Overview
iMMAP is an international nongovernmental organization that provides information management services to humanitarian and development organizations. Through information management, we help our partners target assistance to the world’s most vulnerable populations. Our core philosophy is that better data leads to better decisions and that better decisions lead to better outcomes. iMMAP’s critical support to information value chains helps to solve operational and strategic challenges of our partners in both emergency and development contexts by enabling evidence-based decision-making for better outcomes.
Job Position: Policy Advisor – Nigeria INGO Forum
Job Location: Abuja
Job Description
- The Policy Adviser is a critical position within the INGO Forum.
- This position will take leadership of the policy and advocacy engagement of the INGO Forum.
- The Policy Advisor coordinates advocacy for the 54 INGO membership, identifies national, regional, and international opportunities and develops key positioning for the humanitarian and development agendas.
- The Policy Advisor will serve as the focal point for external advocacy, networking, coalition building and timely research and analysis.
- The Policy Advisor sets the policy agenda and delivers on advocacy initiatives aimed at improving humanitarian and sustainable outcomes for people affected by conflict, environmental crisis, poverty and other protection and operational challenges in Nigeria.
Job Responsibilities
- Facilitate and lead on strategic collective and/or coordinated initiatives to advocate in the best interest of INGOs operating in Nigeria, and of the conflict-affected population.
- Lead the advocacy and communications team and manage its resources.
- Represent the forum with external stakeholders including government, donors, international organizations
Specific Responsibilities:
- Develop, implement, and update NIF common strategies and action plans for Advocacy and Communications in coordination with NIF members and represents their priorities across the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding agendas.
- Develop policy and advocacy outputs including briefing notes, policy and position papers, statements, etc. representing INGOs agreed-on positions and approaches.
- Ensure key tools for advocacy and communications are developed and utilized, including stakeholder/power mapping, sign-off procedures, events/opportunity calendars, progress trackers, etc.
- Provide timely policy analysis and information on key priority topics to support the representation and coordination of the INGO Forum Steering Committee, Country Directors Plenary, and Humanitarian Managers Platform.
- Ensure evidence-based advocacy and information through frequent visits to the field and regular engagement with INGOs operational teams in coordination with NIF team.
- Identify strategic entry points in Nigeria, regionally (Lake Chad Basin, African Union) and internationally to elevate Nigeria priorities.
- Work closely with the INGO team, including the Director, Deputy Director, NW Coordinator, and Government Liaison colleagues, to ensure that the positions are well coordinated, and the team is informed and able to speak to common issues.
- Develop talking lines and joint messages on key issues for NIF team and INGOs.
- Act as focal/liaison point for international and regional advocacy groups, journalists, and other external stakeholders seeking NGO positions on relevant issues.
- Identify and ensure NIF is well prepared to engage in Nigeria-focused platforms and events nationally, regionally, and globally.
- Engage and support in data collection efforts to canvass NGO opinion, perspectives and experiences on key issues related to the enabling environment.
- Work with NIF team to support relevant and appropriate information flows to members, NGO representatives, and key stakeholders in Nigeria and externally, and facilitate coordination among NIF members to reach common positions around key issues.
- Representation and lobbying in line with policy strategy and other agreed priorities, when required with local, state, and Government of Nigeria; the UN; visiting officials; and donors in line with agreed division of labor with Director and Deputy Director.
- Ensure NIF’s communication material promotes INGO common messaging by supervising and guiding NIF communications team.
- Ensures that NIF advocacy and communications strategies and their implementation plans are well coordinated with NIF members building on their thematic and geographical expertise, and advocacy/communications capacity.
Job Requirements
Generic professional competencies for this position:
- Master’s qualifications in International Relations, Politics, International Law (IHL / IHRL) or Development Studies.
- Advanced professional with at least five years of relevant experience within the humanitarian field.
- Solid understanding of international legal and policy processes relating to displacement.
- Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts.
- Professional knowledge of international relations, advocacy and law.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities, particularly in analysis, drafting of messages, coordination and networking.
Context/Specific skills, knowledge, and experience:
- At least five years of progressive experience of leading advocacy and policy engagement portfolios at NGO or UN level in conflict or post-conflict contexts.
- Able to proactively lead on the formulation of policy analysis, strategy, messages and identification of key targets for impact and influence.
- Proven experience in identifying and mobilizing national, regional, or international opportunities.
- Exceptional networking skills and strong experience working with and/or influencing donors, UN, the government, and other critical stakeholders.
- Proven experience in drafting position papers.
- Strong understanding of the interlink between advocacy and communication messaging.
- Commitment and solid understanding of humanitarian principles .
- Ability to work under pressure and juggle multiple priorities at once.
- Knowledge of Nigeria is highly desirable (or complex emergency context)
- Experience of working in a recovery setting and demonstrated understanding of humanitarian, development, and peace linkages (highly desirable)
- Working in policy and advocacy around development-related issues desirable.
- Working on advocacy for humanitarian access/ principled humanitarian response desirable.
Application Deadline
18th August 2022.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Guiding Principles
- Personnel is expected to conduct itself in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and iMMAP’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all Countries.
- iMMAP has zero tolerance for sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, human trafficking, child abuse and exploitation. Any violations of these principles and policies will be treated as serious misconduct.
- iMMAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background.
