Global Advocacy & Communications Officer Voices for Just Climate Action

Region: Global

Office: The Hague, Netherlands

Hours: 32

Application deadline: November 18, 2022

Job context

The five-year strategic objective of the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) program is:

By 2025, local civil society groups have claimed a central role as empowered innovators, facilitators and advocates of climate solutions.

Our program is about climate justice, i.e. climate change is not only an environmental problem to be addressed but also a societal challenge with ethical and human rights aspects. Hence we are working to build wide societal support for locally shaped climate solutions through an inclusive and rights-based approach. This includes building a broad-based climate alliance at country level, bridging divides (urban-rural, gender, youth), that amplifies voices in new, unusual ways. In addition, we will influence national and global policies and financial flows in support of these locally shaped solutions. The program is implemented by an alliance of six organizations: WWF NL, Hivos, SouthSouthNorth, Akina Mama wa Afrika, Shack Dwellers International, and Fundación Avina. During the five years’ program period the alliance aims to increase ownership of the program by local CSOs. The program is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the “Power of Voices” framework.

About the role

The Global Advocacy & Communication Officer (GACO) is responsible for the implementation of the global and Dutch communication strategy. The communication strategy will support and enhance the realization of the objectives set out on the VCA Theory of Change and will strengthen the advocacy work of the VCA alliance. The Dutch communication work aims to increase visibility and influence of the VCA alliance in the Netherlands. The GACO is also responsible for co-implementing and further shaping the global advocacy strategy in close collaboration with the VCA Global Program Manager and the other VCA organizations. He/she/they will reach out to and influence relevant stakeholders as identified in the global advocacy strategy.

The GACO will work and coordinate with the Hivos Country Engagement Managers in five VCA countries, the Climate Justice and Innovation Officer and the Global Program Manager to ensure that global advocacy and communication work strengthens each other and is based on country needs and vice versa. He/she/they will coach and support the VCA country Program Officers (POs) with their communication tasks. The GACO will also work closely with the other VCA alliance partners to execute the VCA strategy on communication and advocacy. For the Dutch component the GACO will specifically reach out and work together with WWF-NL and other interested VCA organizations to align communication and possible campaign initiatives to support the VCA strategy in the Netherlands.

The GACO will commission research, organize events and perform other activities to implement the advocacy and communication strategy. The GACO reports to the Global Program Manager VCA.

Responsibilities

Profiling Hivos views

Engages in the positioning and representation of Hivos to the outside world through coverage and distribution of the Hivos climate justice agenda; support to country colleagues in these activities.

Communication strategy and implementation

Implements and adjusts the communication dimension of the program/project. Conceives communication strategies, organizes communication activities and develops and disseminates communication materials that contribute to the program/project results. Coaches and advises staff in their external positioning activities (risks and opportunities).

Online strategy and content development

Contributes to the development and implementation of the online strategy. Writes texts for the Hivos and VCA websites and social media and develops or organizes various forms of content (e.g. illustrations, videos, infographics). Works to strengthen Hivos’ position and image.

Agenda setting

Within the thematic area, co-formulates key issues; designs advocacy strategies for change and proactively creates entry points and interventions in order to generate space and support for Hivos’ strategies, ideas and activities with key decision makers and at key global positioning events.

Mobilizing forces

Joins forces with people, organizations, the Alliance and donors; creates or co-creates the necessary preconditions for successful advocacy and lobby activities and innovation; co-creates effective campaigns and projects.

Building up evidence

Commissions and guides research and other knowledge products that strengthens the Hivos views and further substantiate program objectives and strategy that contribute to thought leadership of Hivos.

Internal cohesion in VCA Alliance

Enhancing connection and cohesion in the Alliance through co-development of communications plans and strategies, and realizing a shared understanding of the program’s external positioning.

Campaigns

Initiates, facilitates and manages or co-manages relevant advocacy campaigns (and the teams involved); ensures the standards of quality of Hivos project management conditions and relationships with internal and external key stakeholders regarding progress, results, compliance and risk management.

Requirements

This is a global position for nationals or residents of the concerned country:

• Relevant academic level of working and thinking.
• Able to speak and write both Dutch and English fluently.
• Relevant work experience of more than 5 years in communication and advocacy.
• Knowledge and experience climate rights, climate finance and climate action is a preference.
• Proven ability to position Hivos and advocate our objectives at relevant national and international networks of social action.
• Recognized expert in advocacy and campaigning; experience in linking global with national advocacy.
• Experience in successful positioning and representing views and proposals at influential international fora and in diverse media channels.
• Work experience in commissioning, guiding and using research and other knowledge products.
• Ability to think and act ‘outside the box’ to increase impact of communication and advocacy activities.
• High level of integrity and activist attitude; access to power to make change happen.
• Work experience in an international (NGO) environment
• Level skills: cooperation, influence, leadership
• Job skills: communication, Relationship management, Planned working