The Organisation
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
Dimensions of Role
- Reports to the Head of Influencing, Partnership and Communication and has no direct reports.
- Has no delegated authority to approve Program Outlines and payments.
- Has a responsibility to trace, coordinate and mobilize influencing budget from each program/ projects.
Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:
Policy & advocacy
The Influencing Specialist works closely with the Head of Influencing, Partnership and Communications, Program Department and Program Area Managers (PAMs) to understand the different programs & projects and coordinates the influencing processes in line with the Global Strategy, Pan African Advocacy Strategy, Country Strategic Plan and the National Influencing Strategy to ensure Plan International Ethiopia is represented effectively.
The role may involve dealing with the media, Government officials and other key strategic stakeholders hence – all correspondence by any Plan International Ethiopia staff member as per the organization’s policy and standards.
- Conduct policy and political analysis in development and humanitarian context to inform on influencing strategies and outcomes.
- Coordinate the delivery of internal and external policy and advocacy briefings and materials.
- Work with the Head of Influencing, Partnership and Communications to design and implement a country influencing strategy and step by a step implementation plan.
- Develop key influencing/advocacy messages, defining effective tactics and leveraging the influencing strength to mobilize support for desired change.
- Think creatively and come up with ideas about potential advocacy entry-points on ERM specific priorities.
- Working closely with the Programme and Business development team to ensure influencing is evidence-based and the Programmes and influencing approach is applied (lessons from the field, case studies, and research when needed).
- Coordinate influencing initiatives and position Plan International Ethiopia as a go to organization on Girl’s wellbeing and right in Ethiopia through evidence-based policy analysis and influencing.
- Monitor and influence policy processes in order to identify emerging opportunities for policy and advocacy work through the National Development Plans and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Build effective internal and external working relationships.
- Coordinate and conduct capacity building to staff and partners on influencing.
- Identify potential risks in conducting influencing activities, flag legitimate concerns and identify possible mitigation plans.
- Coordinate youth-led initiatives that engage girls, adolescent girls, young women and other youth groups to support and contribute to youth-led influencing initiatives.
Partnerships and Strategic communications
- In consultation with the Head of Influencing, Partnership and Communication, identify and engage with the government and relevant stakeholders, networks, power institutions and movements in opportunities that contribute to long term goals and objectives for policy and advocacy work at relevant levels.
- Identify and communicate on strategic engagement to relevant staff on opportunities that position and promote Plan International’s influencing agenda in the country.
- Work with communications focal to identify and utilize influencing opportunities at field level.
- Maintaining government and relevant stakeholder contacts and relationships.
Public Mobilisation
- Develop updates on current events which are of interest to Plan International Ethiopia Strategic focus.
- Identify processes, events, institutions and other influential platforms relevant for identifying opportunities for campaign activity and partnerships.
- Facilitating consultations and events with wide range of stakeholders including the government
- Perform any other duties within the scope of the position as assigned by the supervisor.
Youth Influencing
- Coordinate youth-led programmes and initiatives that engage children and young people to develop girls or young women influencing strategies for influencing change
Emergency Response Influencing
- Support policy and political analysis in humanitarian contexts and develop relevant policy messaging
- Advise and think creatively about potential advocacy entry-points on ERM specific priorities
Dealing with Problems:
- The incumbent will demonstrate the ability to solve problems and seek for solutions, think strategically while recommending innovative ideas as required to meet the demands of a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment
- Should possess good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse backgrounds from different communities which can also be a challenge.
- The incumbent has to ensure influencing issues are highlighted in all the programmes.
Communications and Working Relationships:
Verbal, written and face-to-face contact is needed on regular basis with the following internal and external stakeholders:
The post holder will be required to initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships with the following:
- Media, youth-led groups, government counterparts, donors, local and national civil society Organizations implementing partners and other development organizations.
- Program Units, Departments, Thematic areas, CMT and other staff in Plan Ethiopia that also includes other Plan International across National Offices, IH, GH and other Country Offices
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:
Gained through education, training, & experience
Educational Qualification, Experience and Skills Specific to the Post
- Minimum of University Degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Communications or a related discipline; Master’s degree in relevant field will be an added advantage.
- At least a minimum of five years field experience in a similar role and/or communications field
- Experience of working with partners and good knowledge of partnership approach
- Ability to influence policies at ground and national level
- Proven ability to work with media, diverse networks, coalitions and partners to achieve common goals
- Ability to write clear and concise reports, statements, etc and to meet short deadlines.
- Experience training and capacity building other staff in principles of influencing and media.
- Computer literacy skills with excellent oral and presentation communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to manage complex and sensitive organizational relationships to achieve cross-organizational, mutually agreed goals.
Competencies and values
Respect, integrity, diversity, commitment to excellence, adaptability, able to perform under stress, innovation, building relationships, communicating effectively, facilitating change, initiating action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing, leading through vision and mission and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.
Physical Environment and Demands:
- Typically office environment with field visit demands
Level of Contact with Children:
- High level Contact with Children: the job demands frequent interaction with children as the job holder often attempts to contact children for the gathering of case studies and will have high access to information related to children as well.