Position Title: Influencing and Advocacy Advisor, Plan International

Reports to: Director, Program Strategy Development and Innovation – Nairobi

Direct reports: No direct reports

The Organization

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls.

With approximately 38 years of experience in implementing its programme, Plan International Kenya (PIK) mainly operates in 10 geographical areas; Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Tana River.

Plan International Kenya Strategy statement

PlK’s strategic goal in the next five years is to end teenage pregnancies and end all forms of sexual and gender-based violence against adolescent girls and young women. We aim to help create an enabling environment where girls and young women are safe, valued, equally cared for, and have equal opportunities. PIK will contribute to the global strategy by aiming to reach directly approximately 2.75 million (children, including girls and Young Women over the period of the strategy 2022-2026 and to reach additional beneficiaries through its interventions.

Role Purpose

The Influencing & Advocacy Advisor will play a critical role in ensuring that Plan Kenya continues to be a leading agency in promotion of child rights and is recognized for its role in influencing policies, legislation and partnerships for realization of child rights in the country. The position holder has a critical role in ensuring quality in right based programming and promoting collaboration with other civil societies and Government institutions for advancement of child rights.

Accountabilities and Main Work Activities.

Strategic Planning and Programme Development (30%)

• Lead the review of Plan Kenya’s advocacy and Influencing policy to align it with the global policy on programme and influencing.
• Take leadership in defining the Influencing and Advocacy strategy for PIK and provide guidance in development of implementation of the same to ensure alignment with the Country Strategy;
• Develop minimum standards, technical frameworks and strategies on Influencing and Advocacy that are in line with the Global ambition;
• Support the mainstreaming of Influencing and right based programming across all the thematic areas of Plan Kenya’s work, ensuring collaboration with other technical advisors to support quality implementation of the right based and influencing agenda. In addition, ensure all new programmes support the achievement of Plan Global and Country strategic and thematic objectives while ensuring alignment with the Government of Kenya policies and legal frameworks.
• Collaborate with the Business Development Manager team in analyzing opportunities for funding in the areas of influencing and Advocacy and donor priorities. This is in addition to providing support in building on technical knowledge, personal understanding of the influencing spaces in Kenya for child rights especially girls’ programming and developing proposals for new programming in influencing and Child Rights.
• Ensure that the country programme strategy supports and demonstrates good practice in influencing, advocacy, child participation and child safeguarding.
• Using a child rights programming lens, ensure that our programming is built around the Global Theory of Change and aligns with Plan’s areas of global distinctiveness.
• Lead the engagement of Plan Kenya in tracking implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
• Support communication department in running the global and national level campaigns e.g. “Girls get Equal”
• Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as Programme Review Meetings, Advocacy and Communications or area-based meetings as required. Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as required.

Policy review and development support (20%)

• Keep updated and analyze the GOK’s policies and how they might impact Plan Kenya’s work on child rights and advise management accordingly. Support civil society strengthening to hold duty bearer’s accountability to policies, including through participation in relevant national level working groups, forums and coordination meetings.
• Help to clearly articulate the CR advocacy messages for the Kenya country programme and develop advocacy plans for implementation at national, PU/County and community level.
• Represent and advocate for Plan with regional and international agencies, donors, Kenyan Government, NGOs and others as required.
• Act as focal point within the Country Office on national, regional and global child rights research initiatives, ensuring coordination of the various stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the M&E Manager, Learning and Innovation Advisor and Communications Manager, ensure active dissemination of programme findings and lessons learned through the production of high technical quality lessons learned documents and their effective dissemination to key stakeholders inside and outside the organization.
• Represent Plan Kenya in national forums and advocacy platforms and support development of treaty reports (UPR, CEDAW, CRC, ACRWC etc.)

Programme Quality (25%)

• Support capacity development of the implementing staff in the PUs in influencing and RBA and in providing timely, relevant, accurate input on overall technical aspects of project proposals and reports. The position will be required to travel occasionally for field support
• Assist in the development of tools for project staff and partners to improve the quality of influencing and Rights Based Approach to programming. Where necessary provide technical training for project staff and partners as required (child rights programming and the role of duty bearers, investment in children, etc.)
• Review relevant monitoring reports to donors to ensure that technical issues are well articulated, and reports are of acceptable quality before submission. Provide support where necessary to improve report writing skills.
• Provide input on partner selection, and provide technical coaching of partners in CR, including sharing of relevant publications, tools and training opportunities.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (15%)

• Support the M&E team in developing tools and monitoring influencing and child right activities
• Contribute to the documentation and sharing of information and knowledge in influencing and RBA
• Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 5%
• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
• Ensures that Plan Kenya contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Other duties (5%)

Any other assignment within the scope of work.

