🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Marie Stopes – Advocacy & External Relations Manager
Job title Advocacy & External Relations Manager
Reporting to Director Programs & Public Sector Strengthening
Location Support Office – Freetown Direct Reports N/A
Marie Stopes Sierra Leone
Marie Stopes International (MSI) is a global social business providing personalized, high quality, affordable contraception and safe abortion services to women and girls. MSI has 13,000 team members working in 37 countries to deliver our mission: children by choice, not chance. Marie Stopes Sierra Leone (MSSL) is a founding member of the MSI Partnership, operating in Sierra Leone for 30 years and becoming the largest non-governmental provider of family planning (FP) and sexual & reproductive health (SRH) services in the country. MSSL delivers services in every district of Sierra Leone through its outreach, centers/clinics and social marketing channels.
The Role
The Advocacy & External Relations Manager plays a crucial role in enabling the achievement of MSSL’s mission by advocating and influencing policy change, as well as developing, managing and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders that are critical to MSSL, particularly with respect to its mission, goals and objectives of advancing increased access to family planning and sexual and reproductive health rights and services for the low to middle income and vulnerable women and youths of Sierra Leone.
The Advocacy & External Relations Manager will sustain a close and collaborative partnership with external stakeholders, operational staff in the support office and field, so that project deliverables remain a focus of operational activities. This post holder will be able to work productively with all service delivery teams to ensure that program activities serve the indicators in MSSL’s advocacy and external relations framework.
Key Responsibilities Measure 1. Advocacy & Policy
- Lead the implementation of MSSL’s policy interventions ensuring the achievement of policy outcomes to stimulate national policy dialogue and change.
- Monitor and analyze the national SRH policy environment to identify gaps or opportunities for MSSL’s involvement that promote MSSL’s approach to evidence-based decision making
- Provide feedback to both MSSL and MSI Teams on outcome of stakeholder meetings and consultations.
- Identify national policy committees and ensure MSSL is represented at all SRH national policy dialogue meetings
- Ensure the implementation of relevant evaluation and reviews to strengthen policy project effectiveness.
- Cultivate, strengthen and nurture constructive and positive relationships with a wide range of political, technical and financial partners, including national decision makers and policy makers, academic institutions,
- Meaningful MSSL participation in at least 2 major advocacy/policy related events and to ensure quality advocacy/policy outputs in two MSSL organized events
- Detailed and accurate reports on stake holder meetings and consultations provided within 5 days after the event.
- Comprehensive advocacy strategy developed and implemented
- Two stakeholder meeting conducted per year
JF: Advocacy & External Relations Manager
opinion leaders and other partners as champions to advance universal access to contraception and safe abortion.
- Effectively identify and influence relevant debates, opportunities and policy initiatives that can support MSSL’s priorities of: eradicating unsafe abortion; increasing access and choice in long-acting and permanent contraceptive methods; de-medicalization and task-shifting; results based financing; and increasing access for young people.
- Proactively engage and serve as a key resource to increase awareness of MSSL’s global impact and results with strategic partners and individuals. Support the transfer of knowledge, documentation and dissemination of learning, best practices, case studies and successful strategies in relation to MSSL’s policy engagement.
- Monitor policy processes and developments relevant to MSSL. 2. New Business Development
- Lead on all advocacy and external relations activities done by MSSL.
- Work with members of the Country Management Team to develop concepts, proposals, cultivate donor relationships and negotiate with partners.
- Work with members of the Country management team to identify opportunities and funding needs
- Author concept notes and proposals with input from multiple sources
- Create budgets with support from the MSSL finance team
- Develop donor relationships, including securing donor meetings, organizing visits and following up on funding opportunities
- Respond to donor requests, develop concepts and proposals to spearhead the MSSL advocacy initiatives
- Analyze project performance and take proactive action to respond to project needs
External Relations and Communications
- Work with MSSL’s communications team to create corporate communications materials that represent MSSL as an innovative and effective organization.
- Represent MSSL at local and international fora advocating for MSSL mission and vision
- Leading in the development of advocacy messages for vulnerable youths and women.
- Participation in health education and training of youths in colleges and tertiary institutions on the dangers of unplanned pregnancy.
- Three parliamentary sensitization meetings conducted annually
- Four MSSL programme review meetings conducted annually
- MSSL is represented in all in key networks and coalitions.
- MOUs agreed with at least 10 external organizations. (3 women organizations, 3 youth organizations and 20 colleges)
- Referral system developed with women and youth organizations.
