INTRODUCTION
WaterAid’s Vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities, WaterAid works with partners to maximize its impacts for policy change/influence.
WaterAid Rwanda (WARw) works through supporting local organizations and government to plan and implement inclusive and sustainable services of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). WARw also seeks to influence the policy change through government and other key WASH stakeholders to secure and protect the right of poor people to safe, affordable water and sanitation services. Occupying the position of Head Policy, Advocacy and Cooperation is an exciting opportunity to work with WaterAid and contribute to the achievement of the national and global goals towards realizing the WASH access for everyone everywhere.
WaterAid is fully committed to protecting those with whom it comes into contact. WaterAid is committed to ensuring that wherever we work in the world there is no tolerance for the abuse of power, privilege or trust. WaterAid reinforces a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of inappropriate behavior, abuse, harassment, or exploitation of any kind. The safeguarding of our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf, is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All staff and volunteers are required to share in this commitment through our Global Code of Conduct. We will conduct the most appropriate pre-employment references and checks to ensure high standards are maintained.
For more information about safeguarding at WaterAid, please visit our safeguarding webpage at: https://www.wateraid.org/uk/safeguarding-at-wateraid
A. About the role
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Job Title
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Head Policy, Advocacy and Cooperation
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Place of work:
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Kigali, Rwanda
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Grade:
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G
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Contract type:
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3 Years (Renewable)
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Reports to:
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Country Director
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Direct Report (s)
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Research and Knowledge Management Specialist
Communications and Campaigns Specialist
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Work Relationships
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Internal: Head of Programmes, Head of Business Development , PMEAL Manager, Head of Finance, Head of POD, Programme staff, WaterAid East Africa Regional Team, UK and other WaterAid Federation Member offices.
External: Development Partners, Consortia partners, implementing partners, Parliamentarians, partners, government Ministries and agencies – Local and National, Researah insititutions, academia, Media, private sector, Civil Society Organisations, and other INGO’s, donors and communities.
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B. Job Purpose
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Job Purpose
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The Head of Policy, Advocacy and Cooperation will lead and is accountable for influencing, networking and deliver WaterAid policy and advocacy priorities through influencing that comprises of policy analysis, advocacy, campaigns, communication, research and knowledge management and government relations. S/he will be responsible for national, sub-national, regional and global policy-advocacy agenda within the context of WaterAid Strategy 2023-2032. Along with the team, the role will manage operational and sustained engagement with all the stakeholders (public-private) including government representatives, policy makers, sector actors, civil society, academia, Media, donors, partners, communities to promote WASH agenda.
In addition, the person will lead the Policy and Advocacy team, overseeing implementation to achieve WaterAid Rwanda’s policy and advocacy strategy and plan, advising both staff and Country Management on design and implementation of policy and advocacy work and campaigns as well as contribute to WaterAid’s global advocacy initiatives. This will work with the program department to ensure that advocacy goals are reflected in the priorities of Programme and MEAL.
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C. Main Responsibilities and Duties
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Strategic Leadership
- Contribute to the overall leadership of CP as SMT member.
- Regularly update and account to SMT on policy, advocacy and influencing work and provide expert advice
- Lead on developing and delivery of a country advocacy strategy and annual Advocacy campaign plan, providing clear vision for WaterAid Rwanda policy objectives and advocacy agenda that is based on evidence from analyses, practical and programmatic experiences.
- Provide leadership in mainstreaming influencing, thought leadership, evidence generation based, convening approaches in implementation of the WARW strategy.
Policy and Research
- Oversee a high-quality policy and research agenda that shapes and supports WaterAid Rwanda’s advocacy agenda and is well utilized to build thought leadership in Rwanda on the WASH agenda.
- Working with others, undertake evidence-based research on the assumptions informing key WASH policy options and generate evidence to support or refute such policy positions in line with WaterAid global position on the issue.
- Lead and anchor the periodic contextual analysis of the Political Economy Analysis and context in country and region in the strategy implementation.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the wider social, political and economic contexts as well as sector-specific issues and advocacy best practice to ensure that WaterAid stays at the forefront of national policy debates and effectively navigates political dynamics.
- Synthesize findings and recommendations from completed research(es) into clear policy recommendations that will enable a scale-up of equitable WASH in Rwanda.
- Develop and disseminate a range of policy and research products that clearly outline WaterAid’s policy positions with compelling evidence to support this (including background papers, discussion papers, project research reports, policy briefs, policy messages, position papers and briefing notes).
- Oversee WaterAid Rwanda’s work to strengthen civil society’s policy engagement with WASH and rights-based organisations, working closely with identified CSO networks to build capacity to effectively engage with national policy making processes.
- Conduct Policy dialogues on WASH and identify windows of influence and act to ensure WaterAid Rwanda’s policy objectives and advocacy messages and recommendations are heard by decision-makers.
Advocacy & Influencing:
- Identify key sector issues and opportunities on which WaterAid and its partners should focus their advocacy efforts.
- Lead the delivery of influencing programmes and plans at National and Local Government Levels
- Design programming activities to influence government (national, and local policy & legislation, budgets, co-ordination mechanisms and innovative delivery approaches to strengthen WASH services and increase WASH access.
- Identify and proactively seek linkages and integration between policy, programmes, business development and PMER.
- Plan, guide and showcase WaterAid’s policy advocacy and research and innovations to influence policy makers. Provide guidance to reports on maintaining quality of research products and ensuring effective conversion of research products into use in the sector and beyond.
- Collaborate with Head of Programs for District Wide approach implementation and embedding system strengthening approach and gender equality in WaterAid pragmatic work.
- Establish and maintain good relationship between WaterAid and strategic decision-makers, donors and sector actors to persuasively advocate for WaterAid’s policy objectives and influencing agenda.
- Raise the profile of WaterAid Rwanda through a positive, proactive and strategic approach to brand building; Act as a spokesperson for the organization in the media and through participation in meetings, seminars and other strategic/important events at national, regional and international levels.
- Deliver materials for the media including speeches, articles, statements, press releases, blogs and other social media content developed with strong collaboration and input from the Communications team.
- Facilitate the development of strategic partnerships with relevant agencies within and beyond WASH sector, donors, academia, media and research institutions
- Develop and strengthen partnerships, networks and alliances among sector stakeholders, government counterparts and NGOs involved in water and sanitation related activities to foster mutual learning and identify innovations that would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the sector.
- Encourage and actively promote cross sectoral linkages so that WASH is mainstreamed in other sectors and strong links are established with other sectors
- Monitor and critically evaluate WASH market developments; Support innovative thinking in this area and bring in appropriate and innovative market-based solutions where they will add value to WASH access.
- Contribute to regional and global policy and programmes by shaping the regional and global influencing agenda as well as participating in WaterAid regional and global initiatives
- Lead in building relationships with key private sector organisations.
Campaigning and Influencing
- Lead the development and execution of the Advocacy Campaign plan for the WARw.
- Work with regional and Global Communications teams to maximise opportunities for WaterAid Rwanda on social and conventional media and ensure the effective and professional promotion of the
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