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Advocacy, Partnership and Communications Consultant

This job is no longer available

United States
Full-time

The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia. The Department of Social Affairs (DSA) of the African Union Commission plays a leadership role in ensuring the overall coherence of social development programmes and in promoting, monitoring and evaluating associated policies and strategies. To realise the continental vision, DSA derives its vision, together with accompanying strategy to complement the AUC efforts.

The Division of AIDS, TB, Malaria and Other Infectious Diseases (OIDs) in the Department of Social Affairs provides a leadership role in policy development, advocacy, coordination and monitoring and evaluation in AIDS, TB and Malaria and other infectious diseases. It works in collaboration with Member States, Regional Economic Communities and development partners. It primarily coordinates the processes of developing, implementing and monitoring programmes in prevention and control of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, diseases surveillance and response and disaster preparedness and response. The division also serves as the Secretariat of AIDS Watch Africa (AWA), which was created by a grouping of African Union Heads of State and Government at their 2001 Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Other Related Infectious Diseases, in Abuja, Nigeria as an advocacy platform at Head of State level to monitor the African response and mobilize resources to fight the AIDS Pandemic.

Domestic financing for heath plays a vital role in supporting resilient and sustainable health programmess in countries that must be able to respond to a myriad of expanding health challenges including those related to AIDS, TB and Malaria. The Division of AIDS, TB, Malaria and Other Infectious Diseases works with countries to promote and monitor domestic financing for health. As the economies of African countries continue to grow, increasing domestic financing for health is essential to ensure countries improve the quality and effectiveness of health care and leave no one behind as they progress on the path to Universal Health Coverage. As both a practical and political matter, countries must be prepared to assume greater ownership of their health financing as the onus of global health funding is shifting to a model of shared responsibility.

Areas of Responsibility: 
  • The United Nations Foundation seeks an Advocacy, Partnership and Communications Consultant to support AWA in communications, advocacy, establishing strategic partnerships, and supporting resource mobilization efforts. The consultant will primarily work with the AU Commission, Member States, African Union Organs, AU Statutory Bodies, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Health Organisations, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and other development partners, private sector and non-state actors in order to advance this agenda.
  • Core responsibilities of the consultant include:
  • Elaborate and implement communications strategies, including media strategy to achieve the AWA agenda;
  • Establish and maintain communication channels with continental, regional and national focal points and the media in order to disseminate of information and promote dialogue;
  • Assist in the implementation of the communications strategy in the lead up to the Africa Leadership Meeting: Investing in Health and develop and implement a communications strategy to follow up on commitments made during the meeting;
  • Facilitate the update of and disseminate continent-wide country-level performance monitoring reports such as the AWA Domestic Financing Scorecard;
  • Advocate for and sensitize Member States and other stakeholders on commitments of Heads of State and Government related to the ownership, coordination and implementation of domestic financing commitments, and harmonized HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria policies;
  • Maintain contact and collaborate with relevant institutions involved in efforts to address HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, RECs, UN Agencies, AU specialized institutions, NGOs, and CSOs with a view to raising awareness and maximizing implementation of pertinent decisions and programmes;
  • Support the Organisation of High Level Meetings, Side Events and all Statutory Meetings of the African Union Commission;
  • Facilitate, coordinate and contribute to the development of briefing notes, strategy documents, guidelines, speeches, talking points and fact sheets.
  • Help lead efforts to document results and lessons from projects. Prepare input for reports, slides, and other materials as required;
  • Work closely with various business units in Administration and Human Resources Management, Programming, Budgeting and Finance, Office of the Secretary General, Protocol Directorate, Directorate of Conference Management and Publications, Information and Communication to ensure that the Division’s priorities are fully supported;
  • Work with colleagues to refine and implement AWA Resource Mobilisation Plan;
  • Contribute to the design of technical proposals/programmes and/or review programme/project proposals and activity reports in accordance with AU and donor requirements and procedures;
  • Prepare documents and write reports on issues relating to domestic financing, HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria;
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Task Management

  • The consultant will work closely with the Head of AIDS, TB, Malaria and OIDs, in the African Union Commission Department of Social Affairs, who will provide day-to-day and strategic direction and will administratively report to Elizabeth Ivanovich, Director for Global Health, at UNF. The consultant will participate in monthly check-in calls with Elizabeth Ivanovich.
  • Based on funding available and performance, the consultant may be renewed for an additional period of work.
  • Candidates must have a Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences with training in advocacy and communications. Additional education in public health, health promotion or health financing is an advantage. 
Skills/Experience: 
  • Candidates must have at least 5 years of progressive work experience in public health advocacy and communications with focus on HIV/AIDS, TB and/or malaria at a global or regional level and experienced working with officials at highest levels of government.
  • Clear understanding of current challenges of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria treatment and prevention availability, advocacy, resource mobilization, governance and accountability mechanisms, particularly on the African continent health systems in AU Member States; and fair knowledge of operations of Ministries of Health, Regional Economic Communities and
  • International Organisations with complex bureaucracies;
  • Familiarity with the administrative and management practices and processes typically employed by international organisations;
  • Excellent organisational and time-management skills and a proven ability to deliver under tight deadlines and work well under pressure;
  • Public speaking skills and knowledge of oral communication techniques to make presentations, provide programme consultation, and credible response to inquiries;
  • Demonstrable writing skills, including strong ability to communicate to media, political, technical, and scientific audiences;
  • Excellent skills in translating highly technical information into presentations, briefings, reports and funding proposals;
  • Ability to collect, analyze and use data to make, recommend, and communicate decisions of a technical nature to various stakeholders;
  • Working knowledge of policy analysis and programme/project development, implementation and monitoring;
  • Excellent computer skills, including the Microsoft Office Suite and software for designing communications materials. 

Personal Abilities

  • Ability to work under pressure, stay on track and meet deadlines within budget;
  • Analytical and problem-solving abilities;
  • Diplomacy and communication skills;
  • Proven ability to use clear, concise language in correspondence as well as including content fitting for the purpose and audiences when preparing written briefs and reports;
  • Strong interpersonal relationship practices, ability to work as a part of a team, and ability to meet and engage with persons of diverse backgrounds in a multicultural environment;
  • Ability to function with a high level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team-spirit;
  • Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible;
    Pro-active and solutions-oriented.

Language Requirement

  • Applicants must be proficient in at least one of the African Union working languages. Knowledge of one more or several other working languages would be an added advantage.

Organization Info

United Nations Foundation

Overview
Headquarters: 
Washington, DC, United States
Founded: 
1998
About Us
Mission: 

The United Nations is the one international organi­zation with the reach and vision capable of solving global problems.

The United Nations Foundation links the UN's work with others around the world, mobilizing the energy and expertise of business and non-governmental organizations to help the UN tackle issues including climate change, global health, peace and security, women's empowerment, poverty eradication, energy access, and U.S.-UN relations.

The United Nations Foundation is honored to work with you and the United Nations to foster a more peaceful, prosperous and just world.

Listing Stats

Post Date: 
Jun 15 2019
Active Until: 
Jul 15 2019
Hiring Organization: 
United Nations Foundation
industry: 
Nonprofit