- Increase in the number of women and youths receiving LAPM services through the established referral system
- Quality concepts or proposals are successfully submitted.
- Stakeholder Survey undertaken annually.
- Advocacy and external stakeholder database created
- Advocacy materials on increasing access to services developed and distributed.
- Youths peer educators identified and trained in FP/SRH services.
JF: Advocacy & External Relations Manager
- Managing and accompanying external visitors and requests as needed, including the press local and international when needed
- Authoring and making strategic press releases as needed
- Writing success stories on advocacy and other material for donor and MSSL /MSI publications
- Gather, edit and disseminate stories to stakeholders through direct updates or donor reports.
- Proactively engage with national and international media, developing strong relationships with key journalists/actors.
- Proactively engage with FP/SRH advocacy groups for youths and vulnerable women to increase their access to services.
- Manage media engagement and corporate communications for MSSL Qualifications (essential/desirable)
- Women peer educators trained in FP/SRH services from women organizations
- At least success stories published in the MSSL monthly newsletter and two in the MSI publications monthly.
- Increased access to and demand for FP/SRH/PAC services amongst youths and women
- Minimum of a University Degree in Health Science, Social Science, or International Development Management; Legal Sciences, master’s degree is an added advantage.
- Fluent English both oral and written.
- Knowledge of Clinical Health, Community Outreach, Family Planning, Social Marketing and Social Franchising
- Computer literate, proficient in MS Word, Power Point presentation and Excel (essential).
Experience / Knowledge (essential/desirable)
- At least five years’ relevant experience, three of which must be related to Advocacy and Policy work (essential).
- Demonstrated record in engaging and influencing senior policymakers, donors and civil society agencies to deliver strategic advocacy outcomes.
- Established and network of relationships with politicians, decision makers, and international agencies within Sierra Leone.
- Experience in planning of advocacy campaigns and events
- Experience in dealing with press requests
- Experience in working with women and youth pressure groups
- Good knowledge of the health sector in Sierra Leone an important advantage (desirable).
- Fluency in Krio and English (essential).
- Excellent communication skills – excellent verbal and written English communication skills and ability to organize and present information in a compelling way.
- An in-depth knowledge and understanding of both local and government policies.
Personal Attributes
- Strong supporter of the cause for contraception and a woman’s right to safe abortion. (Pro-choice.)
- Results driven.
- Motivated and energetic.
- Strong commitment to the goals and vision of MSI and MSSL.
- Passion for service excellence and improving quality
JF: Advocacy & External Relations Manager
- Strong training skills; able to effectively build capacity.
- Excellent interpersonal/communication skill.
- The highest levels of integrity, and a strong ethical sense.
- Self- managed and able to prioritize and work under pressure.
- courage to push boundaries, make tough decisions and challenge others in line with our mission.
MSI Values
- Mission driven: With unwavering commitment, we exist to empower women and men to have children by choice not chance
- Client centered: We are passionate about our clients and dedicate our efforts to delivering agreed objectives to the highest possible quality
- Accountable: We are accountable for our actions and take responsibility for everything we do to ensure long term sustainability and increased impact
- Courageous: We recruit and nurture talented, passionate and brave people who have the Team Member Behaviors
JF: Advocacy & External Relations Manager
- Work as One MSI
You contribute, use, and share accurate data and evidence to improve understanding, insight and decision-making across MSI, enabling us to maximize our ability to influence others
You share relevant knowledge, expertise and resources to strengthen teamwork and prevent duplication of effort
You actively work as part of a team, providing support and flexibility to colleagues, demonstrating fairness, understanding and respect for all people and cultures.
- Show courage, authenticity and integrity
You hold yourself accountable for the decisions you make and the behaviors you demonstrate You are courageous in challenging others and taking appropriate managed risks.
- Develop and grow
You seek feedback to enable greater self-awareness and provide the same to others in a way which inspires them to be even more effective
You manage your career development including keeping your knowledge and skills up to date.
• Deliver excellence, always
You strive to consistently meet and exceed expectations, putting clients at the Centre of everything, and implement smarter, more efficient ways of performing your role
o You build and maintain effective long-term working relationships with all stakeholders and are a true MSI ambassador.
- Leadership (For Leaders only)
You inspire individuals and teams, through situational leadership, providing clear direction You seek and provide opportunities which motivate team members, helping to develop skills and potential whilst strengthening our talent and succession pipeline
You are aware of emerging developments in our sector, demonstrating strategic insight about our clients and business and encourage this in your team
You articulate a vision of the future which inspires and excites others.
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