Advocacy Manager
Recruit Finds
Nairobi, Kenya
Job summary
Advocacy Manager Sudan AT Norwegian Refugee Council
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Advocacy and Media Manager – Role Overview
1. Position Summary
The Advocacy and Media Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership for advocacy, humanitarian diplomacy, and communications initiatives related to humanitarian operations in Sudan. The position plays a central role in shaping the organization's external engagement by influencing policy discussions, strengthening humanitarian access, promoting the protection of civilians, and ensuring that evidence from field operations informs decision-making.
The successful candidate will develop advocacy priorities, oversee strategic communications, represent the organization before external stakeholders, and ensure that advocacy efforts are integrated across programmes and operational activities. As a member of the Country Management Group, the Advocacy and Media Manager will also contribute strategic analysis and recommendations that support organizational objectives and guide senior leadership.
2. Key Responsibilities
The position combines leadership, policy development, stakeholder engagement, media relations, and team management. Major responsibilities include the following:
2.1 Lead Advocacy and Communications Strategy
The Advocacy and Media Manager will:
Design and implement a comprehensive advocacy and communications strategy that aligns with the country's overall strategic objectives.
Coordinate advocacy priorities with regional offices, headquarters, representation offices, and executive leadership.
Ensure that advocacy initiatives remain evidence-based, timely, and responsive to changes in the humanitarian context.
Promote consistency in organizational messaging across all communication channels.
2.2 Conduct Humanitarian and Political Analysis
The role requires continuous monitoring and assessment of developments affecting humanitarian operations. Responsibilities include:
Monitoring political, humanitarian, diplomatic, and security developments.
Assessing issues related to civilian protection and humanitarian access.
Analyzing diplomatic initiatives, peace negotiations, and mediation processes relevant to Sudan.
Producing analytical reports that support informed decision-making.
Advising senior management on emerging opportunities and risks.
2.3 Develop Policy and Advocacy Products
The Advocacy and Media Manager is expected to transform operational evidence into practical advocacy outputs by:
Producing policy briefs and analytical reports.
Developing advocacy papers supported by field evidence.
Preparing briefing notes for meetings with governments, donors, and international organizations.
Creating targeted advocacy messages for different audiences.
Ensuring that all advocacy products reflect humanitarian principles and organizational priorities.
2.4 Lead Strategic Communications
An important aspect of the role involves directing all public communication activities.
Responsibilities include:
Developing communication strategies that reinforce advocacy goals.
Coordinating media engagement activities.
Acting as the organization's primary spokesperson when required.
Supervising the production of communication materials, including press releases, interviews, articles, and public statements.
Ensuring communications comply with organizational approval procedures.
Applying ethical storytelling principles while protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of affected populations.
2.5 External Representation
The position requires extensive engagement with external stakeholders.
The Advocacy and Media Manager will:
Represent the organization in humanitarian coordination forums.
Build constructive relationships with donors and diplomatic missions.
Engage with United Nations agencies.
Collaborate with international and national NGOs.
Maintain professional relationships with journalists and media organizations.
Participate in advocacy coalitions and humanitarian networks.
The objective is to strengthen humanitarian influence and support coordinated responses to emerging challenges.
3. Humanitarian Diplomacy Responsibilities
The successful candidate will lead humanitarian diplomacy efforts by:
Developing engagement strategies for key regional and international stakeholders.
Conducting stakeholder mapping and influence analysis.
Identifying opportunities to promote humanitarian priorities.
Coordinating diplomatic engagement with African and Gulf countries.
Preparing key messages for senior leadership.
Supporting dialogue that advances humanitarian access and civilian protection.
4. Research, Evidence, and Policy Development
Strong evidence is essential for effective advocacy.
The manager will:
Coordinate research initiatives.
Analyze programme findings.
Identify advocacy opportunities emerging from field operations.
Ensure advocacy recommendations are based on credible evidence.
Promote programme-driven advocacy across sectors.
Strengthen links between operational teams and policy work.
