Orchid Project - Policy and Advocacy Manager

Policy & Advocacy Manager December 2020 Policy and Advocacy Manager

Contents About Orchid Project

03

Values

03

Role Summary

04

Advocacy Manager

05

Role Description

06

Person Specification

07

Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion at Orchid Project

08

Safeguarding

08

How to Apply

09

Policy and Advocacy Manager

2

About Orchid Project Orchid Project has a vision of a world free from female genital cutting (FGC). We are a small but growing, dynamic not for profit organisation with a proven track record of delivering programmes, policy, advocacy and communications in support of an end to FGC. More than 4 million girls a year are subjected to female genital cutting.

This involves partly or fully removal of a girl’s external female genitalia. In the short term, it can cause serious bleeding, infection and sometimes death. It dramatically disadvantages girls for the future: many girls never return to school and are often forced into early marriage. As well as the physical damage, cutting significantly curtails the education, incomes, and independence of women and girls. It is a fundamental breach of the human rights of women and girls, and it causes lasting health, education, economic and social harm. Many communities are ending cutting - and we know this can be accelerated to meet the world’s target of ending this practice by 2030 - but at the moment, the population is growing faster than the prevalence is falling, leading to a rising number of girls being cut each year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, programme work to end cutting has been disrupted world-wide and an additional 2 million girls are now at risk of being cut in the next ten years according to UNFPA. Orchid Project works in three ways: • Advocating for resources and commitments to end FGC • Sharing best practice, and communicate the scale and impact of FGC and how it is ending • Partnering with grassroots organisations working towards abandonment in practising countries Orchid Project is currently a team of 10 full time staff. For additional information please visit our website.

This is a new role for Orchid Project as we have expanded our ambition to accelerate resources and commitment to end female genital cutting.

Values We are collaborative, we are respectful, and we are open and accountable. All staff are expected to uphold Orchid Project’s values and work together to achieve transformational change.

Policy and Advocacy Manager

3

Role Summary The Policy & Advocacy team is growing from 2 to 3 people. The manager will report to the Head of Policy & Advocacy to develop and drive all Orchid Project’s influencing work to achieve a world free of FGC, in line with Sustainable Development Goal target 5.3.2.

With knowledge and experience of the FGC/gender equality or related sectors, you will be able to inspire people with the vision of ending FGC, using your advocacy and policy expertise to deliver global breakthroughs which will accelerate an end to FGC. You will be passionate about women and girls’ rights, social change and making a real impact on the world, with valuable skills, commitment and energy to bring to a growing charity.

An exceptional communicator and advocate, the Policy & Advocacy Manager will be a source of technical expertise to the wider team and partners, an excellent project manager and convener and adept at building and sustaining positive and collaborative relationships with our global partners, donors and allies.

This is a new role that signals an expansion of our advocacy and policy work to deliver a Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) funded programme to support the Africa-led movement to End FGM/C. We are looking for a dynamic individual with the passion, ambition and commitment to drive forward our goal of ending FGM/C.

Policy and Advocacy Manager

4

Policy & Advocacy Manager Responsible to

Head of Policy & Advocacy

Conditions of service 37.5 hours per week

25 days annual leave per annum & public holidays

6 month probationary period Permanent contract Salary

£30,000 – £37,000, depending on experience.

The salary range applies to a London-based role and will be adjusted as appropriate for roles elsewhere.

Line management responsibility

None. Coordination with Policy & Advocacy Officer

Location

Nairobi. Applicants must have the right to work

Main working contacts

Head of Policy & Advocacy, Policy & Advocacy Officer, Orchid Project team, external partners donors, trustees, supporters

Travel

Some international travel may be required, with notice

Policy and Advocacy Manager

5

Role Description Global advocacy and policy influencing Advance the advocacy and policy priorities of the organisation so that Orchid Project maintains its prominent position in the sector, and in particular: • Play a leading role in building partnerships and coordinating joint advocacy projects with key stakeholders for maximum impact on prioritisation and resourcing of initiatives to end FGC • Work to ensure that global, regional and national policies reflect the importance of FGC, through policy analysis and outputs, influencing and relationship building • Develop and implement workplans that support the Orchid Project advocacy strategy, prioritising activity that makes the most impact, setting clear objectives and goals for lasting change, with particular emphasis on global advocacy initiatives • Lead and advise on the development of national/regional advocacy in practising country contexts • Engage with key policy instruments and policy frameworks, including to ensure action to end FGC is mainstreamed into broader policy initiatives across gender equality/GBV/VAWG/SRHR • Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting in relation to advocacy projects for internal and external audiences, including donors.

