Deadline: 7th October.
Position Summary
CHEVS seeks a dynamic and confident leader to work with the team to formulate and execute CHEVS’ advocacy strategy, including building knowledge to support advocacy, and running campaigns. In addition, this position will provide writing and support for resource mobilization and communication.
As Policy and Advocacy Officer, you will actively contribute to CHEVS’ policy and advocacy work supporting a strong legal and policy framework and implementation, protecting LGBTI human rights, by building sustainable and meaningful alliances to support strategic priorities for CHEVS. The officer is responsible for managing advocacy initiatives that strengthen CHEVS’ agenda in African commission, UN and treaty bodies.
Key Responsibility
Programme and Management
- Advocacy Programs Management and Implementation
- Work with the Director of Programs and Executive Director to develop and
structure CHEVS’ policy advocacy strategy and initiatives while supporting
institutional initiatives that amplify CHEVS’ research and advocacy goals. - Research, analyze, and review gaps around laws and policies, identify
emerging policy advocacy-related issues, develop evidence-based
advocacy initiatives that can advance local realities and progress on
inclusive policies. - Provide advice and information relevant to key stakeholders that can help
facilitate comprehensive interpretation and implementation of existing
and envisioned policies. - Strengthen, build, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and
influencers who can shape or inform policies that are more inclusive of
LGBTQI persons and issues, at the decision-maker level. - Strengthen, build, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and
influencers who can shape or inform policies that are more inclusive of
LGBTQI persons and issues, at the decision-maker level. - Identify areas of advocacy in sub-regional and regional spaces, including
specifically ECOWAS, United nations, and the African Commission on
Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHRP) in addition to other key advocacy
spaces that can advance Human Rights of LGBTIQ persons - Identify and develop relationships with technical resource persons at
country and sub-regional level, to support capacity strengthening and
other technical assistance related to advocacy initiatives.
Advocacy and Communications
- Identify and analyze regional and thematic developments and trends in
feminist and youth organizing and funding on an ongoing basis and
maintain an expert understanding of the field of LGBTQI rights and
inclusive feminist organizing in order to lead the development of CHEVS’
public responses to current trends through statements, articles, and/or
position papers. - Lead CHEVS into new and emerging opportunities, platforms and spaces
especially outside the “typical” advocacy spaces, among emerging
economies and politics. - Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with other LGBTQI
and young feminist-led organizations, women’s funds’ partners,
international non-government organizations, and other key partners. - Organize events and represent CHEVS at relevant venues, networks, and
consortia to educate and encourage more and better support for LGBTQI
youths and young feminist organizing. - Work with CHEVS staff, communications team, and other consultants to
create digital and print reports, videos, and/or other multimedia of CHEVS
impact data and analysis. - Produce quality writing pieces for internal and external communications
and research, varying across styles for different audiences, including for
publication.
Resource Mobilization.
Contribute to CHEVS’ resource mobilisation activities, through:
- Identifying and following up fundraising opportunities in collaboration with the Resource Mobilisation team
- Supporting proposal and donor report writing
- Build knowledge, narratives, and messaging that supports funding young LGBTQI/ feminist activism.
Knowledge and skills required
- At least 2 years’ experience in planning, implementing, and managingadvocacy programs or projects related to feminist and/or LGBTQI activism,especially coordinating successful digital/online and highly visual campaigns.
- Experience in planning and implementing advocacy initiatives related to feminist issues, youth, gender, or SOGIESC
- Knowledge about LGBTQI human rights at the regional and/or international level
- An understanding of intersectional feminist issues, advocacy, and/ ordonor environment around LGBTQI rights
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an understanding of working with print, electronic, online, and/or social media, and demonstrated ability to write reports.
- Established public visibility credentials, media relations, and/or spokesperson experience.
- Commitment to collaboration and strong social skills, with the ability towork efficiently both independently and as a team member
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle multi-tasking, problem-solving, and planning skills.
- Ability to work remotely in a virtual office, with little supervision and ableto meet deadlines comfortably.
Key Considerations
As an organization led by West African LGBTQI activists, CHEVS seeks to recruit people who identify as part of the LGBTQI community in the sub-region. We are therefore particularly interested in candidates who have not only the technical expertise and professional knowledge required, but also the familiarity, connections and lived experience within the community and movement. Applications from LBQ women, trans, non-binary and intersex people are strongly encouraged.
How to apply
Interested candidates should send their CVs/one page cover letter and a document they have produced in an Advocacy capacity (e.g. Policy brief, advocacy strategy, research report, etc.
Applications should be sent to opportunities@chevs.org with “Policy/Advocacy” in the subject line.
