South Pacific Advocacy and Justice for Children Advisor

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. The Asia & Pacific consists of the East Asia as well as the South Asia and Pacific Region.
The South Asia & Pacific Regional Office (SAPRO) provides oversight to 8 National Offices that cover operation in 10 countries where World Vision’s focus is predominantly programme implementation. The 10 field countries are: Indonesia, Philippines, Pacific Development Group (including countries Solomon Island, Vanuatu Island, and Papua New Guinea), Timor Leste, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India.
The East Asia Regional Office (EARO) provides oversight to 8 National Offices that cover operation in 8 countries where World Vision’s focus is predominantly programme implementation. The 8 field countries are Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia and DPRK;
World Vision is committed to advocacy as fundamental to addressing causal issues, to progress child well being aims and combat injustice. Areas of focus include the realization of the rights of children and achieving measurable impact in good governance at all levels. Partnership external advocacy priorities are Child Well Being Aspiration one ( Health ) and four ( Child protection). Internal priorities are securing a funding base for advocacy in operations and hearing from the global south. Additional regional priorities include disaster risk reduction/Emergency response, urban program model, food security and education strategy. This position will ensure that National Offices and sectorial leads are provided adequate technical guidance and support in line with agreed strategic intent. the advocacy department supports the Regional leaders in fulfillment of the roles outlined in the RL/ PO reserve powers.
The purpose of this role is to provide leadership in South Asia & Pacific Region to integration of advocacy in the strategy and practice of National office/ sectors with respect to WV Partnership intent and regional priorities to achieve Child Well Being Aims.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

LEADERSHIP: 20-%
• Lead engagement with support offices on alignment / integration of advocacy outcomes in relevant design process.
• Lead process of enhancing World Vision’s advocacy capacity and focus in line with its mission, principle level choices and strategic mandate.
• Provide leadership where urgent advocacy including response to Complex Humanitarian Emergencies is required.
• Lead World Visions advocacy engagement with agreed multi-country forums ( SAARC, SAIEVAC, SACG ) furthering Government response to Child Well Being Aims .
• Support the development and implementation of advocacy strategies which contribute to changes in unjust policies and practices. .
• Practice servant leadership and be a role model for the staff team, peers and others.
  
  STRATEGY: 15%
• Lead a process to mobilize and equip organizational assets to engage with key policy audiences to influence changes of policy and practice.
• Lead a review of indicators and monitoring of regional and national advocacy strategies, priorities and initiatives
• Support the development of advocacy secondary strategy and business plan in support of and in alignment with regional (including sub strategies) and global strategies and priorities.
• Co-ordinate elements of regional engagement with global advocacy priorities in addressing Child Well Being Aims.
• Support the National Offices and technical sectors implement advocacy strategies in alignment with the regional and global strategies an priorities
• Contribute to advocacy communications to support implementation of regional advocacy strategy.
  
  MANAGEMENT: 10%
• Oversight on selected regional Advocacy initiatives ensuring alignment to regional strategy.
• Develop concept paper and pursue funding avenues for advocacy initiatives.
• Collaborate with Advocacy Director in the performance management of projects staff under Advocacy unit.
• Assist in ensuring that regional advocacy projects promptly meet all donor requirements.
• Motivate advocacy focal points ensuring open communication and integration.
  
  OPERATIONAL (TECHNICAL) SUPPORT: 20%
• Work closely with National Offices providing technical leadership, support and input in the area of advocacy integration
• Contribute to the development of global policies, guidelines and standards
• Contribute to contextualizing global guidelines and mainstreaming standards
• Provide technical support to emergency assessment and responses .
• Support to integration and monitoring of public advocacy campaigns
• Support assessment and scale up of local level advocacy as a vehicle of community empowerment and sustainable practice.
• Support national office in resource acquisition for advocacy projects.
• Provide technical leadership to selected regional advocacy initiatives, coordinating advocacy on cross-cutting issues.
  
  CAPACITY BUILDING: 10 %
• Lead the formation of advocacy working groups linked to communities of practice.
• Support the development and implementation of integrated skill development informed by regional advocacy priorities, partnership priorities and capacity assessment
• Share / facilitate access to programming resources to strengthen advocacy competencies and appropriate learning and support opportunities for national offices.
  
  KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: 5 %
• Lead processes of continuous learning related to advocacy and integration of advocacy with other lines of ministries and sectors and themes
• Lead areas of research and analysis where necessary to support areas of advocacy and policy engagement within the Asia & Pacific Region.
• Encourage mutual learning between National Offices within the Asia & Pacific and between other regions.
• Facilitate formation and coordination of regional advocacy forum ./ network that promotes learning
  
  QUALITY ASSURANCE: 5%
• Support National Offices in ensuring adherence to policies, protocols and standards related to advocacy.
• Support Senior Operation Directors in addressing alignment with the strategies, ministry quality issues and needs related to advocacy.
  
  INTERNAL LIAISON AND COORDINATION: 5%
• Participate and actively contribute in the partnership forums, working Groups and networks related to advocacy as deemed necessary by regional leadership.
• Work with other members of the APR team to ensure that Advocacy is integrated within the wider ministry of World Vision in the region.
  
  EXTERNAL RELATIONS: 5%
• Provided leadership on public engagement strategy, Develop good external relations with key regional organizations so as to ensure that World Vision is well positioned as a credible and influential actor in the region.
• Work with coalitions at the regional level to help achieve advocacy objectives.
  
  GENERAL: 5%
• Work closely with the members of the Policy and Programmes Team and other functions within the region promoting mutual learning, support and accountability.
• Attend and participate in devotions and other activities that enrich and develop mutual growth in Christ.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Advocacy and Justice for Children Director.
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:
• Advance degree in Public Policy, Law,Social Science or any relevant field
• Excellent oral and written (English) communications skills,Knowledge on Child Rights, Sphere, CEDAW etc..
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative, negotiating, networking and organizational skills
• High level of awareness of global and regional socio-economic, political and environmental issues
• Minimum of 5 years experience in public advocacy at senior level
• Demonstrated field practice
  
  PREFERRED:
• Work experience in Asia & Pacific countries

South PacificAdvocacy and Justice for Children Advisor