Campaign Lead at Options Consultancy Services Limited

Options is a leading provider of technical expertise, short-term consultancy and long-term management services in the health and the social sectors. Established in 1992, Options has evolved into a dynamic organisation with a broad portfolio of work that includes over 900 assignments in 50 countries. We work with a wide range of clients that includes donors, national governments, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society.

Evidence for Action (E4A) is a programme managed by Options Consultancy Services and funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) until 2016 to improve maternal and newborn survival through a combined focus on evidence, advocacy and accountability across six sub-Saharan African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. The E4A consortium brings together experts from academic institutions, internationally recognized advocacy and accountability coalitions and civil society organizations. It works through local institutions in each of the six selected countries which hosts a small E4A Country Team.

In each country and at a regional level, E4A has launched a locally driven programme under an umbrella E4A regional advocacy campaign known as MamaYe! The campaign has a clear focus on survival and positive stories rather than a resigned social acceptance of death in pregnancy and childbirth which is common throughout Africa.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the advocacy work, has committed resources to expand the reach of the E4A program and enable existing and effective models of change to be scaled-up, improving maternal and newborn survival in Nigeria, Malawi and Ethiopia.

We are looking for a Campaign Lead to champion the MamaYe advocacy efforts in Nigeria.

Job Title: Campaign Lead

Location: Abuja

Job Summary

• As the MamaYe Campaign Lead, you will be responsible for leading the advocacy MamaYe campaign and public engagement on maternal and newborn survival in Nigeria.
• You will report to and work closely with the Country Director, to contribute inputs to overall advocacy strategy and programme workplans to ensure the success of the MamaYe campaign and achievement of results. You will also work closely with other members of the country team supported by the host agency, and Options’ head office team members, in particular the Technical Support Unit (TSU), Advocacy Lead and Advocacy Coordinator based in London, UK.
• Primarily, the role as MamaYe Campaign Lead is to build, strengthen and expand the advocacy movement and activism through the MamaYe campaign.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership of the MamaYe campaign and activism work in Nigeria.

Act as the public face of the MamaYe campaign in Nigeria:

• Oversee MamaYe strategy and activities in existing and new states and ensure linkages and scale up to national level
• Oversee advocacy content on the MamaYe website (advocacy messages, new stories, blogs) and ensure linkages with the evidence pieces
• Lead process of advocacy strategy development, monitor progress of workplan and advocacy strategy to ensure it is on track, and regularly report on progress to the Country Director
• Tailor and target advocacy messages, ‘asks’ and actions for diverse audiences including change agents, opinion-formers, media, decision makers and the public
• Represent the programme at key national, regional and international meetings and conferences as required

Provide leadership of the MamaYe advocacy team:

• Work with the Country Director to provide leadership and oversight of the E4A advocacy team, working closely with the National Coordinator, Communications Advisor, Advocacy Coordinator, State Coordinators, Budget Advisor and Health Correspondent.
• Lead the advocacy team in the implementation of diverse campaign activities at national, state and community levels.
• Ensure team is engaging in advocacy related monitoring and evaluation activities to inform strategic direction and implementation.
• Work with partners and existing coalitions to ensure MamaYe is a core component of a vibrant and sustainable, national civil society-led advocacy coalition on maternal and newborn health in Nigeria.
• Use evidence to drive advocacy efforts at state and national levels, including the development of advocacy materials
• Support the development of an advocacy strategy and help build the capacity of the Accountability for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Nigeria (AMHiN) NGO, an integral MamaYe partner to become a stronger and collective voice pressurizing for change
• Support the review and implementation of the strategy and workplan

Lead the development of partnerships and stakeholder engagement:

• Lead engagement with key stakeholders and current partners, including NGOs, taskforces, working groups, media, civil society, advocacy coalitions and the private sector
• Develop and support E4A efforts and networks within Nigeria and link with regional level advocacy work
• Build upon networks and relationships to ensure widespread participation in MamaYe

Expand and build capacity of diverse activist networks:

• Provide strategic oversight of public mobilisation and activism, including the recruitment, training and messaging to diverse activist groups, such as the public, traditional leaders and the media, to hold decision-makers and politicians accountable to key MNH commitments
• Provide oversight and leadership on the development of advocacy messaging or ‘asks’ for particular stakeholders, organisations or individuals based on robust evidence

Engage activists and the public and monitor and track actions:

• Train activists in a leadership capacity to oversee advocacy work in particular geographical settings

Person Specification
Essential:

• Substantial experience working within advocacy in women’s, maternal and newborn health-related issues
• Extensive experience in leading successful and innovative advocacy campaigns, policy influence, motivating and mobilising others, and in leading an advocacy coalition that includes CSOs, as well as the media and faith-based organisations
• Strong experience on communicating effectively to different stakeholders to seek change
• Well-connected with key stakeholders in maternal and newborn health (programmes, policy, advocacy and/or accountability)
• An excellent understanding of the Nigeria political, cultural, economic and social context and maternal and newborn health landscape in-country
• Experience of close working relationships with partners and consortia
• Self-starter, can work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent written, online and oral communication skills
• Fluent in English

Desirable:

• Experience in events management
• Experience in accountability / transparency mechanisms such as budget tracking, scorecards, etc
• Proficient in Hausa or Yoruba

Others:

• You are passionate about maternal and newborn health issues and have a track record of mobilising, communicating and catalysing social change in Nigeria.
• You are a prominent leader in civil society and an activist for women and children in Nigeria
• You have experience leading and managing an advocacy team and working with activists and volunteers.
• You have strong relevant networks and experience in coalition building.
• You are skilled at developing advocacy strategies and cultivating partnerships with diverse stakeholders including government, private sector, non-governmental and civil society.
• You have an astute understanding of and effectively employ strategies within the political, social, cultural and economic landscape in Nigeria when designing and implementing advocacy campaigns and initiatives.
• You are a strong writer, communicator, team player and connector with the ability to make change happen.

Remuneration
Commensurate with experience

Application Closing Date
21st December, 2014

Interview Date
23rd December, 2014

Duration
January 2015 - March 2017

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should email their CV and covering letter to: [email protected]

Click here to download Role Profile

Note

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview
• Early submission of applications is recommended as shortlisting will be an ongoing process as applications are received