GRADE: 3

TEAM/PROGRAMME: POD/Governance and Policy

LOCATION: Surkhet, Mid and Far Western Field Office (MFWFO)

CONTRACT LENGTH: Fixed term until December 2019 with possible extension

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3 - the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential. We work together, with our partners from civil societies and government, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. We reach approximately two million population and invest over 30 million US dollars annually to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in Health and Nutrition, Education, Child Rights and Governance and Child Protection, Child Poverty, HIV and AIDS, and Humanitarian.

The position holder is responsible to support technical managers/coordinators to undertake policy advocacy related work on children rights issues (protection, education and health and nutrition) at state and local levels. S/He works closely with technical manager CRG and CP to build network and relationship with Karnali state government including parliamentarian to lobby and advocate for issue-based policy advocacy work. S/He makes regular field visit to strengthen and support the field team to identify advocacy issues/opportunities and documents the best practices related to advocacy and links them up with federal level advocacy for systematic policy changes with impact across the country

The position holder will be responsible to facilitate and support thematic managers/coordinators to establish and maintain relationships with state and local level government and influence and support on formulation/reformulation of legal /policy framework on children’s rights to protection, health, nutrition, education and overall child rights infrastructure in compliance with international human/child rights standards. S/He will also work to strengthen linkages and collaboration with child rights /civil society organizations and networks to promote child rights in the country. S/He will work closely together with the thematic team to keep him/herself updated about latest development in CRG, Child Protection, Health & Nutrition and Education themes to ensure that MFWFO program advocacy on different theme and project is relevant and effective. S/he is also taking full responsibility in moving UN recommendations (for children) forward through partnership with the government and civil society and through undertaking relevant advocacy initiatives.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, s/he will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Policy Advocacy Support

• Review existing policies of state and local governments and identify the policy gaps to address the rights of the child in relation to protection, development, survival and participation. 
• Identify thematic issues pertaining to projects/programs ensuring children’s rights at state and local level.
• Lead to develop influencing strategy to bring some policy changes at the provincial and local levels. 
• Facilitate to develop, maintain and update campaign plan at state as well as local level based on global campaign and national initiatives.
• Link project/program advocacy work at the field (local and state level) with federal level advocacy goals/issues and objectives. 
• Ensure linkages and coordination among relevant government division/office/section at state and local level as appropriate. 
• Ensure facilitation to Identify and document best practices related to policy support among and between cross state and local levels. 
• Represent Save the Children in networks and forums related to policy and campaigns, engage with government and civil society at provincial and local levels. 

Technical Support and Accountability Mechanism

• In consultation with thematic team, take lead in planning, organizing and facilitating capacity building interventions in policy advocacy and campaigning for field staff of both Save the Children, its partners and civil society network. 
• Provide technical input, necessary support and facilitation to the government at various level to translate children’s fundamental rights into practice /reality. 
• Facilitate and support civil society organizations/network to prepare strategic intervention/advocacy strategy to follow up the state/local government in the implementation of UPR recommendations related to children and concluding observations from the Committee on the Rights of Child. 
• In close collaboration with civil society network and the Human Rights Institutions, undertake research /studies to find out implementation status of UN recommendations and proactively use them for advocacy purposes.
• Proactively engage with civil society coalition at Karnali state for follow up of UN recommendations, mid-term/voluntary reporting to UN bodies and for upcoming reporting opportunities. 
• Disseminate UN recommendations to partners and children at local and state level as relevant, and in the language appropriate to them, and support and facilitate them for advocacy on issues relevant to them. 

Knowledge Management 

• Keep himself/herself abreast of national/international development on CRG, Child Protection, Health & nutrition and education issues and use this in designing state level advocacy and campaign activities, tactics, messages and action plan as relevant.

Field monitoring to ensure quality implementation

• Undertake and ensure regular field visit to identify and document the advocacy issues.

Other

• Other tasks as requested by the supervisor.
• Support Save the Children Humanitarian responses where appropriate/if needed, ensuring timely and quality responses in line with international standards.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master's degree in Human Rights/Law/Political Science/Development Studies/Sociology or related discipline(s)

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Experience: At least 3 years of working experience in governance/advocacy and campaigning.

Skill: 

• Knowledge and experience from national to local system for implementation of child rights.
• Drives external networks and partnerships.
• Demonstrate strong negotiation skills on policy related issues.
• Shares knowledge and best practices on technical solutions so that other can make the best use of that expertise. 
• Delivers timely and appropriate results using available resources. 
• Has ability to adopt innovation in the program.
• Proficiency in writing technical and programmatic reports that document program directions and results.
• Strong interpersonal communication and coordination skills.