Overview
The National Advocacy Analyst is responsible for the technical coordination and implementation of strategies to strengthen policy, regulatory, and financing environments for Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) in Ethiopia. The role provides analytical support to global advocacy strategies, focusing on midwifery models of care and access to MNH commodities.
Key Responsibilities
- Formulate and implement integrated country advocacy plans for midwifery and MNH commodities.
- Target and track financial and policy goals to increase investments and policy reform related to MNH.
- Engage key national stakeholders, including ministries, parliamentarians, and midwifery associations.
- Strengthen and expand national advocacy coalitions.
- Shape advocacy messages informed by cost-effectiveness and political economy analysis.
- Advocate for and support government-led development, adoption, and funding of a national midwifery strategy.
- Drive evidence-based policy and regulatory change and catalyse domestic investment in midwifery.
- Coordinate investment case analysis at the country level.
- Advocate for the integration of Digital Training using the Safe Delivery+ programme into midwife training.
- Spearhead efforts to integrate MNH priorities into national digital health strategies and policies.
- Develop SMART strategies for MNH commodities advocacy.
- Support governments to update policy and regulatory environments for MNH commodities.
- Advocate for the inclusion of new MNH commodities in national essential medicines lists and procurement cycles.
- Advocate for sustainable MNH commodity financing and affordable MNH healthcare policies.
- Ensure all activities strictly adhere to compliance rules, focusing on permissible non-legislative actions.
- Contribute to achieving milestones determined during the inception phase.
- Work closely with project staff to ensure coherence across grant activities.
- Participate in relevant internal coordination meetings.
- Work in close coordination with Gates Foundation country focal points.
- Perform any other duties as assigned.
Required Experience
- At least two years of relevant experience with a solid understanding of advocacy work (policy research/analysis/design, diplomacy, strategy formulation, influencing strategy changes, representation at a high level, public communication).
- Experience coordinating and implementing targeted, evidence-based advocacy campaigns, ideally utilizing structured approaches like SMART Advocacy.
- Experience in advocating for sustainable maternal and newborn health (MNH) commodity financing and affordable MNH healthcare policies within the framework of universal health coverage will be an added advantage.
- Experience working with UN agencies, government, NGOs, or youth/civil society groups with demonstrated success in building and sustaining national advocacy coalitions.
- Strong drafting and writing skills with attention to detail.
- Good organizational, coordination, and time-management skills, and experience in programme support and management.
- Self-starter, proactive, with a passion for issues relevant to the UNFPA mandate.
- Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools are mandatory.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree in public health, social sciences, public policy, international relations, development studies, communications, or a related field.
