Overview
The Advocacy Specialist will provide strategic leadership for country-level advocacy, strengthening UNICEF Somalia’s ability to shape policy, mobilize support and resources, and elevate public engagement on child rights priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support the development and implementation of advocacy strategies.
- Serve as an advocacy focal point within the Communication section.
- Contribute to communication and advocacy efforts including the preparation of advocacy products, strategic messaging, media engagement and digital communication outputs.
- Support the management and coordination of communication and advocacy grants and partnerships.
- Coordinate, implement, monitor and evaluate strategies to achieve positive outcomes for children.
- Strengthen UNICEF Somalia’s policy influence and public positioning.
- Support senior leadership engagement with government, donors, UN partners, parliamentarians, civil society, and influencers.
- Generate political and financial commitments for children.
- Shape strategic advocacy moments linked to humanitarian and development priorities.
- Strengthen stakeholder advocacy capacity at federal and state levels.
- Maintain strong advocacy coordination with Donors.
- Support visibility, donor narrative requirements, and grant-related strategic engagement.
- Provide technical support in developing a robust advocacy strategy.
- Analyze national political, economic and cultural trends.
- Propose new approaches and innovative ideas.
- Coordinate the implementation of the advocacy strategy and plan.
- Establish baselines against which advocacy outcomes are regularly monitored.
- Analyze the effectiveness of the strategy, approach and activities.
- Drive the day-to-day production and dissemination of advocacy M&E results.
- Manage day-to-day delivery of key projects/ workstreams.
- Review work plans to ensure progress and delivery.
- Address obstacles and bottlenecks.
- Ensure effectiveness and transparent use of budget and resources.
- Contribute to building stakeholder capacities in advocacy.
- Identify, build and maintain formal and informal advocacy partnerships and networks.
- Adopt a consultative approach and solicit the support of key stakeholders.
- Support the Communication team in developing and disseminating communication products.
- Contribute to digital communication and visibility efforts.
- Provide communication and advocacy support to programme sections as needed.
Required Experience
- At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Communication, Advocacy, Public Affairs, Health advocacy, Child survival initiatives, Budget management, Monitoring and Evaluation and any other related fields.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
Qualifications
Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Communications, Public Health, Social Science, International Development or any other related fields.
