Advocacy Officers at the Global Fund Nigeria - United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) - The Global Fund is a 21st-century organization designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as epidemics. As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by the diseases, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests nearly US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 140 countries. By challenging barriers and embracing innovative approaches, we are working together to better serve people affected by the diseases.

In close collaboration with the Nigerian Ministry of Health’s National Products Supply Chain Management Programme (NPSCMP), we are embarking on an ambitious and innovative approach to the challenges across Nigeria’s supply chain.

This position is advertised by UNOPS on behalf of the Global Fund and the level and remuneration are based on the Global Fund’s applicable scales and policies

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Advocacy Officer

Vacancy code: VA/2016/B5316/11446
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Department/office: AFR, GHOH, Nigeria
Contract level: LICA-3
Contract type: Local ICA Support
Duration: 1 year

Background Information - Job-specific
Our Client is a consortium of International Health Projects Funding Agencies collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Principal Recipients of the Global Fund in Nigeria. The Consortium intends to support the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) Nigeria Supply Chain Integration Project Office in Abuja. In this regard, there is a need to fill key positions in the project office.

The National Product Supply Chain Management Program (NPSCMP) domiciled in the Food & Drug Services Department of Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) commenced the process towards an effective and efficient supply management system in the country in 2012. The main objective was to collaborate with other programmes and projects within the FMOH especially HIV/AIDs, TB, Malaria, Reproductive Health and Vaccines and immunization (ATMRHV) to ensure effective and coordinated management of their supply chains. To achieve this objective in its continuous efforts collaborating with Donors/Partners, the National Supply Chain Integration Project (NSCIP) was created in 2014 as a transitory mechanism to full Government ownership after its termination in 2017.

The goal of NSCIP is to effectively and efficiently integrate Health Programmes Supply Chain Management activities for Procurement and Supply Chain Management (PSM) services that would prevent stock outs in store/facilities minimize wastage and effectively operationalize the entire system. After extensive discussions, planning and resource mobilization, GON and Donors agreed that this intervention would be deployed to 14 prioritized high disease burden states with subsequent scale up to other states of the country. The overall vision of the NSCIP is captured in 4 work stream which are as follows:

• Strengthen the Federal and State Government coordination.
• Establish a network of Zonal Hubs (Warehouses) operated under a Public Private sector Partnership (PPP) covering all HIV, Malaria, TB, Reproductive Health and Vaccines where possible.
• Integrate Logistics and Transportation including Last Mile Delivery.
• Establish Logistics Management Coordination Units (LMCU) at State level and deploy Logistics Management Information System (LMIS).

Advocacy Officer will play a key role in the delivery of advocacy projects and activities to support NSCIP’s Local & international profile and to help properly position the project and its mandates. The Advocacy Officer will develop innovative and creative ideas and projects to help deliver the Project’s strategic objectives. He/she will represent NSCIP within certain formal and ad hoc advocacy networks and groups within and not limited to Donors/Partners, Federal/state govt, National Assembly, policy makers and other key stakeholders. The Advocacy Officer will also provide general support as required for the development, communication and monitoring of advocacy across the NSCIP.

Functional Responsibilities

• Develop advocacy strategies and activities in line with NSCIP’s organizational aims to enhance its profile and help leverage support for issues and activities from existing and new bilateral, multilateral and private sector stakeholders and networks.
• Coordinate NSCIP’s advocacy programmes at the Federal & State levels.
• Represent NSCIP’s interests and direction in supporting the activities and agenda
• Represent the organization within other key advocacy partnerships, collaborations and networks.
• Take a leading role in the development of documentation and dissemination of advocacy materials and packages within the project and to key stakeholders
• Support the Business Development team of NWAC as required researching new funding opportunities and information as required for supporting sustenance of zonal hubs.
• Organize and manage events to support NSCIP’s advocacy strategy.
• Work with other teams to help develop policy positions on relevant issues for the project.
• Research and monitor debates on local & international development, aid and global health and assess their relevance to the project.
• Manage the NPSCMP website in collaboration with the Media Officer, keeping content current and relevant, as well as providing support.

Project Management:

• Work with the Media Officer & PMs in the development of work plans, targets and milestones for advocacy projects.
• Develop effective strategies, work plans, and monitoring and evaluation for the Team’s advocacy activities and, where relevant, for specific country projects.
• Support NC & PMs in budget setting process for advocacy projects and provide reports and budget updates as required.
• Provide support for the Team and other colleagues as required. 5. Actively work within the policies and ethos of the Project

Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of the principles of advocacy and what it involves at a high level of stakeholder engagement
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programmes
• Ability to work in multi-cultural environments and to manage a busy workload with fluctuating deadlines
• Sound minute-taking and administrative skills
• Ability to travel for up to two weeks at a time to states
• Experience of working for an international nonprofit organization
• Experience of working in networks and building strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Experience of working with new media and social networking sites (especially Twitter, Face book and Instagram)

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Development Studies, Social Policy, Development Economics or similar field, or equivalent work experience

Experience:

• 3-5 years experience in a similar advocacy role
• Good knowledge of international development and development policy frameworks, such as aid effectiveness mechanisms
• Good knowledge of the Nigerian Health system and policy process
• Good knowledge of major bilateral and multilateral donors and their funding interests/priorities Desirable
• Good knowledge of the Nigerian Health system and policy process

Languages:

• An Excellent knowledge of English is required

Contract type, Level and Duration

• Contract type: Local ICA Support
• Contract level: LICA 4
• Contract duration:12 Months

Application Closing Date
3rd January, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS. 
• Mandatory: All applicants are requested to support their application by a one-page cover-letter explaining the skills, experience and characteristics that make them especially suited for the advertised position.