Advocacy and Campaigns Manager

Save the Children has been working in Tanzania for more than 30 years. We are working with the government, local organizations and other international agencies to reduce child malnutrition, improve new-born and maternal health, support and strengthen early childhood development and primary education systems. We strengthen child protection systems for vulnerable children, promote children’s participation and contribution to policy and resource allocation for services which concern them, support, and respond to emergencies.

Our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

Role Purpose 

Advocacy and Campaign Manager will undertake advocacy work to advance Save the Children’s policy positions, and influence decision-makers, both at national level and internationally. In so doing, the Advocacy and Campaigns Manager will contribute directly to helping Save the Children achieve its ambitious programmatic objectives benefiting the most deprived children in Tanzania, as set out in our Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2019-21 and support in development on new CSP2022-24. The post holder will shape and implement Save the Children’s efforts to influence and bring about change in the awareness, attitudes, behaviours and policies related to the rights of children in Tanzania. The Advocacy and Campaign Manager will be the focal point at the national level for coordinating efforts on drafting, implementation and periodic progress review of the country office advocacy strategy, in addition to providing practical support to, and strengthening the capacity of thematic Technical Specialists and field-based advocacy focal points working at regional, and district levels. In addition, s/he will oversee a team handling internal and external communications, including media engagement, and enquiries regarding Save the Children in Tanzania. Finally, the post has management oversight of advocacy campaigns with a special focus on Save the Children’s campaign on ending child marriage, as well as issues of exclusion and discrimination, inequality, and the removal of critical barriers to survival, learning and protection for millions of excluded children. He/she will develop monitoring and measurement systems for the campaign, including case studies, reports, and results of the advocacy efforts in Tanzania. The position also includes fundraising and resource development for advocacy and campaign activities in all Save the Children programs.

Contract Duration: 2 Years  

No of Vacancies: One (1) Position  

Reporting to: Country Director  

Location: Dar es Salaam

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY  

Advocacy

• Identify policy and practice change that will promote and protect the rights of children.
• In collaboration with thematic Technical Specialists (TS), define key advocacy opportunities and targets at national and regional levels.
• Develop and lead the implementation of an advocacy strategy to guide Save the Children’s work in Tanzania, working closely with thematic TS and other Programme Development & Quality (PDQ) team members to encompass issues such as (but not limited to) rights violations, investment in children, access to quality healthcare, emergency response and humanitarian access, child protection, education (including in emergency situations), as well as long-term needs of affected populations, and addressing a wide range of audiences.
• In collaboration with CRG and other thematic Technical Specialists ensure that voices of children form the basis of Save the Children’s advocacy strategy.
• Identify and measure indicators for assessing the impact of Save the Children’s advocacy work in Tanzania under the approved advocacy strategy.
• Ensure that all advocacy messages, documents and the advocacy strategy are evidence-based drawn from field experience and assessments.
• Ensure that all staff in the country programme are aware of and properly understand the approved advocacy strategy and can actively contribute towards its objectives.
• Provide direct technical support and guidance to field-based advocacy focal points in Dodoma, Shinyanga, Songwe, Singida, Morogoro, Rukwa, Iringa, Kigoma, Zanzibar, (Unguja and Pemba) and Dar es Salaam.
• Ensure that the Save the Children Tanzania Country Annual Plan and reports have clear advocacy objectives, based on the country’s advocacy strategy.
• Draft and support the production of advocacy material to be used at national, regional, pan African and international levels.
• Support the Tanzania Senior Management Team in high-level advocacy work towards national government line ministries, key UN agencies, donors and other agencies.
• Undertake a range of lobbying, communications and other activities to inform and persuade policy makers, including donors and politicians, of the value of Save the Children’s policy recommendations.
• Keep a watching brief on policy makers and other key players in relation to children’s health, protection, and education issues and identify opportunities to raise awareness, and influence policy change for the benefit of children.
• Build alliances and partnerships with other NGOs in country to influence other organisations/coalitions and undertake coordinated policy driven advocacy, including the ones related to Pan African and global human rights treaties (UNCRC, ACERWC, UPR).
• Contribute to international advocacy strategies and work, within Save the Children, and externally if approved by the Tanzania Country Director, regional and head office/s of SCI.
• Contribute to the development of proposals and ensure that all Save the Children projects have a clearly developed and fully costed advocacy component.
• Develop and maintain a network of external contacts with key individuals in the government, NGO sector, civil society, academia and the media.
• Represent Save the Children at various policy forums and advocacy opportunities at national, regional and international levels.
• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way that reflects Save the Children's commitment to safeguarding children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Support the PDQ Team in the Country Annual Planning process for technical programme inputs for advocacy and changing key policies, attitudes and behaviours to support child rights as per the country office strategic plan and global campaign.
• Actively participate in relevant internal meetings such as Programme Review Meetings, Weekly PDQ team meetings and/or Field Office meetings, as required.  Participate in any donor visit to project(s) linked to advocacy and campaigning.  

Campaigns

• Ensure maximum visibility of Tanzania CO campaign/s within Save the Children and externally.
• Facilitate and lead the development, and implementation of an overall advocacy and campaign strategy in Save the Children Tanzania within the framework of the global campaign.
• Develop communication and campaigning approaches, and materials appropriate for the campaign; develop public communication messages, such as press releases, and policy positions statements appropriate for the campaign; support field-based area programme managers and other programme staff in field locations to mainstream the campaign plan into their programmes at the local level, and to ensure a link between local and national advocacy and policy work on the campaign.

