Job Detail

1. About RAWNAQ:

The RAWNAQ project is an EU-funded project which is implemented by the Norwegian Refugee Council and Cordaid. The program aims to create employment opportunities for Internally Displaced People and Returnees through private sector development initiatives. The project has started in January 2020 and will continue till June 2023, implemented in Herat and Kandahar cities of Afghanistan.

The project has two pillars; provision of technical assistance and constant BDS support to micro, small and medium enterprises ((M)SMEs) to further grow, expand and scale-up business operations and undertake innovative solutions to overcome challenges in the selected value chains,  and, on the other hand, supporting youth from displaced and vulnerable host communities/families living in those areas to secure and retain decent jobs in these MSMEs.  

Background Information - Job-specific

Advocating for Peaceful, Secure and Inclusive societies - Just Future project is a strategic partnership programme under the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Power of Voices subsidy framework. 

Just Future will be implemented until 2025, working towards more inclusive decision-making and peace-process. The programme is being implemented in solidarity with civil society in 6 countries: Afghanistan, Burundi, DRC, Mali, Niger and South Sudan.  

It is a strategic partnership between the consortium partners, CSO partners in six selected countries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands. In each programme country the programme is developed, implemented and monitored by the consortium partners in close collaboration with the national level CSOs. The programme implements activities at the regional and global level.   

In Afghanistan the Just Future project is implemented in Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Nangarhar, and Paktia, though each year a change in scope delivery and location is expected based on an annual planning workshop and process.

The Lobby & Advocacy Officer will be responsible for supporting Just Future project’s lobby and advocacy initiatives from the community to the national and international levels. S/he will closely be working with national and international partners and Cordaid global office to identify, plan, execute and monitor lobby and advocacy initiatives.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall direction of Just Future Project Manager, and in accordance with Cordaid policies, procedures and practices, the L&A Officer should adopt innovative lobby and advocacy approaches to work on priorities of Just Future project in Cordaid Afghanistan. S/he will closely work with CAF’s programme team, international experts, and consortium partners to ensure efficient and effective support to programme and project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support Cordaid and Just Future partners on international and national level lobby and advocacy, linking local women and youth and their organisations, to the national and international level.
• Participate in the relevant advocacy meetings to create space for women in the public domain and promote access to justice
• Provide technical assistance to S&J team to coordinate and facilitate women’s participation in the international forums
• Support/organize national dialogue and advocacy meetings with the international community, influencers, UN, and decisionmakers in collaboration with JF partners
• Support Programme Manager in assessment of lobby & advocacy capacities of partners
• Develop a joint lobby & advocacy strategy based on a detailed stakeholder analysis in collaboration with the Programme Manager
• Support Country Level lobby and advocacy strategies and plans prepared by the Programme Manager to bring positive changes to the lives of people, families, and communities, paying special attention to women and youth.
• In close collaboration with the Programme Manager, other technical experts and colleagues lead the diversification and growth of Cordaid’s Just Future Lobby & Advocacy initiatives with a focus on quality and impact, by:
  • building and strengthening strategic partnerships through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of Cordaid competencies and track record in delivering strategic partnership on Lobby & Advocacy programmes
  • communicating results on outputs, outcomes and impacts in quantifiable and qualitative terms among the partners
• Assist/provide strategic and technical guidance on key components of Cordaid’s Just Future Lobby & Advocacy work to foster good practices and ensure that minimum standards are met.
• Maintain effective coordination with the PMEAL team to ensure timely and correct measurement of results on outputs, outcomes, and impacts and to facilitate learning towards continuous improvements in the design and delivery of JF project
• Ensure active participation in relevant coordination working groups meetings that are relevant to the Lobby & Advocacy work representing Cordaid and following-up on key issues.
• Prepare fact-based messages and quality material for distribution through social and printed media that effectively communicates to external audiences the challenges as well as results achieved in realizing overall Cordaid Afghanistan Lobby and Advocacy Goals
• Develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication structures with the assigned project, experts and other key stakeholders with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnerships
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both women and men, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Assist to plan, conduct and/or respond to Cordaid performance evaluation reviews and surveys
• Undertake other duties as may be assigned by the Programme Manager