Overview
The Child Rights and Government Relations Senior Advisor will provide strategic leadership to advance children’s rights through policy influence and strong engagement with government institutions. The role strengthens the integration of international child rights standards into national policies and systems, leading high-level advocacy with decision-makers.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead strategic engagement with national and local government institutions, ministries, parliamentary committees, and thematic working groups.
- Analyse government policy priorities, reform agendas, and budget decisions to identify implications for children and opportunities for influence.
- Support the development and implementation of government affairs strategies for priority sectors.
- Maintain and expand strategic relationships with government, civil society networks, and institutional actors.
- Lead and coordinate the development of high-quality advocacy, policy, and research products, including briefs, key messages, reports, talking points, and policy papers.
- Monitor national and global policy developments related to Ukraine, providing analysis and recommendations for strategic organisational action.
- Provide analysis and advocacy guidance on humanitarian policies, access constraints, and operational challenges affecting children and families.
- Support the development of humanitarian advocacy products for national, regional, and international audiences.
- Lead advocacy efforts promoting the transition from institutional care to family-based care.
- Analyse government DI strategies, social policy reforms, and budget allocations, providing recommendations to strengthen child-centred, evidence-based reform processes.
- Engage with key government authorities, national stakeholders, and civil society actors to advance policy frameworks that accelerate DI and enhance child protection systems.
Required Experience
- Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in advocacy, public policy, government relations, child rights, social policy, journalism, foreign affairs, or related fields.
- Track record of engaging effectively with government ministries, parliament, national agencies, or other institutional partners.
- Experience analyzing public policy trends, political developments, and government reform agendas, especially within social protection or child rights sectors.
- Demonstrated experience producing high-quality policy/advocacy outputs, including policy briefs, strategy documents, and research-based reports.
- Practical experience in relationship and stakeholder management, particularly with institutions, donors, foundations, or high-level partners.
- Experience conducting policy, donor, or contextual research, including synthesizing complex information and producing actionable recommendations.
- Experience applying child rights standards, safeguarding, or ethical principles in programming or advocacy contexts.
- Proven ability to work under tight deadlines, manage multiple priorities, and deliver high-quality outputs in fast-paced or politically sensitive environments.
- Experience working directly on de-institutionalisation, child protection system reform, or alternative care advocacy and/or in humanitarian advocacy, conflict-affected settings, or emergency response is desirable.
- Direct engagement with child-led or youth advocacy groups or experience supporting meaningful child participation in policy processes is desirable.
- Experience working in or with (I)NGOs, UN agencies, government ministries, or international organisations on policy influence is desirable.
- Experience contributing to national policy consultations, legislative processes, or reform working groups is desirable.
- Understanding international diplomacy or multilateral engagement relevant to Ukraine is desirable.
Qualifications
- University degree in Public Policy, International Relations, Human Rights, Social Sciences, Law, International Development, Political Science, or a related field.
- Additional training or certification in child rights, public administration, advocacy, government relations, humanitarian policy, or child protection systems is a strong asset.
