EU Advocacy Consultant

Mines Advisory Group are seeking an experienced consultant to support its ongoing Brussels-based advocacy work.

About Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

Founded in 1989, MAG is a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for our work towards banning landmines under the Ottawa Treaty, also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. We remove mines and unexploded ordnance to help communities recover from recent and long-past conflicts, and work to reduce and prevent armed conflict by supporting government and communities to safely manage weapons and ammunition. We have helped more than 20 million people in 70 countries rebuild their lives and livelihoods after war.

Background to the project

Over the past two years, MAG has advocated for comprehensive inclusion of mine action in the EU’s new Neighbourhoods, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), which will come into effect in 2022. Wording on mine action has been proposed for inclusion in each of the geographic, thematic, and rapid response annexes by both the European Parliament and European Council. The NDICI has now passed; while the final text is not yet available, it has been verbally confirmed that all the references to mine action proposed by MAG are included in the final legislation.

MAG is also keen to continue to build our advocacy work on small arms and light weapons management as part of our new armed violence reduction theory of change, which intersects closely with mine action work.

Overall, MAG is keen to build our Brussel’s advocacy presence.

Scope of work

MAG is looking for a consultant to carry out a scoping study and build an outline advocacy strategy on two of our key advocacy and policy priorities, which are:

• Mine action: While the text of the new Neighbourhoods, Development and International Cooperation Instrument has now been agreed, there are further opportunities to raise awareness of mine action in the design and implementation of the new instrument, and ensure that this policy change results in meaningful progress on the ground.
• Armed violence reduction (AVR), with a particular focus on small arms and light weapons (SALW) management.

MAG are looking for a consultant to advise on the best ways of building on the successful advocacy on this topic over the past months and increase awareness of both MAG and mine action more broadly in the EU policy space.

The consultancy includes two specific deliverables, alongside the fulfilment of a more general advisory role:

• Scoping study: A survey of the landscape for mine action and armed violence reduction advocacy in the EU, analysing the current state of play and identifying the processes, institutions, individuals, and opportunities that MAG could usefully take advantage of to build momentum for policy change, increasing the diplomatic focus of the EU on these areas, and further investments in mine action and AVR/SALW work over the short to medium term.
• Outline advocacy strategy: A document setting out a suggested overall strategic approach for MAG’s EU advocacy, as well as:
  • the priority audiences and targets for MAG’s advocacy work
  • the most relevant messaging, tactics and messaging
  • opportunities for advocacy that MAG should prioritise, or create
  • the tools, information, and other resources that will be necessary for success

Person specification

For this role MAG is looking for someone who:

• Has a strong track record of successful advocacy leading to policy change at the EU level
• Has a good knowledge of the institutions, people, processes and issues that shape humanitarian and conflict policy-making within the EU
• Has an extensive network of relevant contacts across Brussels
• Has experience of working with international NGOs
• Is able to work independently and proactively
• Knowledge of the conflict, humanitarian and in particular mine action sectors specifically is helpful but not essential.

Location and details of work

This consultancy will be carried out primarily on a remote basis, but candidates should be willing to travel to Brussels where necessary.

The consultancy is intended to begin in mid-2022 (as soon as possible) and will last for approximately three months, on a part time basis. It will be compensated on the basis of an agreed daily rate and number of days of work.