Policy & Advocacy Officer - Tulinde Tusome Project at Plan International

Grade: C1

Functional Area & Location: Plan Kenya Country Office and Kilifi Program Unit

Reports to: Senior Project Manager (TT) dotted line to the Programme Manager- Education and Project Manager ( TT)

Role Purpose: Tulinde Tusome completed a policy assessment related to child protection and gender equality policies in education, with a specific focus on those policies that aim to improve safety and security in schools.

Using this assessment as a basis, you will develop and implement a structured policy and advocacy strategy and work plan for Tulinde Tusome to achieve results in this area.

In addition, research and policy review will be required to define the policy and advocacy gaps in the Digital Birth Registration (DBR). The development of the advocacy strategy and work stream for DBR will need to be integrated into Tulinde Tusome’s overall policy and advocacy approach.

Dimensions of the Role: The post holder will report to the Senior Project Manager, Plan International Kenya and a dotted line to the Program Manager- Education and the Project Manager ( TT).

This position will be based in Nairobi.

With support and guidance from the Programme Manager Education will have overall responsibility for coordinating national level policy and advocacy related to Tulinde Tusome.

It will be essential for this position to work closely with colleagues in Kwale and Kilifi to ensure a streamlined strategy across national, county and local levels.

Accountabilities

R1. Strategy Development and Implementation:

• Lead research and analysis of policy and advocacy issues related to DBR, child protection, education, and gender equality in Kenya; determining the political and civil society space for Plan International Kenya’s operation.
• Lead the development of the detailed Tulinde Tusome policy and advocacy strategy and work plan.
• Lead implementation and monitoring of the work plan at national level, working closely with programs, technical and communications colleagues to ensure substantial integration of advocacy into DBR, child protection and education work streams.
• Collaborate, build capacity and work tightly with Tulinde Tusome county level teams to implement and monitor strategies and work plans in Kwale and Kilifi.
• Ensure advocacy work is streamlined between national level and, Kwale and Kilifi Counties.
• Coordinate with Tulinde Tusome team members to ensure cohesion and effectiveness of interventions and their linkage to policy and advocacy strategies.
• Report to the Program Manager Education and Project Manager for Tulinde Tusome on the progress made in the strategy development, implementation and result achievement.

Key Expected Results:

• Leverage the Tulinde Tusome policy assessment, DBR technical analysis, and legal assessments to develop a program-wide policy and advocacy strategy supported by a detailed plan of activities. These documents will clearly articulate:
• Which national, county and local recommendations from the policy assessment will be prioritized and linked to improve child protection and gender equality in schools
• Policy changes required in Kenya for DBR implementation to be effective and rights based
• Concrete legislative reforms that should be lobbied for as a priority
• How and when Plan International Kenya can advocate for the policy and legislative changes
• Roles, responsibilities and budget lines under each activity
• Monitoring and evaluation priorities

R2. Advocacy and External Relations:

• Lead preparations and follow-up actions for Plan International Kenya’s participation in technical working groups, advocacy round tables, network meetings, etc.
• Working Together with Plan staff to represent Plan International Kenya at external meetings and build relationships with key partners in the Government of Kenya, UN agencies, donors and development partners, and civil society organizations to strengthen collective advocacy initiatives at national level.
• Support the Tulinde Tusome team through capacity building on areas of policy, advocacy, and campaigning.
• Develop high quality advocacy resources and tools as required including talking points, policy briefings, letters, reports, communications and media lines for internal and external use.
• Lobby/support the lobbying of decision-makers at high level in line with the Tulinde Tusome advocacy strategy.
• Liaise with Plan International Kenya media team to advise on media lines and strategy and to make optimal use of national and international media to influence key advocacy targets and public opinion.

Key Expected Results:

• Develop policy briefings that outline concrete policy asks, their argumentation and advocacy call to actions/advocacy key messages.
• Develop advocacy and communication materials to support the implementation of the Tulinde Tusome advocacy strategy.
• Ensure Plan Kenya is an active contributor in national networks that advance Tulinde Tusome’s advocacy priorities.

R3. Communications for Behavioural Impact (COMBI):

• Lead the implementation of the COMBI strategy at the national level, inclusive of engaging government ministries, civil society organizations, development partners, the private sector, and media companies on the delivery of the COMBI plan and results.
• Collaborate with county level colleagues on the implementation of the COMBI strategy and ensure integration across national, county and local levels.
• Monitor and report on progress and results of the COMBI strategy; document and share best practices and lessons learned with Plan and partners.
• Closely coordinate with the DBR team on all aspects of COMBI.

Key Expected Results:

In collaboration with the DBR team and government partners:

• Manage the implementation and monitoring of the COMBI plan aiming at: (a) behavior development at the individual/household levels; (b) social mobilization of civil society organizations; and (c) increased community participation.
• Organize the formative research, development, pre-testing and production of culturally relevant communication materials to ensure effective and efficient program delivery, including delivering behavioural results.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Key relationships

Internal – high contact:

• Senior Project Manager, Tulinde Tusome
• Project Manager, Tulinde Tusome
• Project Accountant, Tulinde Tusome
• Project Officers
• Procurement team

External Relationships:

• External Auditors
• Community Based Organizations/Partners
• Respective Financial Institutions

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

• Advanced university degree in Political Science, International Affairs, Public Policy, or Social or behavioral Sciences. A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.
• Demonstrable recent and substantial work experience on policy and advocacy at national levels, specifically in the areas of research, context analysis, strategy development and implementation, and external relations.
• Adopts a rights-based approach to policy and advocacy work to fulfil human and child rights and hold duty bearers accountable for their responsibilities to protect and deliver rights.
• Progressively responsible work experience in program planning, management and monitoring with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programs.
• Experience in developing communication strategies focused on behaviour and social norms changes, as well as supporting communication tools/materials.
• Strong knowledge on education, child protection, gender equality and birth registration development issues as well as governance issues in Kenya.

Skills

• Sound experience in capacity building and good facilitation skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and work independently yet cooperatively in a cross-cultural setting with a number of long distance working relationships.
• Ability to formulate strategies and concepts, thinking creatively and innovatively.
• Analytical thinking skills and abilities to influence others.
• Written and spoken fluency in English and Kiswahili.
• Able to work with minimal supervision and often on his/her own
• Demonstrate pro-activeness, flexibility and creativity
• Ability to build strategic work relations
• Lobbying and political skills: persuasive, diplomatic and articulate.
• Skillful in liaising with government departments, multilateral organizations, donors and development partners, and civil society groups.
• Computers skills in MS Office and Internet

Behaviours

• Drive for results
• Flexible, self-starter, self-awareness, sense of humor, team player, attention to detail.
• Willingness to travel to Kwale and Kilifi Counties as required.
• Demonstrate respect for core values of commitment, diversity and inclusion, and integrity
• Acts with high degree of integrity and professionalism
• Able to ensure high levels of confidentiality
• Relates to people in a friendly, open manner and engenders trust from other staff
• Dynamic, highly motivated and balances future vision with practical delivery
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations
• Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations
• Ability to act as part of multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment

• Typical office environment with 40% travel to the field

Level of contact with children

• Medium contact: Occasional interaction with children