutrition. Since 2010, we have worked to “Multiply the Faces and Amplify the Voices” of African women and organizations serving children. As a Pan African organization operating at multiple strategic levels–at the national, subregional and continental level— we intend to remove structural barriers and unleash the potential of millions of women; achieving wide reaching impact and accelerate the transformation of Africa to a more equitable and prosperous continent.

OFFICE OF THE FOUNDER OVERVIEW Mrs. Graça Machel is a renowned international advocate for women’s and children’s rights and has been a social and political activist for many decades. Mrs. Machel works through several regional and international development bodies to accelerate social transformation. Mrs. Machel’s office, “The Office of the Founder” (OOF) supports Mrs. Machel in all her undertakings related to high-level policy and advocacy actions influencing the lives of women and children in Africa. The Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations Advisor position is a new position which will be housed within the OOF in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations Advisor reports directly to Mrs. Machel and works in collaboration with the Graca Machel Trust CEO

Type of Contract: Full Time Contract

Reporting to: Mrs Graça Machel, Founder and Board Chair of GMT

To engage key stakeholders within Global and African civil society, public sector, private sector and multilateral institution landscape to shape their decision making, increase their investments in women’s and children’s rights, and ensure issues of women’s advancement and children’s rights are central to their agenda. To strengthen and enhance the role of the Graça Machel Trust as a thought leader, advocacy influencer, and partner of choice.

Technical Support to the Founder’s High-Level Africa-based Advocacy Efforts

• Represent the Office of the Founder, where appropriate, at high level meetings and speaking engagements to advance the work of the Founder and GMT
• Support the Founder’s participation in global, African continental, regional and/or African country level events and outreach events including preparation of briefings, presentations, organization and attendance at meetings, and ensuring follow-up.
• Design technical briefs and policy papers to inform Founder’s advocacy efforts.
• Support the drafting of the Founder’s advocacy messaging, preparation of meeting agendas, statements, blog posts, Op-eds, social media posts, briefing notes and commentary documents for contributions to influence policy and decisionmakers at country, regional and continental level.
• Identify strategic entry points for the Founder and GMT to engage with African and global institutions
• Advise on and create opportunities around public events in which the Founder can participate and/or activities can be highlighted and ensure advocacy messaging is communicated on an influential national, regional and/or global platform.
• Keep updated on relevant technical and strategic discussions as they relate to the Founder’s advocacy
• Identify and create synergies within the different areas of work to ensure advocacy for GMT, including:
• At the continental level:
• African Union, African Development Bank, Africa Union Development Agency-NEPAD
• UN organizations working continent-wide (UNICEF, UNFPA, UNECA, WHO)
• At the regional level:
• Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
• Organizations: Africa Child Policy Forum, ACCORD, Foundation for Community Development (FDC), GMT’s partners and network organizations,
• At the country level: GMT’s partners and network organizations

Technical Support to GMT to influence African and global decision-making bodies and platforms

• Identify strategic opportunities and platforms for GMT to impact and interact with key actors at the country, regional, Pan African and global level.
• Identify areas and platforms of influence to shape the agenda, debates, policy and implementation gaps in the African and global development landscape
• Develop and support implementation of effective engagement and advocacy strategies with key African and global decision-making bodies for Graça Machel Trust and GMT networks across the continent.
• Provide leadership and guidance in establishing and maintaining alliances with strategically identified public sector, civil society and private sector stakeholders to advance the advocacy work of the Founder

Provide Stakeholder Relations and Fundraising Support to the Office of the Founder

OOF Fundraising and Stakeholder Management

• Identify new funding and partnership prospects for OOF and GMT
• Manage relationships with existing and potential partners for OOF
• Create and submit funding proposals, donor reports and stakeholder reports for OOF
• Contribute OOF-related content to GMT proposals, reports and stakeholder meetings as requested

REQUIREMENTS: EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Statistics, Public and Business Administration, Public Health, African Studies or other relevant disciplines
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience especially in Pan-African and International organizations.
• Strong political and/or multilateral institution experience and networking ability within political circles.
• Solid experience working in the development and humanitarian sector in Africa, including experience that addresses policies and strategies in poverty eradication, education, health and/or women’s empowerment;
• Proven record in providing intellectual leadership.
• Excellent Interpersonal and communication skills in English and French (ability to speak Portuguese highly desirable).

Technical Skills and Competencies

• Experience in formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures
• Experience in providing Board level-support and follow up;
• Experience in working in international advisory functions;
• Experience in building strategic alliances, partnerships and resource mobilization.
• Strong communication and writing abilities in English and capacity to produce briefing notes and materials, op-eds, speeches, press release and other documents on a variety of issues;
• Behavioural Skills and Competencies
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and strategic thinking skills
• Displaying a continuous learning mentality, readiness and capacity to share information; high orientation for continuous improvement
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team, and to work well with external partners at all levels, as required;
• Ability to work independently and under pressure;
• Strong work ethic, dedication to excellence, detail oriented an absolute requirement