Child Survival Advocacy & Policy Coordinator at Save the Children
Position Code: SCI CAP SUR ADVO
Team / Programme: Health & Nutrition
Location: 2 Positions – one each based in Bungoma & Wajir
Grade: 3
Post Type: National (1year contract with possibility of renewal)
Child Safeguarding: Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
Role Purpose: All Save the Children programming in Kenya aims to develop and demonstrate evidence-based, replicable breakthrough solutions to problems facing children.
It is essential that good quality programme work and learning is then communicated to civil society, government actors, donors and other practitioners to advocate for better practices and policies for children.
Save the Children works with the Ministry of Health at National and County level through a health system strengthening approach.
Through our advocacy work, we are ensuring that we are the voice for children especially in our programme areas which have some of the most deprived children in Kenya.
Our approach to advocacy is based on the following key principles:
- Evidence (research and policy): our advocacy work draws directly on our programmes and is informed by evidence and best practices generated by our Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems and by our research. One example is the annual global report on mothers and children, the State of the World’s Mothers.
- Influence (media and advocacy): Our advocacy work engages all media and aims to catalyze public opinion and influence decision makers to bring about change.
- Outcry (mobilization): in partnership with civil society, children and community led initiatives, we mobilise children and communities to claim their rights and to monitor their implementation.
The Child Survival Advocacy & Policy Coordinators will coordinate all health and nutrition related policy, advocacy and programme learning work at county level (one each in Bungoma – also covering Busia; Wajir; Mandera and Turkana), with support from relevant technical specialists and the country office Head of Advocacy.
The post holders will work closely with County and Sub County Health Management Teams, with the scope of the role including
- development and implementation of a county advocacy plan focused around health and nutrition with a special focus on maternal and newborn health (Bungoma / Busia) and nutrition sensitive programing (ASAL counties);
- identifying and participating in county level health and nutrition networks that Save the Children can be a part of to contribute to wider agenda for children’s health and survival;
- identifying targets and processes to use learning to influence policy formulation/policy change/policy implementation;
- developing a research agenda to advance learning and policy on issues affecting the health and nutrition of children and mothers;
- packaging information/research findings and developing appropriate communication channels for dissemination of information/research findings; project documentation and dissemination;
- capacity building, learning and knowledge management. A primary focus of this role in the ASAL counties will be to deliver results as outlined in Save the Children’s programme document with UNICEF, under the EU funded SHARE Nutrition Resilience programme.
Scope of Role:
Reports to: Health and Nutrition Programme Manager (Mandera, Turkana, Wajir); Area Manager (Bungoma/Busia)
Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners.
Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH.
In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya.
In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own.
Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country.
We employ nearly 300 staff and will have an operating annual budget in 2015 of approximately US$18-20 million.
Staff directly reporting to this post: None
Key staff engaging directly with this post: Health & Nutrition Programme Manager; (Senior) Nutrition Coordinator; Head of Advocacy; Head of Child Survival; Nutrition Technical Specialist; Health Technical Specialist; Health & Nutrition Research & Learning Coordinator; Communications Coordinator; MEAL Coordinator
Key Areas of Accountability:
Strategy development and implementation
- Provide strategic MNH / nutrition advocacy, learning and policy support to the area office and ensure there is a coherent process linking the county and national level advocacy efforts.
- In close collaboration with nutrition and health teams, the Head of Advocacy and health and nutrition technical specialists, develop and implement a county MNH / nutrition advocacy strategy that seeks to draw synergies between and integrate nutrition with other sectors. Responsible for the delivery of an annual implementation work plan.
- Develop and implement relevant context specific strategies for effective child participation within the advocacy activities in collaboration with the field office teams and relevant staff at the country office.
- Support Health and Nutrition Programme Managers in identifying policy and practice change, which would promote and protect the nutrition and health of children.
- Formulate key MNH / nutrition advocacy messages and targets from lessons learned, assessments, research and evidence gained through project implementation.
- Support budget advocacy and budget tracking to improve resource allocation for health and nutrition at county level in collaboration with other CSOs.
Advocacy and Communications
- Lead the county level monitoring and evaluation of advocacy-related objectives, mapping of key opportunities and events, organisation of Save the Children ‘moments’ and events.
- Linking to international process and in collaboration with field office staff and technical specialists oversee the development of advocacy materials – including policy briefs, position papers, press releases, Q&As and opinion pieces for county and national advocacy.
- Formulate, consolidate and support key policy and advocacy messages (including direct communication and advocacy) for health and nutrition generated from programme managers/Technical Specialists to influence county and national government, donors and other implementing actors.