Communications and Media

• Ensure that the Tanzania country programme achieves the global organisational Essential Standards for Communications and Media:
  • Communications and media opportunities are identified and responded to in order to ensure that Save the Children is a credible source for the media, partners, donors, governments, communities, children and Save the Children staff.
  • A Communications and Media Plan is in place and aligned to the:

1. a) principles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (particularly our role in speaking out for and with children)
2. b) global internal communications plan and global media plan
3. c) Country Strategic Plan 2016-18

• • Measures are in place to produce accurate, high quality, user-friendly, child-centered communications and media work.
  • Communications and media work are built into annual planning including proposal development and incorporate ways to allocate resources and build capacity (case studies, leaflets, factsheets, promotion materials, press releases, media packs, social media, videos, photos, reports, summary reports, situation reports (sitreps), news)
• Train key senior staff on communications and media and support the Country Director, and other senior managers in their roles as the Save the Children Tanzania designated spokespersons.
• Draft media briefings, talking points, Q&As, press releases and media statements based on the advocacy priorities identified.
• Work with the Technical Specialists to ensure the collection and documentation of interesting case studies, success stories, lessons learnt from field-based programmes in all locations and sectors, for use in advocacy, and media work and for quality reporting purposes.
• Ensure that any action undertaken to implement communications or media work in country is compliant with Save the Children’s global communications and branding standards and has been duly approved by the Save the Children Tanzania Country Director.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Develop and track indicators for advocacy and campaigning, especially those aligned with Global Indicators.
• Ensure regular monitoring and reporting on the progress of the campaign as per Save the Children requirements and approved plan, including sharing of case studies, special events, and press releases.
• Ensure development of key messages and delivery of advocacy for child protection, child rights, health, nutrition, and education.

Resource Mobilisation

• Identify and research information on new funding opportunities from bilateral, multi-lateral, and other institutional donors for advocacy and to support the global campaign efforts.  Use creative approaches to link advocacy with donor priorities, while also effectively influencing the strategies of donors.
• Directly involved in the development of proposals and concept notes for funding the advocacy, and campaign efforts in the country office.  Effectively manage collaboration amongst teams and Save the Children Members when preparing concept papers, including budget development. 
• Write sections of proposals that support advocacy efforts for children for all thematic sectors within our strategic plan and the global campaign.
• Participate in donor meetings, as needed, to foster collaboration and engagement for campaign priorities.

Management

• Ensure all staff are appropriately informed about the global campaign activities and achievements and their role in realising its objectives.  This may involve development of regular internal newsletters or updates, field visits to SC operational sites and training in advocacy, and campaigning to key staff and partners. 
• Manage budgets, work plans and reporting for any awards related specifically to the global campaign or advocacy, as per the budget holder delegations in Tanzania.

Performance management and capacity building

• Line-manage direct reports (e.g. Campaigns and Communication Coordinator
• Lead, manage and motivate direct reports, ensure they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance regularly (in line with Save the Children performance management procedures).
• Create and maintain a cooperative, and positive working environment where staff have clear roles and responsibilities, participate in decision making, and are supported in progressing towards their objectives.
• Lead on capacity building of staff through coaching, mentoring and training. 

Other

• The post holder will be responsible to fulfil any other duty assigned by the Country Director, within reasonableness.
• Comply with Save the Children policy and practices requirements with respect to health, and safety, child protection, equal opportunities, anti-fraud policy, and other relevant policies and procedures.  He/she will endorse and support Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy in all activities.

Qualifications and Experience 

• A minimum bachelor’s degree in an area of social development, political science, media, communications or equivalent.
• A human rights lawyer, having worked in programming, CSOs environment, marginalized groups such as youth and children background would be an added bonus.
• Understanding of the development sector, gender issues and child rights programming in Tanzania.
• At least 7 years of experience of managing advocacy campaigns that engage a variety of stakeholders.
• Proven experience of external representation and direct lobbying of high-level targets.
• Excellent English and Kiswahili language skills.
• An ability to synthesise complex information into concise and compelling policy briefing notes, and advocacy documents.
• Proven experience of using media for advocacy purposes.
• An ability to coordinate and work with diverse groups of people based in multiple locations.
• An ability to manage complex workloads and stressful situations.
• Good personal organisational skills, including time management and ability to meet deadlines, and work under pressure.
• Demonstrable ability to develop and implement effective campaign strategies, including understanding, and delivery of a broad range of campaign tactics as well as an ability to produce a detailed budget related to the envisaged activities.
• Knowledge and experience of working on policy and advocacy initiatives, and approaches to these.
• Experience of working within networks and coalitions for campaigning purposes.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in English including familiarity with production of detailed reports and strategic plans using Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience in promoting children’s rights, including participation in programming, design, implementation and evaluation.
• Experience of working within budget constraints and managing budgets.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in a team environment.
• Good knowledge of Tanzanian context.
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.

Desirable

• Experience in designing, conducting or supervising research work related to evidence building
• Information Communication Technology advanced skills
• Information graphics design expertise or proven experience