Policy and Advocacy Manager

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives.Sexual and reproductive health is a core component of the IRC’s work with a comprehensive package aiming to ensure care before, during and after pregnancy – including safe and respectful maternity and delivery services for women and newborns; access to clients’ contraceptive of choice; treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; post abortion care; and clinical care for survivors of sexual assault.

The IRC is now launching a new SRH project in Uganda which will focus on strengthening systems and building local capacities to prepare for and respond to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in emergencies. We will continue to build off of lessons learned projects to strengthen local organizational capacity for SRH in emergencies. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the IRC will also provide support to ensure SRH service continuity in COVID-19 preparedness and response activities.

The IRC Uganda team has identified Bidibidi and Palabek refugee settlements in Yumbe and Lamwo districts for this project because of thealreadyexisting structures,complementaryfundingand thepresenceofexistinglocalpartners. Furthermore, the two field locations provide scenarios of acute emergency and a protracted state and IRC provides SRH service in both locations.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Over the years, the IRC has worked to address critical SRH gaps to effectively improve access to and uptake of quality SRH services including emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC), clinical care of sexual assaulted survivors (CCSAS), post abortion care (PAC), comprehensive abortion care (CAC) and family planning for refugees and host community members. The IRC has provided human and material resources, including equipment and supplies, in addition to technical support through trainings on integrated SRH services. The IRC is finding new ways to provide services, reach clients, increase client voice, and improve uptake of essential SRH services through strengthening systems and building local capacities. The Contraception and Comprehensive Abortion Care in Emergencies program (ConCACE) is funded by an anonymous donor and ensures that women and girls affected by crisis and living in fragile settings are protected from unintended pregnancy and have access to comprehensive abortion care. The project will focus on three outcomes.

• Local partners expand their sphere on SRHR influence
• Strengthened capacity of civil society organizations (CSO) and district health teams to deliver resilient and responsive SRHR services
• Equitable and sustainable SRHR local partnership convened and sustained

SCOPE OF WORK

This position is based in the Kampala office and directly reports to the Project coordinator. The Policy and Advocacy Manager will be responsible for assisting the project coordinator in managing, coordinating and monitoring the policy and advocacy deliverables of the project. S/he will manage the project portfolio that includes working with the local partners, national level SRHR fora, MOH to identify policy gaps, advocacy agenda and support evidence generation to support project goals. S/he will work with the local partners and program staff to develop advocacy goals for the project.

Main Responsibilities:

• Supporting local partners and program staff to review current SRHR policy environment so as to identify any SRHR policy gaps and SRHR policy actors, understand SRHR policy dynamics in the country.
• Supporting local partners and program staff to generate evidence that would facilitate SRHR policy advocacy.
• Supporting IRC and its local partners in the development of the SRHR policy advocacy strategy/roadmap including clarity on the process (steps involved), approaches, and division of labour.
• Identification and documentation of any emerging SRHR policy opportunities, challenges and then propose how they could be optimized or addressed.
• Supporting IRC and its local partners to interface with other SRHR policy advocacy actors to ensure harmonized advocacy efforts.
• Participating in documentation and dissemination of the project Policy Advocacy processes and results.
• Build, develop, and grow relationship local partners and government and non-government stakeholders vital to the success of the project.
• Represent IRC in the national level forums and meetings including technical working groups
• Contribute to developing annual work plan, procurement and spending plan and submit to the project coordinator.
• Contribute and participate in grant opening, quarterly project cycle meetings and project review meetings as per program schedule.
• Compile and timely submit project reports to Project coordinator for technical review as per donor regulations.
• Any other duty assigned by the Supervisor.

Standards for Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way‐Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child  Safeguarding, Anti -Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti‐Retaliation.

Deadline for receiving applications is February 9th,2021