Advocacy and Policy Influencing Specialist - School for Life

Position: Advocacy and Policy Influencing Specialist

Location: Accra/Tamale with travels to operational districts in and outside Northern Region

Reports to: Programme Director

Duration: Minimum of 2 years (with the possibility of extension)

Job Summary: 

The position is a full-time position based in either Accra or Tamale. The position holder shall serve as a policy influencing and advocacy specialist. He/she shall lead the implementation of policy and advocacy work at the national level. This includes conducting regular policy events and developing policy products as the basis of advocacy.

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He/she will specifically be responsible to conduct convenings, write policy briefs, maintain day-to-day coordination with alliances and coalitions at the national level, and develop strategic advocacy issues on public basic education. Together with the project manager, the position holder will provide support to project staff to strengthen capacity on policy advocacy techniques or methods in relation to the project objectives.

This will include training on policy advocacy and provide strategic input to policy products to ensure School for Life and Consortium partners’ position on equity in public basic education is articulated strategically.

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Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze educational issues at the national level, and advise SfL and project consortium members on policy influencing actions

• Engage and work with the CLEAR consortium members and partners to plan and implement pro-active influencing strategies that deliver CLEAR objectives

• Coordinate national lobbying and influencing policy aimed at government agencies, networks and other relevant stakeholders on public basic education

• Represent School for Life and engage with a range of key external stakeholders, including consortium members, Sector Ministries and departments, forums, working groups, think tanks, academia, and other key advocacy audiences

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• Deliver a range of influencing activities including events, debates, forums and undertaking publications, policy briefs, communiques, drafting position papers and briefings, convening policy dialogue with policymakers, social stakeholders, and others.

• Follow key influencing processes and provide briefings and updates as required to consortium members and SfL as well as partners

• Draft and communicate analysis and insight of key policy and political trends and issues for internal and external audiences

• Follow the news and politics closely and proactively see opportunities for the CLEAR project and consortium members

• Track, monitor and evaluate CLEAR influencing strategies and contribute to team planning, budgeting, and annual reporting

• Develop, implement, and evaluate CLEAR policy and advocacy strategy toward influencing key stakeholders to promote equity in public basic education

• Together with the project team, lead the effort to increase visibility of issues related to equity and accountability in public basic education, as well as CLEAR’s work in improving same

• Lead the development and strengthening of strategic partnerships and alliances with key stakeholders

• Assess the potential impact of Government policy decisions and advise management on the necessary course of action

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Master degree in communications, Social Sciences or other relevant qualifications from a recognized university

• At least 5 years proven experience work with CSOs in advocacy and policy influencing

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• Good knowledge of the basic education sector and the policy arena in Ghana

• Interest in policy and ability to bring about change

• Good written and verbal communication skills, to absorb complex information and present it to different audiences in a clear and accessible way

• Interpersonal skills, to work and build relationships with a range of people with diverse views

• Ability to understand diverse perspectives and be able to successfully influence and negotiate

• Effective research and analysis skills (including quantitative and qualitative), needed to build an evidence base

• Good organisation skills, to track priorities, work to deadlines and manage projects

• Flexible and adaptable approach, in order to respond to shifting priorities and a rapidly evolving external environment