Advocacy specialists

Malawi continues to suffer from acute maize shortages and chronic under-nutrition, with small-scale farmers, female-headed households and people living with HIV and AIDS facing the greatest risks. CISANET is a Malawian Network of civil society organisations, including international as well as local NGOs, farmers associations and other interested individuals.

As agricultural production in Malawi continues to be dominated by smallholder farmers, CISANET’s aim is to give a greater voice and ensure active participation of these smallholders and in policy dialogue. As an advocacy adviser with CISANET you’ll help the organisation to develop an effective advocacy strategy and train staff in advocacy and campaigning techniques.

What does the role involve?

• Building the capacity of CISANET staff and network members in advocacy work and strategies, by organising workshops and giving other training as necessary
• Guiding the development of an effective advocacy and media strategy for CISANET
• Leading on marketing and communications activities
• Monitoring and evaluation of advocacy activities and work

Skills, qualifications and experience required

Ideally, you’ll have a degree level qualification with strong knowledge and experience of advocacy strategy development. As you’ll be working with limited resources, you’ll need to be highly creative in planning advocacy campaigns and developing necessary materials. Strong monitoring and evaluation skills are also essential, as are good communication skills. Flexibility, patience and a sense of humour are important qualities that will help you adapt to living and working in a different culture.

And the rest...

Landlocked Malawi is situated in south-eastern Africa, bordering Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. You’ll be based in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital. There are two well-stocked supermarkets in town and several market areas with a wide range of fresh foods, clothes, second-hand shoes and household equipment. Lake Malawi is around 1-2 hours’ drive from Lilongwe, so it’s a popular option for weekends away.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our support package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

In Sri Lanka, people with disabilities have limited access to their basic rights, leading to economic and social exclusion. Several non-government organisations have taken steps to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities including AKASA Association of Women with Disabilities. Akasa encourage women to take a lead role in their own development. The organisation now wants to develop the next generation of leaders to take it forward.

What does the role involve?

• Capacity-building senior management in governance, advocacy, networking and leadership development
• Creating an advocacy strategy for the organisation, advising on and planning specific advocacy and networking initiatives, and planning and supporting succession activity
• Training grass roots and national leaders for the movement in leadership, governance and management

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You will need a degree in a relevant humanities field with a minimum of five years working on advocacy and rights-based approaches. Experience in capacity-building and training in advocacy is required, and you will require patience and commitment to raising awareness of professionalism and professional practice. You’ll need to be a self-starter, willing to use your initiative to find the most constructive and effective ways to achieve the role's objectives and activities.

And the rest...

Anuradhapura is a town of approximately 40,000 situated in the dry zone of the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The town has two distinct parts: the “new town” and the “old town”. The old town, or ancient city, is the site of the first capital of Sri Lanka, which was the former seat of the kings. The new town is relatively modern with many conveniences including banks, good bus services and mobile phone coverage.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

This role will be working with AKAP PINOY, an organisation that was established to unite all people with disabilities and has a membership that includes people with a wide range of physical impairments. It is the first and only organisation that works across disabilities in the Philippines. It develops work opportunities for disadvantaged people, and increasingly now needs to focus on advocacy.

What does the role involve?

• Facilitating the development of an advocacy strategic plan, including conducting research and networking activities amongst key stakeholders
• Helping to develop specific tools in support of AKAP’s advocacy work
• Upgrading the organisation's website
• Providing professional support and guidance to the development of AKAP’s staff
• Helping AKAP to realise funding opportunities to support the important advocacy component of its work

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You will need experience of strategic management and planning for advocacy, though not necessarily in a development context, and experience of developing and coordinating the activities of diverse groups of non-governmental organisation partners. You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and have good networking skills to link and bring groups together. You'll be a self-starter and be able to confidently recommend new strategic directions for the organisation. Because of the media you'll be working with, knowledge of radio as a broadcast medium is also desirable.

And the rest...

Iligan City on Mindanao is called the ‘City of Waterfalls’ as it is surrounded by several of them. The city has a rural rather than urban feel and the climate is generally hot and humid. There are good facilities with plenty of restaurants serving Filipino, Chinese and European food. There are a number of leisure activities including bowling, karaoke, restaurants and relaxing on nearby beaches.