Capacity building and technical support Work sensitively with our grassroots partners and civil society organisations globally to develop their advocacy, movement-building and policy influencing skills • Provide technical input to support in-country and regional implementation of advocacy and movement-building initiatives • Work with partner organisation staff to identify advocacy capacity building needs and implement support packages • Develop resources (online and offline) and toolkits to support capacity building goals

Knowledge & Research Support the organisation as it builds its profile and outputs in relation to research and evidence, in particular: • Ensure understanding of wider research on FGC and related issues and implications for advocacy and policy, ensuring the staff team is kept updated on key developments • Support the identification of evidence gaps within the sector, and consider ways to fill them Other tasks • Orchid Project is a small team in an entrepreneurial environment, and you may be required to undertake tasks outside of your job description from time to time.

Working relationships • Reporting to Head of Policy & Advocacy • Working closely with Policy & Advocacy Officer and team members to deliver advocacy, policy, strategy and communications tasks • Potentially managing and working with Orchid Project consultants.

External • Lead on liaison with activists and Orchid Project fellows • Work closely with consortium partners and sector partners to deliver advocacy and policy work • High level politicians, global stakeholders, INGO colleagues, policy stakeholders.

Policy and Advocacy Manager

6

Person Specification Essential • At least 4-5 years’ experience in advocacy and policy work in the human rights, women’s rights, international development or health sectors • Passionate about human rights of women and girls and excellent knowledge of global issues and relevant institutions • Strong understanding and experience of strategic advocacy approaches and channels, and evidence of achieving proven results • Proven experience in working with global or regional advocacy networks • Experience in providing support to partner organisations in advocacy/ movement-building • Experience of writing successful policy briefs and positioning papers or similar evidence-based content aimed at influencing a specific target audience • Proven experience in engaging with high profile officials and politicians at national and global levels • Exceptional project management and organisational skills • Excellent communicator, both written and oral – with particular confidence in public speaking • Excellent analytical skills • High level of computer literacy • Able to work on own initiative to balance priorities, with flexibility • Able to work remotely, and as part of a team • Fluent in English • Sometimes willing to work outside office hours/at weekends, happy to travel overseas, sometimes at short notice Desirable • Experience of working on FGC or a related human rights issue • Proficiency in French • Experience of UK parliamentary system

Policy and Advocacy Manager

7

Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion at Orchid Project Orchid Project is committed to being actively anti-racist. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. We value lived experience and encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the person specification.

Safeguarding Orchid Project is committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults, staff, representatives and partners from any unwanted behaviour. All staff are expected to abide by Orchid Project’s Safeguarding Policy. Training will be provided as part of induction, and relevant background and criminal record checks will be carried out. By submitting your application, you confirm that you agree to these checks being performed and that you will provide all necessary information to support this. For further information regarding Safeguarding please visit here.

Policy and Advocacy Manager

8

How to apply All correspondence, at this stage, should be direct to Orchid Project at HR@orchidproject.org. To apply for the role please email a CV and cover letter in two different documents.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document NameDate (mmyyyy) e.g., Malika-Cook-CV-122020_OrchidProject.

Timeline Closing date:

5pm (UK time) Friday 8th January 2021

Equality statement Equality and diversity are at the core of Orchid Project’s values.

Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Selection Process Successful candidates will be invited to interview within 10 days of the closing date. Interviews will be conducted over Zoom. We regret that we cannot provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Policy and Advocacy Manager

9

OXFORD

LONDON

AMSTERDAM

NAIROBI

The Old Music Hall

Three Tuns House,

Korte Schimmelstraat 12

Watermark Business Park

106-108 Cowley Road

109 Borough High Street,

1053 SZ

Cove Court,

Oxford

London

Amsterdam

1st Floor

OX4 1JE

SE1 1NL

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The Netherlands

Kenya

+44 (0) 1865 403 298

+44 (0)20 7939 7451

+31 (0) 621 153 452

+254 (0) 797 233 217

Ndege Road off Langata Road

www.oxfordhr.co.uk | Company No. 6456325

Policy and Advocacy Manager

10