5. Collaboration and Partnership Development
Building partnerships is a major component of the position.
Responsibilities include:
Working closely with humanitarian organizations involved in the Sudan response.
Supporting advocacy initiatives within NGO coordination mechanisms.
Contributing to joint advocacy positions.
Promoting coordinated humanitarian messaging.
Developing collaborative advocacy initiatives with local partners.
Strengthening partnerships that improve humanitarian outcomes.
6. Leadership and Team Management
The Advocacy and Communications Unit falls under the supervision of this position.
Management responsibilities include:
Setting individual performance objectives.
Conducting regular performance reviews.
Providing coaching and mentoring.
Supporting professional development.
Leading recruitment processes.
Managing workforce planning.
Overseeing staff induction.
Promoting staff well-being and duty of care.
Creating a collaborative and high-performing team culture.
7. Capacity Strengthening
The Advocacy and Media Manager will strengthen institutional capacity by:
Organizing advocacy training for staff.
Supporting communication skills development.
Building advocacy capacity among local partners.
Sharing best practices across programmes.
Improving understanding of humanitarian diplomacy.
Encouraging evidence-based advocacy throughout the organization.
8. Internal Coordination
Effective communication within the organization is essential.
The manager will:
Keep regional offices informed of advocacy priorities.
Brief headquarters on humanitarian developments.
Coordinate with programme, partnerships, policy, and external relations departments.
Support field operations with advocacy guidance.
Ensure consistent messaging across all organizational levels.
9. Resource Mobilization
The Advocacy and Media Manager will contribute to fundraising by:
Identifying funding opportunities.
Supporting proposal development.
Integrating advocacy and policy activities into project designs.
Promoting research components within funding applications.
Ensuring proposals address humanitarian protection and displacement-related challenges.
10. Required Qualifications
Applicants should demonstrate strong academic and professional qualifications.
Preferred qualifications include:
A postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
At least five years of professional experience in humanitarian affairs, diplomacy, advocacy, human rights, mediation, or related sectors.
Experience working within international NGOs, UN agencies, diplomatic institutions, or comparable organizations.
Proven expertise in advocacy strategy and policy engagement.
Experience leading advocacy initiatives in humanitarian settings.
Demonstrated experience managing communications and media engagement.
Previous experience serving as an organizational spokesperson.
Experience operating in conflict-affected or politically sensitive environments.
11. Required Knowledge and Skills
The ideal candidate should possess:
Strong understanding of humanitarian principles.
Knowledge of international humanitarian law and protection frameworks.
Familiarity with humanitarian access negotiations.
Understanding of civilian protection issues.
Knowledge of international mediation and diplomatic processes.
Excellent analytical abilities.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
Strong report-writing and policy drafting skills.
Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
High levels of initiative and adaptability.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Effective leadership and project management capabilities.
12. Desirable Experience
Additional advantages include:
Previous policy-level experience related to Sudan.
Familiarity with humanitarian programming in conflict settings.
Experience working on protection-related programmes.
Knowledge of displacement issues and humanitarian response systems.
Experience coordinating advocacy among multiple organizations.
13. Employment Conditions
The position offers:
Duty station in either Port Sudan, Khartoum, or Nairobi under an unaccompanied contract.
Initial 12-month contract with the possibility of renewal based on funding availability and performance.
Approximately 20% travel.
Competitive international salary and benefits according to the organization's Grade 9 salary scale.
14. Organizational Values
The organization promotes an inclusive, diverse, and respectful workplace where all employees have equal opportunities regardless of gender, age, nationality, religion, ethnicity, or physical ability.
Employees are encouraged to:
Demonstrate innovation and creativity.
Take initiative in their work.
Contribute ideas that improve humanitarian outcomes.
Accept responsibility at every organizational level.
Collaborate across teams to achieve strategic objectives.
The Advocacy and Media Manager is expected to embody these values while advancing humanitarian principles, strengthening advocacy efforts, and contributing to meaningful protection and assistance for displacement-affected communities in Sudan.