Advocacy Manager -Sudan INGO Forum

Policy & Advocacy Port Sudan, Sudan

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Description

About the INGO Forum
Sudan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, marked by widespread displacement, disease outbreaks, and confirmations of famine in several ‘hunger hotspots.’ In an effort to coordinate INGO efforts and establish a common voice for INGOs operating in Sudan, the INGO forum was established in 2009 as a key representation platform. To date, the forum is made up of 51 members and 17 observers operating across the country, including in some of the most difficult to reach parts of Sudan.
The INGO Forum is a permanent member of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG). It co-leads the Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG), alongside OCHA and spearheads collective engagement with Government and other Authorities as well as with donors. The forum also leads collective advocacy nationally, regionally and internationally through its Advocacy Working Group (AWG) and in close coordination with the regional Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) and Member liaison offices in key donor/diplomatic capitals around the world.

Since 2023, the situation in Sudan has dramatically shifted as state and non-state actors wage a brutal war. The situation in non-Sudanese Armed Forces - controlled areas is particularly dire, with humanitarian access severely restricted and the absence of United Nations (UN) presence exacerbating the challenges. As humanitarian needs continue to escalate, there is an urgent need for an interim solution to address critical gaps in coordination, common services and aid delivery.

To this end, the three core tenants of the INGO Forum’s work include:

· Coordinated aid delivery – Enhancing operational alignment across organizations to maximize humanitarian impact.
  •  This includes establishing an NGO-led coordination mechanism under the Sudan INGO Forum to provide immediate, effective, and well-managed humanitarian responses in these areas to ensure that urgent needs are met and operations are not disrupted.
    •  Common service provision – Offering essential support, analysis, and shared resources to facilitate NGO operations.
  •  This includes common negotiation support i.e. for access or against BAI, collective advocacy efforts, information sharing, donor and stakeholder engagement, security and admin SOPs and collective position papers, etc.
    •  Stakeholder coordination and representation – Engaging with donors, UN agencies, authorities, and the broader humanitarian system to advocate for improved response conditions.
  •  There is of course a convening and facilitation role included in this representation function
 
General Position Summary

The Advocacy Manager plays a central role in leading, coordinating, and elevating the Sudan INGO Forum’s collective advocacy. The position strengthens the Forum’s ability to shape narratives, influence policy, and ensure that the needs and perspectives of NGOs and crisis-affected communities are effectively represented at national, regional, and global levels.

The Advocacy Manager will have specific responsibilities for convening and facilitating meetings and events related to policy, advocacy and communications. S/he will be responsible for ensuring adherence to information sharing protocols, drafting advocacy products, leading consolidation of Member inputs into collective products and identifying new and innovative opportunities for engagement with external stakeholders to affect change. S/he will also play a leading role in updating and shaping the Forum’s advocacy strategy and operational roll out.

The role entails significant preparation for engagement in country-facing inter-agency spaces like the humanitarian country team (HCT) as well as global platforms including the Emergency Directors Group (EDG), the IASC system at large, capital-based advocacy platforms and working groups including ICVA, InterAction and Voice, and other key collective fora.

This position reports to INGO Forum Director and is accountable for leading the overall strategic planning and execution of collective advocacy for the INGO forum. S/he will be expected to liaise with area coordinators and the information management officer to ensure coherent messaging across the INGOF. Coordination with the steering committee and strong support to and inclusion of the advocacy core group, alongside the broader advocacy working group is required.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Policy and advocacy strategy coordination:
  •  Lead the development and roll out of the Forum’s collective advocacy strategy
  •  Establish a regular mechanism for monitoring progress against the Forum’s advocacy strategy and support updating it as needed to reflect contextual evolutions
    •  Coordinate across member initiatives to ensure consistence, adherence to principles and regular, strategic and targeted coverage of the crisis in Sudan
    •  Advise the Forum Director and Members on emerging advocacy opportunities and risks
    •  Convening and facilitate meetings including through agenda setting and administrative tasks related to online, hybrid and in person meetings
    •  Represent the INGO Forum in external advocacy convenings including InterAction working group meetings, HCT access and communications groups, IAWG meetings and other regional convenings
    •  Serve as the focal point for external advocacy partnerships
    •  Engage with donors and diplomatic missions on humanitarian needs and NGO perspectives in coordination with the INGO Forum Director
    •  Develop best practices and tools that can be socialized with national advocacy colleagues in line with the INGO Forum’s over arching objective of enhancing support to and partnership with local networks and platforms
Advocacy and communications products and events:
    •  Lead drafting of joint statements, advocacy briefs, and position papers Regularly identify opportunities for engagement both with new stakeholders and around new and emerging issues
    •  Lead on monthly bulletins, updates, and scenario analyses
    •  Provide administrative support to the organization of events including high-level meetings and media engagement
    •  Liaise with the Forum’s information management coordinator to integrate data-driven visuals into advocacy products
    •  Contribute to regular updating of the Forum’s website
    •  Facilitate publication of forum products
    •  Lead on preparing and implementing dissemination plans for pubic facing products and monitor adherence
    •  Proactively seek areas for high level engagement with Third States, governments, donors, and other influential stakeholders
Administrative and other tasks:
    •  Facilitate the advocacy working group (core group and information sharing group) and ensure member adherence to the ToRs of each group
    •  Manage advocacy events budget under the Forum’s ECHO grant
    •  Take notes from key meetings and engagements to ensure internal follow-up and accountability
    •  Maintain repository of products, minutes, etc. to ensure knowledge preservation and eventual transfer
    •  Maintain up to date contacts for relevant stakeholders
    •  Maintain an up-to-date tracker of external engagement, products in view of enhancing impact monitoring
    •  Co-facilitate advocacy working groups within the Forum
    •  Support member-specific requests aligned with collective priorities.
 Security
    •  Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
    •  Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Supervisory Responsibility
None.
Accountability
  •  Reports Directly To: Access/Advocacy Advisor
  •  Works Directly With: INGO Forum Secretariat including area coordinators, the information management officer, the AML officer, the INGO Forum Director and primarily with members.
 

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

 
INGO Forum team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to their beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of field projects, in line with Mercy Corps’ standards and policies
 
 
Knowledge and Experience
Essential requirements:
  •  A master’s degree in a media, communications, international relations, public policy, development, political science, a related field or equivalent experience
  •  At least 6 years of relevant experience with NGOs, the UN system or other humanitarian/development actors
  •  Experience working on complex humanitarian or fragile contexts with understanding of humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law (IHL) and humanitarian coordination mechanisms
  •  Experience writing advocacy strategies, policy briefs, policy papers and public statements
  •  A demonstrable understanding of current humanitarian policy trends and issues
  •  Data analysis and interpretation skills
  •  Ability to work under pressure and adapt to a multi-cultural environment
  •  Fluency in English (written and spoken)
Desirable requirements:
  •  Previous humanitarian experience in Sudan, Chad or South Sudan
  •  Existing relationships with relevant stakeholders including NGOs, UN agencies, donors, national authorities and stakeholders and relevant advocacy and media stakeholders
  •  Working knowledge of Arabic a plus
Success Factors
  •  Ability to take initiative, learn quickly and be accountable for results
  •  Flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
  •  Ability to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details
  •  Awareness of and sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work
  •  Even temperament and a good sense of humor
  •  Security awareness

INGO Forum Team Members represent the Forum and the host agency, Mercy Corps both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit /TDY to a field posting.  Team Members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures and values at all times and in all in- country venues.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya or Port Sudan.  Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.
 
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
 

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law. 
 

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

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