Advocacy Focal Point

Job Posting Organization:
Action contre la Faim, established in 1979, is a prominent non-governmental organization dedicated to combating hunger globally. With a strong commitment to humanitarian principles such as independence, neutrality, non-discrimination, and professionalism, the organization has been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts for over 45 years. Its mission focuses on saving lives by eliminating hunger through various strategies including prevention, detection, and treatment of under-nutrition, especially in emergency situations caused by conflicts or natural disasters. Action contre la Faim operates in 57 countries and has provided assistance to more than 26 million people in 2024, showcasing its extensive reach and impact in the humanitarian sector. The organization emphasizes seven main areas of expertise: Nutrition and Health, Mental Health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Psychosocial Support, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security and Livelihoods, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Advocacy, Climate, and Research. More information can be found on their official website www.actioncontrelafaim.org.

Job Overview:
The Advocacy Focal Point will work under the supervision of the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director, playing a crucial role in shaping and implementing advocacy strategies for Action contre la Faim in Afghanistan. This position involves acting as the primary advocacy representative for the mission, providing direct support, and developing strategic engagements that align with the organization's global and mission-specific objectives. The role requires collaboration with program and support teams, as well as local partners, to enhance their advocacy capabilities. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that programmatic data and analysis are effectively utilized for advocacy and communication purposes. Additionally, the Advocacy Focal Point will develop and execute external communication initiatives that resonate with ACF's mission and advocacy strategies, aiming to influence external stakeholders and promote the organization's objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the advocacy focal point for Action contre la Faim in Afghanistan, providing strategic support and guidance to the mission.
• Develop and implement an advocacy strategy that aligns with ACF's global objectives and the specific needs of the Afghanistan mission.
• Collaborate with program and support teams to build their capacity in advocacy, ensuring they have the necessary tools and knowledge to engage effectively.
• Analyze and synthesize complex humanitarian issues into strategic insights that inform advocacy efforts.
• Develop external communication initiatives that promote ACF's mission and advocacy goals, targeting relevant stakeholders.
• Engage in high-level representation and negotiation with external partners and stakeholders to influence aid policies and practices.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of advocacy initiatives and adjust strategies as necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
• Provide training and support to local partners in advocacy-related activities, enhancing their ability to engage in humanitarian advocacy.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in International Relations, International law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Humanitarian Law, Social Sciences, Politics, Development Studies, or a related field. Proven experience in humanitarian advocacy is essential, particularly in high-level representation, negotiation, and influencing aid policies. The ideal candidate will have a strong analytical ability to synthesize complex issues into actionable insights, along with experience in humanitarian or development aid and project management. A solid understanding of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), humanitarian principles, and the broader humanitarian system is required. Candidates should demonstrate strategic and critical thinking skills, as well as proficiency in advocacy tools and processes. Excellent diplomatic, negotiation, and communication skills are also necessary for this role.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in a relevant field such as International Relations, International Humanitarian Law, Social Sciences, Politics, or Development Studies is required for this position. This educational background provides the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively engage in humanitarian advocacy and navigate complex political environments.

Experience:
Candidates should possess significant experience in humanitarian advocacy, particularly in roles that involve high-level representation and negotiation. Experience working in insecure or volatile environments is highly desirable, as it equips candidates with the skills needed to operate effectively in challenging contexts. Additionally, experience in humanitarian or development aid and project management is essential to understand the operational aspects of advocacy work.

Languages:
Fluency in professional English is mandatory, with advanced writing abilities being crucial for effective communication and advocacy efforts. While English is the primary language required for this position, knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly those relevant to the local context in Afghanistan.

Additional Notes:
This position is available for both national and international applications. National applicants will be offered a 6-month contract based on ACF's internal and national salary conditions in Afghanistan. International applicants will receive a fixed-term contract under French legislation for 6 months, with a monthly gross salary ranging from 2597 to 2968 euros, depending on experience, including a 13th-month salary. Additional benefits include reimbursement of pension insurance for non-French citizens, annual salary increases, monthly per diem and living allowances, cold allowances for winter equipment, child allowances, transportation and accommodation coverage, and comprehensive medical coverage. Employees are entitled to 25 days of paid leave per year, 20 rest and recuperation (RnR) days, and airfare reimbursement for RnR periods.