Senior Advocacy Advisor

Organization: NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response), (Hosted by Adeso – African Development Solutions)

Reporting To: Policy Director

Duration: 12 months

Starting Date: As soon as possible

ABOUT NEAR

NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) is a movement of local organizations with a bold ambition – to reshape the top-down humanitarian and development system to one that is locally driven and owned, and is built around equitable, dignified and accountable partnerships. NEAR is a membership based organization with members coming from four regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

ABOUT ADESO

NEAR is currently hosted by Adeso, an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. Adeso and NEAR both aspire to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: Influencing policy change and enacting systemic change through innovative solutions led by local and national actors.

POSITION PURPOSE

This consultancy is for NEAR’s Senior Advocacy Advisor to advocate for a localisation and a re-design of aid systems, positioning local leaders, knowledge, and experience at the forefront of decision-making. NEAR’s Senior Advocacy Advisor role will help build a collective voice of NEAR members to inform this change. The consultant will be expected to lead the advocacy work of the network on the Grand Bargain and the Inter Agency Standing Committee, as well as contribute to our advocacy work in the CBPF-NGO Dialogue Platform Advisory Group and other prioritised or emerging multi-stakeholder spaces in aid. This work will be delivered under guidance from the Policy Director, and in cooperation with the NEAR Secretariat and NEAR Members.

SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy/influencing

• Shape and drive NEAR’s advocacy efforts particularly in the Grand Bargain and the Inter Agency Standing Committee, focusing on promoting localisation and re-designing aid systems.
• Actively contribute to NEAR’s representation and advocacy in the CBPF-NGO Dialogue Platform Advisory Group and other critical multi-stakeholder spaces.

Representation

• In full coordination with relevant colleagues, represent NEAR in key forums and discussions, advocating for systemic changes in aid delivery and localisation while ensuring coherence of our policy position
• Provide analysis for NEAR representation and lobbying in aid coordination spaces, as needed.

Policy development and building collective NEAR voice

• Coordinate and draft positioning for the development of a unified voice among NEAR members, ensuring their perspectives and priorities are effectively communicated in global platforms.
• Keep abreast of latest trends and developments in the evolving localisation debates and provide strategic advice and analysis to NEAR Secretariat and members on policy developments.
• Provide strategic support as required to NEAR Secretariat staff and members, to advance localisation outcomes, helping them navigate and adapt policy and advocacy to changes in the debate.
• Contributes professional expertise and experience concerning aid policy, localisation and other policy areas relevant to NEAR.

Strategic networking and collaboration

• Engage with diverse stakeholders to advance NEAR’s advocacy objectives, leveraging relationships to influence aid system redesign.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY. This position has no supervisory responsibilities. However, the Policy Advisor is expected to coordinate efforts with key personnel to achieve the position’s purpose.

OTHER DUTIES. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Someone with at least 5 years experience in policy, advocacy, and influencing in the humanitarian sector and 10 years in the aid sector.
• A person with a background in localisation of aid or aid financing, who is passionate about system change.
• The ability to lead in the creation of policy/advocacy materials such as briefing papers, reports, organizational statements, and policy papers, with proven experience of evidence-based policy work.
• Someone to represent NEAR in external coalitions and to coordinate working groups, to amplify advocacy initiatives
• A person who works well with counterparts across multiple countries and regions to develop common approaches. Someone with experience working with both civil society and policy makers.
• A team player, self-motivated, ability to work with little supervision.
• Someone with excellent written and speaking skills in English

Desirable

• Experience in using data analysis software
• Excellent written and speaking skills in Arabic, Spanish, or French.