Humanitarian Programme Development and Advocacy Advisor

Location: Myanmar

Contract - Full-Time

Closing date: Tuesday 25 June 2013

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

There are 30 national Save the Children organisations around the world. By the end of 2012 all our international programmes will be delivered through a merged operation with 14,000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We're changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better partner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people and relevant for the 21st century.

Save the Children has been working in Myanmar since 1995. Our programmes include child survival, health, HIV/AIDS, education, child rights, child protection and child rights governance in 28 locations across the country.

Save the Children International is looking for Humanitarian Programme Development and Advocacy Advisor to join our team. This is a 12-month assignment based in Yangon, Myanmar.Please note that due to the urgent nature of the recruitment, selection process will be carried out while the vacancy announcement is ongoing. The position might be filled before the application is closed.

Role purpose:

The Humanitarian Programme Development and Advocacy Advisor provides overall leadership, vision, management and strategic direction to Save the Children's humanitarian programme development, policy and advocacy work in Myanmar. She/He is responsible for the development and implementation of advocacy strategies that will influence government and other institutional policies and practice to achieve positive and lasting changes to fulfil children's rights and needs.

The post holder will lead the development of a funding strategy and grant proposals for the humanitarian team, ensuring adequate resources are secured for humanitarian program activities from both grants and the funds of SC members. This will include working closely with Humanitarian Director and technical advisors, identifying strategic leads and concepts, which can be designed into programs/projects that contribute to the overall strategy of SC Myanmar. The post holder will also work closely with the Finance and Grants Manager to ensure that proposals, reports and projects are developed and implemented in compliance with donor requirements. She or he will play a central part in ensuring that Save the Children is a credible presence internationally on Myanmar, and will also have an active role in cross-organisational advocacy activities within Myanmar.

Key areas of accountability:

• Working closely with Humanitarian, Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) teams and field teams, lead the development of concept notes and funding proposals for humanitarian response and recovery. Develop a funding strategy for the Humanitarian department, and contribute to the development thematic plans and technical content of project proposals.
• Develop ideas and proposals for program based on analysis of the changing humanitarian situation for children, such that the quality of submission to donors is improved and that new proposals include appropriate research and analysis
• In close coordination with the Humanitarian Director ensure effective planning, including contributing to annual operational plans and quarterly plans, to meet the objectives of the strategic and thematic plans within the financial framework of the programme.
• Provide overall leadership, vision, strategic direction and management of the Save the Children humanitarian policy and advocacy work
• Develop an overarching humanitarian policy and advocacy strategy for Myanmar, with specific components on Rakhine and Kachin; and regularly review their relevance. If needed, develop stand-alone strategies on Rakhine and Kachin.
• Work with the programme team to ensure substantial integration of advocacy into holistic programme planning and implementation, including training and mentoring of programme staff in advocacy techniques
• Establish on quarterly basis an advocacy calendar with key moments and opportunities identified for humanitarian advocacy at national, regional and international levels (to be updated on a monthly basis). Be alert to seize advocacy opportunities when and as they arise.
• Prepare high-quality briefings, letters and other written material for internal and external use, ensuring strong evidence-base in messaging and following agreed sign-off procedures
• In collaboration with the in-country communications resource, seek creative and influential routes to profile issues of importance for children affected by humanitarian emergencies, and to develop and implement an acceptance strategy aiming to improve the understanding and acceptance of communities in relation to the work and values of Save the Children and the wider humanitarian community.
• Working with the Monitoring & Evaluation team, feed into M&E processes to help ensure that advocacy implementation and impact are effectively monitored and evaluated (including through the use of the Advocacy Measurement Tool)
• Lead in identifying and managing potential risks associated with Save the Children's private and public positions.
• Coordinate sign off procedures for briefing papers and other public materials, ensuring risk management process is shared throughout sign-off process

Qualifications and experience:

• A minimum of 5 years programme development and/or advocacy experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, with experience in successfully leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies
• Experience development and implementing programs for, preferably with solid experience in more than one of the Save the Children priority sectors: education, protection, rights governance, HIV/AIDs, health and nutrition, and emergencies
• Experience in leading the creation and implementation of a strategy, demonstrating the ability to identify the necessary steps towards an ambitious goal
• Experience leading the preparation of the narrative and financial sections of proposals and reports for donors, including ECHO, DFID and OFDA and Save the Children members. Understanding of CAP and Appeal processes.
• Good understanding of donor compliance and SC reporting mechanisms and requirements
• Experience of a range of campaigning and advocacy techniques and tactics, working with and developing a range of advocacy tools suited to different approaches
• Experience in influence government, donors, and other organisations through representation and/or advocacy
• Demonstrable creative ability in accessing new funding opportunities, expertise and ideas
• Demonstrable track record of leading change which has led to significant results for the organisation and their stakeholders
• Resource management, training , capacity building, coaching, and mentoring skills
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation
• Proven ability to analyse and communicate complex information to a wide audience in a succinct and compelling manner
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Strong research and policy development skills
• Experience of building networks, resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the organisation
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
• Experience in operating to tight deadlines, using independent judgement within clear parameters
• Knowledge of children's rights key international agreements and conventions
• Commitment to Save the Children values
• Excellence in written and spoken English

Save the Children International offers competitive remuneration package.

Deadline for submission of application is on 25^th June 2013

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

"We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse."

Click here for further details and application