Advocacy Officer

Job Title: Advocacy Officer

Location: Belgium (GT)

Duration: 1 year fixed-term contract

Starting date: December 2022/ January 2023

Line manager: Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator

About PI

Protection International (PI) is an International NGO that contributes to the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) throughout the world. PI provides tools to develop HRDs’ capacities to manage their own security as they struggle against impunity and work in favour of human rights and democracy in their respective countries or regions. PI seeks to contribute to a situation where HRDs are recognised as legitimate actors for social change and to an environment where they can exercise their right to defend universally accepted human rights.

Protection International has its global office in Brussels, but primarily works where the protection of HRDs is needed. PI has long-term presence in several countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Under its Global Strategy 2019-2023, PI is gradually transforming into a network of Hubs, establishing regional offices that work in a flexible manner across several countries.

General Objective of the position

Together with the Advocacy and Outreach (A&O) Coordinator, the Advocacy Officer will co-facilitate the development and implementation of advocacy and campaigning initiatives at the EU and international level in order to promote change, aligned with PI’s mandate for the protection of the right to defend human rights and its current Global Strategy (2019-2023).

The PI Advocacy Officer is a member of PI Global Team and reports to the Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator.

Duties & Responsibilities

INTERNAL COORDINATION AND SUPPORT

• Support the Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator in the effective implementation and achievement of targets of PI’s Global Advocacy Strategic Framework (GASF) and Advocacy Action Plans including:
• Support PI country teams and regional hubs to ensure consistency of advocacy messages across PI and delivery of campaigns in line with PI’s mandate;
• When appropriate and relevant report and/or engage with the Executive Director, the Heads of Offices (Regional Directors and Country Representatives), and the Global/Regional Boards on our strategic external engagements and our impact; and
• Identify key and/or high level external events, processes, and engagements where the Executive Director, the Head of PRTU, the Heads of Offices (Regional Directors and Country Representatives), and/or the Global/Regional Boards need to participate in and support their participation.
• In close coordination with relevant PI colleagues and/or external partners or stakeholders to:
• Design, implement and evaluate advocacy campaigns and activities such as: influencing meetings with key actors; speakers’ tours in Europe; seminars / webinars, round tables, conferences; training and capacity-building workshops, online and offline public actions, etc;
• Work collaboratively with other teams and participate in and support, as appropriate, internal events and meetings;
• Contribute ideas and support to policy and research projects, in collaboration with the Policy, Research and Training Unit (PRTU);
• Provide content to the Executive Director’s Team (EDT) reports to PI governing bodies and to the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) for fundraising proposals and reports to funders;
• Apply MEAL principles to measure impact of PI’s activities and overall strategy;
• Provide support to the rest of the advocacy & outreach team and work collaboratively including:
• Draft public statements, policy briefings, press releases and web and social media content in a clear and concise manner, to advance advocacy objectives and key messaging;
• Provide translation and proofread support in one or two languages as expected from all team members for all of the Unit’s activities, as a way to ensure full operability of the Unit in the three working languages of PI (EN, FR, ES).
• Ensure upkeep of PI’s contact database of advocacy and outreach targets; and
• Liaise with external contractors ensuring quality and timely delivery of services for PI;
• Carry out other requests that are within the broad remit of the role.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENTS

• Where needed, together with the A&O Coordinator, provide support, prepare and accompany key PI representatives to external meetings;
• In collaboration with the PI Global regional hubs and country teams, contribute to expert consultations and deliver messages to international and regional policy makers and stakeholders (e.g. UNSRs, UN resolutions on HRDs, UPR, EU Human Rights and Democracy policies, etc.);
• Where needed and appropriate, represent PI in public events and fora, at times abroad including:
• Engage with human rights defenders and civil-society organisations/networks and actively contributing to network’s activities and working groups, along strategic lines;
• Apply a pro-active approach in engaging with key partners and stakeholders, looking for opportunities for new alliances and collaborations, along strategic lines; and
• Work collaboratively and participate in and support, as appropriate, external events and meetings including where needed design, implement and evaluate advocacy campaigns and activities such as: influencing meetings with key actors; speakers’ tours in Europe; seminars / webinars, round tables, conferences; training and capacity-building workshops, online and offline public actions, etc;
• In the delivery of external responsibilities, the Advocacy Officer is expected to represent PI with the ability to:
• Demonstrate diplomatic sensitivity when engaging with government officials and high-level experts in the field of human rights; and
• Apply analytical and critical thinking throughout the role and strictly respect PI’s principles and core values, including accountability and transparency, confidentiality and ensuring informed consent of any engaged part.

Job Requirements

Education

• Preferred relevant university degree or relevant experience in the field of international law, international relations, political science, sustainability studies, human rights, among others.
• Preferred relevant professional training courses (Human Rights Defenders, humanitarian and development sector, management, etc.).

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in similar positions.
• Preferred worked in an international organisation across different countries and continents with experience in navigating through complex operations.
• Prior experience in carrying out multilateral advocacy activities at global and/or regional level.
• Prior experience drafting advocacy-related communications, e.g. public statements, press releases, policy-briefs, op-eds.
• Preferred prior experience in designing and implementing influencing activities targeting the EU and/or the UN is an asset.

Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge about international Human Rights mechanisms, and more specifically those from the EU and the UN.
• Interest in human rights issues and advocacy. Knowledge on the situation of human rights defenders in Africa and/or Asia would be a strong asset.
• Preferred knowledge of the right to defend human rights defenders and the work of human rights defenders organisations and networks.
• Ability to navigate through diverse settings and understanding of various backgrounds.
• Enthusiastic, self-starter who is able to work autonomously, under pressure, in decentralized teams, and think outside the box.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in written, to a wide range of – expert and non-expert audiences.
• Preferred familiarity with framing for narrative change or influencing is an asset.
• Highly organised, good time and information management skills.
• Advanced skills in computer productivity applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint photo platform, video programmes, website, analytics to measure change based on e.g. technical data.).
• Familiarity with main digital channels for influencing and coordination purposes

Languages

• Fluently spoken and written English and French.
• Good command of Spanish is an asset.
• Other languages (e.g. Portuguese, Russian, etc.) is a plus

Other requirements

• Only candidates authorized to work in Belgium/EU without any restrictions can apply

What we offer

• The possibility to gain first-hand experience and knowledge on strategies to support human rights defenders and grassroots movements globally.
• An open, friendly and multicultural work environment.
• A great deal of respect for autonomy, room for creativity, innovation and learning.
• A people focused and collaborative way of working both within the unit and with other teams.
• Depending on experience, a gross salary between € 35040 – €37200, plus benefits: “pécule de vacances”, health and hospitalisation insurance, lunch vouchers, reimbursement of home-work public transport.