- Develop good knowledge of county government structure, political processes and key decision making structures and how to influence them on issues related to nutrition for mothers and children. Conduct power mapping to identify and engage key influencers in the County for increased financial commitment to support nutrition
- Support the CHMT and NDMA to revise and cost health & nutrition and drought contingency plans in the three target counties, including through the use of household economy analysis ( HEA) Baseline and Response Analysis information
- Undertake a range of lobbying, communications and other activities to inform and persuade policy makers, including donors and politicians, of the value of Save the Children’s policy recommendations for improving the nutrition of mothers and children at county level.
- Lead the production and/or contribute to the development and dissemination of policy briefs/IEC fact sheets and county profiles to get nutrition on to the policy agenda at the county levels.
- Build systems for research, analysis and documentation that underpin evidence based advocacy and influencing at county level. This will include undertaking audience research and knowledge services mapping to inform communication and advocacy work.
- Conduct awareness sessions targeting county political and technical leaders on the importance of investing in nutrition and related commodities Lobby with decision makers in Turkana, Mandera and Wajir for the inclusion of evidence based nutrition sensitive solutions in sectoral and county plans and budgets.
- Advocate and create public awareness on fortified foods in the market, supplementation and dietary diversification through linkages with nutrition sensitive partners. Use database of trained workforce in the county to highlight gaps and lobby for sufficient resources to address these as well as for the transfer of skills between sub-counties in response to emerging needs
Building Partnerships
- Identify local networks and coalitions and develop sustained partnerships/ alliances that are critical in the dissemination and/or application of research findings and/or learning to influence the policy and practice landscape. This includes representing Save the Children at strategic forums, networking with strategic CSOs and other social movement processes that are relevant to Save the Children’s policy work including Kenya health and nutrition platforms. It also includes identifying and helping to nurture nutrition and health ‘champions’ to support our advocacy agenda.
- Support area offices to build partnerships with communities and programme beneficiaries in establishing accountability mechanisms, capacity building and knowledge management.
- Support the capacity building of programme and field staff and key partners on advocacy through training, sharing best practices and supporting learning and knowledge management.
Programme Development & Management
- Participate in proposal development processes, in particular liaising with relevant Technical Specialists and programme staff to ensure that advocacy approaches are integrated within and contribute to the achievement of project results and objectives and that sufficient funds are budgeted for implementation.
- Participate in Save the Children programme meetings and related sessions to draw out research-based advocacy messages in programmes. Keep abreast of current research, national and donor policies and debates in Kenya, relevant to advocacy for nutrition.
- In collaboration with programme managers, monitor and evaluate nutrition and health communication and advocacy activities within budgets, ensuring that indicators and methods are in place to allow evaluation of the achievements and develop regular reports on progress. Post holders will also contribute heavily to the design, development, implementation and dissemination of any nutrition related research.
Competencies (our Values in Practice)
- Leading and inspiring others: Demonstrates leadership in all our work, role models our values, and articulates a compelling vision to inspire others to achieve our goals for children.
- Innovating and adapting: Develops and implements innovative solutions to adapt and succeed in an ever-changing, uncertain work and global environment.
- Applying technical and professional expertise: Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organization.
- Communicating with impact: Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust with others.
- Networking: Builds and uses sustainable relationships and networks to support the work of Save the Children.
Demonstrates SCI Values: Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, Integrity:
Qualifications and Experience
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Governance, Economics International development, Community development and related fields.
- At least 3 years’ experience of health/nutrition-focused advocacy work, as well as contributing to the development and implementation of advocacy strategies. Experience working within Kenya Health systems is an added advantage.
- Proven experience and training in Policy and Advocacy.
- Superior written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex arguments into accessible English for a non-specialist audience, and the ability to write articles that would be published in the mainstream press.
- Knowledge of the devolution processes, and its impact on the health sector.
- Excellent verbal communication skills, appropriate for high-level external representation (for example lobbying county governors, ministers, MCAs)
- Experience of developing advocacy strategies, knowledge and understanding of a range of advocacy techniques
- Experience of effective team work and outstanding inter-personal communication skills
- Experience of coalition building and working with civil society actors to deliver change
- Excellent understanding of the global discourses on health and nutrition
- Fluency in spoken and written English and Kiswahili
- Commitment to Save the Children’s mission and values
Desirable
- A postgraduate qualification directly related to Political Science, Governance, Economics, International development, Community development.
- Good knowledge of the nutrition and health field, including the work of academic/research contacts, NGOs, UN agencies
- Good presentation and persuasion skills.
- Experience of policy research, writing policy reports and briefings and evaluating evidence of their impact.
How to Apply
To apply for this position visit the SCI Kenya Website: https://kenya.savethechildren.net/jobs.
The system allows CVs & Cover letter as One(1) document.
The Deadline is on 8th February 2016 COB.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
I appreciate the initiative to safeguarding children life and improving their way of life