The Policy & Advocacy Associate works collaboratively to support the Policy unit’s efforts within Ipas Africa Alliance. The Associate provides both technical and administrative support to projects. The position also provides support to local activists and is responsible for maintaining local organizational alliances and partnerships.

Key responsibilities

• Conceptualizes and implements programmatic activities aimed at improving the policy environment through engaging with key policy makers including partnerships with coalitions and networks.
• Documents the negative impact of the criminalization of abortion by coordinating with local organizations and monitoring the media, compiling testimonies, and providing humanitarian support.
• Conceptualizing and drafting white papers and policy position papers.
• Researching and blue booking on legal and policy documents that are applicable to Ipas work.
• Maintaining partnerships with organizations and managing list-serves.
• Develops activity budgets and tracks team expenditures, reviews budget discrepancies with the respective Advisors or Manager and provides support during budget creation and revision processes.
• Develop status reports for the policy team on various work plan activities.
• In coordination with other office staff, provides policy support and technical assistance as needed for global policy unit and national policy activities.
• Provides administrative support including scheduling and coordinating meetings and conferences, taking notes, setting-up meeting rooms, making copies, travel planning, and other tasks as requested.
• Assists team members by tracking activity deadlines and drafting or reviewing reports, grant agreements, service contracts, program work plans, and other related documents as needed.
• Responsible for the production of documents, including agreements, contracts, disbursement schedules, project timelines and work plans, activity reports and financial and narrative reports during contract period.
• Enters and or supports to enter activity events in Terra after each activity and reports to verify that the documentation (registration sheets, attendance lists, pre- and post-tests, and programs) and information requested in reports are entered on time, accurately, and are included in the activity reports.
• In collaboration with the Senior policy advisor and Regional Manager, may provide support in the monitoring of the implementation of the in-country work plans by conducting a monthly review of plans versus results and documenting the variances.
• Contributes to the development of reports, participates in planning area activities, and ensures the administration of resources to carry out actions.

*Performs other duties as assigned

Resource mobilization:

• Contributes to the preparation of donor reports and externally facing documents; promote quality reporting.
• Contributes to project design and proposal preparation. Supports fundraising initiatives for policy activities by contributing to donor proposals and preparation or review of donor reports.

Communications & representation:

• Shares learnings and expertise within the Ipas network
• Contributes to the development or implementation of communications plans, primarily at project level.
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships, primarily for a specific project.

Position Requirements

• A deep commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially abortion and contraception access
• Proven ability to build positive working relationships with diverse internal teams and external partners.
• Good capacity and commitment to good stewardship of funds, including strong skills in work planning, budgeting, financial monitoring, and data-driven problem solving.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in law, public policy, development studies, international relations, social sciences, politics, or any other relevant field.

Experience

• 1 or more years of relevant experience
• Experience working in human rights and/or public policy.
• Basic program planning and project management experience

Skills

• Excellent research and public-speaking skills, effective written and verbal communication skills; budgetary management skills; problem-solving, organizational, analytical and interpersonal skills; and advanced knowledge in computer applications.

Preferred

• Prior experience working with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working in a non-profit organization.
• Management training or experience
• Mastery of MS office applications.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• work effectively under pressure independently and with a team.

Working Environment

• Ability to travel up to 25 % domestically and regionally.