Advocacy and Communication Manager – SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia
Development and Project Management, Legal, Social Sciences and Community
SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia
SOS Children's Villages is the largest non-governmental, non-political, non-denominational charitable child welfare organisation in the world. Its mission is to build families for children in need, help them shape their own futures and share in the development of their communities. The first SOS Children's Village was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in 1949 in Imst, Austria. He was committed to helping children in need,children who had lost their homes, their security and their families as a result of the Second World War. With the support of many donors and co-workers, the organisation has grown to help children all over the world.
Currently, SOS Children's Villages offers an effective alternative foster care through its services in the Alternative Child Care and Family & Community Development Programme Units in 134 countries and territories around the world. It also supports educational programmes and medical centres and it is active in the field of child protection and child rights.
SOS Children's Villages started to work in Ethiopia in 1974 with the opening of the first SOS Children's Village in Mekelle. Currently, we are operating in Ethiopia in six regions namely Harari, Tigray, Amhara, Sidama, Somali and Oromia. In addition, we operate in two city administrations: Addis Ababa & Dire Dawa. SOS Children’s Villages Programme work towards its vision of a world where, “every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security”. For the past 44 years, we have been working to build families for children in need, help them shape their own future and share in the development of their communities. Everything we do is based on the best interest of the child. We help vulnerable families care for their children, and we work to prevent the breakdown of parental care. When children lose their own parental care, we provide quality alternative care. We support young people in their efforts to become independent adults and succeed in life.
Who we are
SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people.
Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those that are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community based organizations across seven program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.
Why we need you?
We are looking for Advocacy and Communication Manager who will be responsible for leading the organization’s effort to position itself as a child rights advocate while at the same time ensuring a consistent and effective flow of information both internally and externally that leads to increased and strengthened visibility, funding and partnership.
What we provide…
An amazing work environment that promotes personal growth through providing professional space to grow and advance your career!
Your role….
While working with us as an Advocacy and Communications Manager , you will be responsible for;
Leadership and management
- Provide strategic and technical leadership on the design and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies in line with national, regional and global priorities and programme directions
- Regularly monitor, conduct analysis and advise the leadership team on trends, opportunities and challenges in child rights, protection and child safeguarding in the country
- Ensure direct linkage and synergy between advocacy, communications and programmes
- Lead the mentoring, coaching and capacity building of employees in advocacy & communication by establishing clear goals and accountabilities
- Foster team-spirited environment, results-oriented approach, effective coordination, integration and communications among staff and different functions while providing the leadership team the required technical support to facilitate change and innovation
- Collaboratively work with the M&E team to evaluate the impact of advocacy and communications strategies
Advocacy
- Lead the conceptualization, development and dissemination of policy analysis, policy and technical briefs, advocacy best practices,
- Lead the design and execution of national advocacy and communications campaigns, high-level strategic events, and media engagements
- Evidence-based advocacy: Lead the implementation of researches, assessments, policy reviews and regulatory framework analysis to inform advocacy and programmes
- Build strategic partnership with government offices, relevant organizations and key stakeholders to influence policy, decision making and regulatory frameworks
- Work closely with relevant government offices, CSOs and like-minded organizations to develop and submit reports to global and continental treaty monitoring bodies (UPR, ACERWC…)
- Keep abreast of global child rights and protection policies and regulatory landscape for appropriate national planning and interventions
- Closely work with regional advocacy and programme development teams to advance global advocacy agendas, regional priorities and liaising with like-minded humanitarian agencies and child rights alliances
Public Relations
- Position SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia as a strong partner among potential and existing supporters based on SOS Children`s Villages roots, vision, mission and values.
- Accompany fundraising campaigns, support fundraising team with expertise for external communications and adaptation of content for all channels, online and offline.
- Identify key media and key journalists and foster the relationship with them to proactively position the organization`s topics and massages in the national news agenda.
- Providing leadership in coordinating media involvement in the activities of SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia including press releases and coverage and airing of the Mas’s events in print and electronic media; especially those activities that require media coverage.
- Review and approve contents shared on our social media accounts or website
External Communication
- Provide guidance for the implementation of a communications strategy to promote the organization’s vision, mission to ensure visibility of the achievements and strengthen fundraising opportunities
- Provide guidance in the development of high quality, well-researched, and well-written communications materials and ensure effective dissemination through various channels (web, print and audio-visual)
- Ensure the organization has a coherent and consistent brand image in the country through the use of standardized brand execution materials aligned to the global branding guidelines and principles
- Ensure there is a cordial and positive relationship with all key media houses and proactively facilitate media coverage of the organizations achievements, advocacy agendas, events and development programmes.
Internal Communication
- Develop an internal Communications strategy to increase staff knowledge and awareness of policies, decisions and events.
- Reviewing and producing SOS CVE’s publicity and marketing materials including but not limited to organizational information brochure, banners, calendars, diary, souvenirs, almanac, best practice magazines for better visibility of the organization.
- In times of CRISIS; Organize crisis communications in close cooperation with the Fund Development & Communications Head and the National Director .
- Act as an information hub to Regional and International Offices
- Closely cooperate with the Fund Development & Communications Manager, the National Director, Institutional Partnership development Advisor and the National Management team to pursue a consistent message about the organization and its mission and activities
Education
- Master’s Degree in in social sciences, humanities, development studies, law, public policy, child rights, international relations, communications or related field
Experience
- Minimum seven years of experience working in advocacy and communications in non-governmental organization with three years in leadership/ management working with governments, donors, and implementing partners in the areas of child rights policies and laws, protection, safeguarding in child-focused non-governmental organization
- Solid experience in advocacy work as well as in-depth understanding of policies, laws, regulations and regulatory structures in Ethiopia focusing on children
- Demonstrated experience in leading or coordinating campaigns for advocacy or communications
- Experience and understanding of the UN human rights system, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and how these operate
- Experience in creating/working with networks of influence, and an ability to manage diverse professional relationships, thereby securing significant new opportunities for the organization
Competencies, skills and abilities
- Strategic and analytical thinking: dealing with diverse demands and pressure from different sections of the organization to often tight deadlines
- Experience in navigating complex political and social dynamics regarding child rights policies and regulatory structures to achieve technical consensus
- Respond to ad hoc requests and requirements from any leadership team member or function/work unit
- Interpersonal Relationships: Knowledge of and the ability to effectively interact within and across Divisions, Departments/Regional Offices in a constructive and collaborative manner.
- Strong communication in Amharic and English