Leadership Competencies

• Courageous, taking a lead, challenging myself and others to achieve purpose, safeguard others and role model values, inside and outside work. Responsible for my work and learning, striving to improve. Self-aware, resilient and constructive in embracing change. Striving to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. Challenging myself to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.
• Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date.
• Collaborating with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.
• Respecting all people, appreciating differences and challenging inequality in programmes and the workplace. Supporting children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. Empowering other staff to give their best and develop their potential.
• Achieves desired outcomes and finds innovative solutions by using the expertise and creativity of others and adopting a coaching approach with the people they manage or advise.
• Creates space for reflection and uses external evidence and internal evaluation to identify what and how we need to improve and then to support others through change.
• Understanding Plan International’s purpose, priorities, values and approaches in our work context. Adhering to relevant policies, processes, practices and standards, and being pro-active in continuing technical and professional development

Business Management competencies

• Articulates the purpose, values, and global strategy to a range of audiences.
• Can explain how Plan International will deliver on its objectives through the theory of change and communicates the implications for their team.
• Understands the purpose, lines of accountability and decision-making capacity for each structural element of the organization. Helps their team to understand where they sit within the organizational structure.
• Considerate of the political, economic, social and cultural climate of the local operating environment and the implications for our work and are aware of the local business environment, including financial, employment, and business laws.
• Understands digital enablers to improve team performance and working practices. Encourages digital behaviors through role modelling, the personal development processes and capability building. Uses digital and technological tools to support the management of risk, activities and resources, and people and information.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Law, Development Studies or related field. A bachelor’s degree with combination of relevant experience and professional qualifications may be acceptable in lieu of an advanced degree
• Proven experience in advocacy and influencing work at national level. Experience in child rights advocacy assignments at regional level an added advantage
• At least 7 years of relevant work experience in girls and child rights programming.
• A clear understanding of the legislative/budget making processes at both national and county levels.
• 3 Years in a leadership/managerial role
• A good understanding of treaty reporting processes and how to mobilize CSOs/children to meaningfully participate in the processes.
• Knowledge and experience in child rights programming and rights-based approach.
• Experience working with civil society and community-based organizations, particularly in Kenya.
• Experience developing partnership strategies, and proven ability to provide enhanced capacity building of local partners.
• Strong analysis of Child Rights Governance data and ability to summarize and communicate this to a range of audiences.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures especially children and young people.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind sets.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Commitment to Plan values and willingness to abide by Child and Young people Safeguarding Policy and hold others accountable.

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

Master’s Degree

Languages required

Fluency in English, both verbal and written, knowledge of Swahili language required.

Technical Competencies

Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of gender and inclusion and global/local development issues, with particular knowledge in girls’ rights and child rights, feminist movements, the key actors and institutions, and the power dynamics involved.
• Good grasp of key gender inequalities, gaps, barriers and opportunities at the national, regional and global level and gender and inclusion in programs, and especially for children and girls.
• In-depth understanding of the policies, processes, institutions and organizations that shape the development and humanitarian context and standards within Kenya.
• Understanding of the implications of working with a rights-based approach to development and is able to analyze the situation of children’s and particularly girls’ rights in his/her working context
• In-depth knowledge on different types of partnerships and civil society strengthening and capacity building. Understanding issues, principles and strategies and their root causes and working with Plan’s principles and a range of strategies and approaches to improve outcomes

Skills:

• Ability to think and act strategically and understand the relationship between national and regional dynamics and the global objectives of Plan International.
• Proven experience working in Kenya on policy, advocacy and campaigning.
• Proven experience of leading and/or supporting others to design and deliver advocacy and campaigns, programme and research and policy work
• Excellent inter-personal and collaboration skills, particularly in cross-cultural contexts
• Excellent written skills to draft and to oversee the development of high-quality policy, advocacy and communications materials.
• Very strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills; able to understand highly complex issues and translate them into simple, workable actions and plans.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience of external representation strategies, lobbying, advocacy and campaigning in the region.
• Collaborative ways of working as part of a strong technical team
• Engages sensitively with community members on issues of gender equality and inclusion, demonstrating an understanding of the local culture and context;
• Able to view even distressing situations objectively by leaving personal attitudes and judgmental responses to one side;
• Apply participatory influencing methodologies both internally and externally
• The ability to build collaborative working relationships;
• Uses creativity to challenge the norm and promote innovation and thinks and acts for the wider organization – linking partnership opportunities with the context of the wider organizational strategy;
• Communicates effectively at a high level and with a range of appropriate styles for different audiences;
• Builds capability through knowledge sharing, networking, mentoring, coaching and advocates the importance of knowledge management

Behaviors:

• A high level of energy, stamina and flexibility. Ability to adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through, often working under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Role model Plan International values and behaviors both internally and externally.
• Engages sensitively with community members on issues of gender equality and inclusion, demonstrating an understanding of the local culture and context.
• Promotes equality, including gender equality, inclusion and girls’ empowerment in Plan’s work and in its work with partners
• Apply participatory influencing methodologies both internally and externally
• The ability to influence and build collaborative working relationships
• Uses creativity to challenge the norm and promote innovation and thinks and acts for the wider organization – linking partnership opportunities with the context of the wider organizational strategy
• Communicates effectively at a high level and with a range of appropriate styles for different audiences
• Builds capability through knowledge sharing, networking, mentoring, coaching and advocates the importance of knowledge management.