UK & Global Advocacy Manager

OUR ORGANISATION: Womankind Worldwide is a global women’s rights organisation working in partnership with women’s rights movements and organisations to transform the lives of women and girls. We strengthen and support women’s movements in our focus countries in Africa and Asia, and take collective action at regional and global levels, to ensure women’s voices are heard, their rights are realised, and their lives are free from violence. Currently, Womankind has staff based in Kenya and the UK. This position can be located either in Kenya or the UK. You must have the right to work in Kenya or the UK to apply for this role, in line with the laws and regulations of these countries.

ROLE PURPOSE: The Policy and Advocacy team within Womankind influences a transformative, feminist agenda for change in solidarity with movement partners and allies. This is a full‐time, fast paced subject matter expert role that leads the organisation’s partner centred and evidence‐based advocacy in UK and Global Advocacy forums, from a decolonial feminist lens, in line with Womankind’s 2030 strategy. Additionally, the role supports partner advocacy related learning & exchange, and capacity strengthening for partners based in all of Womankind’s focus countries and co‐leads work on advocacy related knowledge products.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Strategic Leadership & Positioning: Leads Womankind’s evidence based advocacy and strategic engagement in global, regional & UK Policy forums from a decolonial feminist lens. This includes formulation of Womankind’s UK & Global advocacy plans, and execution of key deliverables based on thorough advocacy mapping processes. Planning and engaging in side and parallel events. Identifying key advocacy messages and supporting partner engagement/participation.
• Feminist Research & Knowledge Production: Drives the conceptualisation, decolonial feminist framing, review, and strategic dissemination of knowledge products in alignment with advocacy priorities per the organisation’s Strategy 2030 and relevant sub‐strategies including the feminist partnerships and influencing sub‐strategies.
• Partner Support, Learning and Exchange: Proactively supports partner influencing and advocacy skills strengthening where necessary and appropriate, in line with available organisational resources. Identifies, plans and executes strategic in‐country, transnational and cross‐continental learning and exchange opportunities.
• Programme Management: Contributes to the P&A team’s annual planning and budgeting processes. Engages in robust monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (MERL). This includes contributing to the development of appropriate advocacy MERL tools, participation in institutional MERL processes.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORATION:

• Internal: P&A team, Grantmaking & Partnerships Team, Fundraising Team, Communications team.
• External: Partners, Women’s Rights Organisations & Feminist Movement Allies, UK Government Entities e.g. FCDO, Regional and International Bodies.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Qualification and training: A post‐graduate qualification in a relevant social sciences field e.g. international development or legal studies, human rights, gender studies, or equivalent experience.

Essential Experience: At least 5 years’ experience in the women’s rights and feminist sectors with demonstrable capabilities in strategic, partner‐centred, evidence‐based, decolonial feminist advocacy leadership in UK and Global Advocacy spaces. In‐depth knowledge on core women’s rights normative standards and intersectional feminist principles that guide policy and influencing work within the UK and globally. This includes how diverse women’s rights thematic areas intersect and how this is integrated into strategic influencing and advocacy. Astute networking skills and ability to successfully build and leverage relationships with diverse partners, allies, government officials and intergovernmental bodies for strategic advocacy and influencing. Proven track record in leading/driving knowledge production from a decolonial feminist lens including research reports, and policy briefs. Country specific expertise in executing partner advocacy needs and learning and exchange opportunities linked to diverse women and girls in local, transnational, and cross‐continental contexts. Sound programme management skills including demonstrable experience in advocacy related MERL, annual planning and budgeting. Demonstrable experience in direct line‐management of officers, interns and volunteers in diverse and cross‐cultural teams.

Desirable Experience: Proven track record of successfully contributing to fundraising bids.

Knowledge and Skills: An organised, strategic, credible, confident self‐starter with the ability to respond in a timely way to emergent needs and opportunities in the UK or globally. A collegial and collaborative team player who can work effectively as part of a diverse team in ways that contribute to a creative, safe, inclusive and supportive work environment. Excellent written, verbal influencing and communication skills. Fluency in English is essential. Proficient in use of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint. A flexible, creative, solutions‐focused approach to problem‐solving. Strong feminist politics and analysis lens. Understanding of and commitment to working in line with Womankind’s feminist and anti‐racist stance.

Travel Requirements: International travel and regular in-person catch‐ups with UK based policy makers and civil society colleagues are essential requirements for this role. The post holder is expected to engage in reasonable international travel to fulfil their duties. This is expected to be no more than four‐eight weeks per year.

Line Management: The role holder is expected to line manage the UK/Global Policy and Advocacy Officer. They will occasionally supervise consultants, interns and volunteers as needed, in line with the work they are leading. All posts are expected to contribute towards developing a supportive working environment, to demonstrate a commitment to inclusion, professionalism and respect, transparency and accountability and to uphold quality standards as outlined in policies and procedures, and in compliance with Womankind Worldwide’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. The role also undertakes other responsibilities not outlined above which are commensurate with a role of this nature and which have been discussed and agreed with the line manager.