Summary of Position

Job Title: Head of Policy and Advocacy

Date: May 2021

 

Department: Sector Effectiveness

Grade: G1

 

Reports to (title): Country Director

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal

Direct Reports (titles): Policy Specialists / Project Managers

Frequent national and periodic international travel involved.

Clean water, decent toilets and hygiene are three essentials that help people lead dignified and healthy lives. They should be normal for everyone, but for millions of people they are not. We are determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere within a generation.

Purpose of Role

The Head of Policy and Advocacy leads and manages the Policy and Advocacy team, overseeing implementation, staff and budget to achieve WaterAid Nepal’s strategic goals, advising both staff and senior country management on the design and implementation of policy and advocacy work and campaigning as well as contribute to global advocacy initiatives. The Head of Policy and Advocacy liaises closely with all Programmes and Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning teams to ensure that advocacy goals are reflected in the priorities of programmes and PMEL.

Description

Responsibilities

·         Lead, oversee and contribute to daily policy and advocacy operations, leading the team ensuring that operations are impactful

·         Lead the development of evidence-based policy papers and analysis of relevant national policies as well as identify windows of influence, including regional and global, and develop effective strategies guided by a human rights lens to ensure WaterAid Nepal’s influencing strategy can have maximum impact.

·         Lead policy development by defining policy goals and opportunities that fulfil WaterAid’s strategic objectives to inform advocacy plans

·         Lead on the development of key advocacy messages and on the identification of strategic and targeted audiences that can act as agents of change

·         Lead on and ensure effective communication in policy and advocacy work, between teams, and with other stakeholders

·         Support the organisation’s operational and strategic content and budget planning by providing leadership and advice related to policy and advocacy plans ensuring the involvement and participation of teams adhering to WA financial guidelines and MoP

·         Work closely with Country Management Team and Programme/Project Leads/Managers to ensure that they are aware of policy level challenges and opportunities that arise, and strategies are designed, planned and implemented based on holistic analysis.

·         Co-ordinate policy analysis and development for national advocacy initiatives and campaigns and promote linkages within WaterAid Nepal to improve high quality analysis of latest developments in sector policy, budgets and performance, with a focus on the national WASH context and in relation identify and lead areas for integration with Health, Education, Climate and such relevant team/unit/department.

·         Maintain up-to-date knowledge of wider social, political and economic contexts as well as sector-specific issues to play an active role representing WaterAid in national policy debates advocating for sector policies, budgets and practice that improve the lives of the marginalised and vulnerable people and communities

·         Analyse risks related to policy and advocacy work and ensure this analysis is reflected in the approach of WaterAid aligning to human rights principles and approaches

·         In liaison with Programme and Monitoring & Evaluation teams, initiate case studies and other research to adequately inform stakeholders about the critical issues in the WASH and cross sector

·         Develop and maintain productive working relationships with key actors in national policy debates, including government officials, development partners and representatives of civil society

·         Support WaterAid Nepal to strengthen civil society’s policy engagement capacity in the WASH sector to effectively engage with national and local policy making and implementation processes

·         Lead development of fundraising proposals and programme designs for policy and advocacy work and provide reports of activities for WaterAid and different stakeholders and audiences in close collaboration with Programmes and Business Development teams.

·         Foster teamwork, collaboration and effectively manage performance.

·         Take active measures to address gender and social inclusion, particularly relating to gender, caste, disabilities, in operational planning, leadership behaviours and activities

·         Support partners in developing and aligning policy and advocacy agenda for creating synergies in the work.

·         Keep close liaison with Regional Advocacy Manager- South Asia and Policy and Campaigns Department (PCD) in WaterAid UK.

 

Other Responsibilities

·         As a key member of the Country Management Team contribute proactively to CP management and organisational effectiveness

·         Ensure highest standards of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing in line with GDPR (WAUK) within and outside the organisation

·         Be aware of, understand and comply with the WaterAid Code of Conduct and all WaterAid Nepal policies and procedures

·         Actively contribute to shape and participate in emergency response if necessary

·         Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Country Director

 

Person Specification

Essential

·         Masters in Social Sciences, Public Policy or relevant discipline

·         Minimum 7 years of experience in similar senior leadership roles

·         Proven track record of developing and delivering high impact influencing strategies in Nepal, including working to influence key Government departments, donors and other development actors in the country to achieve tangible policy change

·         A strong track record of achieving policy and advocacy objectives through effective influencing approaches

·         Robust knowledge of the Nepal socio-economic and political context, in particular in the development and WASH sectors, including key players and how to influence change in this policy landscape

·         An understanding of human rights approaches, national and international frameworks and policies

·         Experience in managing, motivating and developing a high performing team

·         Extensive experience of high-level lobbying, managing relationships and risks

·         Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, including a keen political ‘savviness’ and proven application in order to achieve political change

·         A great communicator, able to explain complex ideas in a simple and compelling way to convince key stakeholders and audience

·         Commitment to WaterAid’s values and a working style that reflects these

·         IT skills particularly MS Word, Excel and Outlook

·         Fluency in spoken and written Nepali language

·         High level proficiency in spoken and written English, with good interpersonal, negotiating and persuasive skills

 

Desirable

·         Experience of conducting trainings and capacity building

·         Strong network amongst different actors (including government agencies)

·         Self-motivated, creative, adaptive and ability to perform with minimum supervision

·         Experience of working effectively within a culturally diverse and matrix organisation

 

WaterAid is committed to ensuring that wherever we work in the world there is no tolerance for the abuse of power, privilege or trust. WaterAid reinforces a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of inappropriate behaviour, abuse, harassment, or exploitation of any kind. The safeguarding of our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf, is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All staff and volunteers are required to share in this commitment through our Global Code of Conduct. We will conduct the most appropriate preemployment references and checks to ensure high standards are maintained.

WaterAid is an equal opportunities, disability-confident employer and committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, fairness and equality.