SAVE THE CHILDREN
Liberia
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Save the Children saves children’s lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfil their potentials.
Save the Children started work in Liberia in 1991 with an emergency program focusing on the
immediate needs of children affected by the conflict. Save the Children currently operates in
eight counties across Liberia and works in: education, health and child protection, child rights
governance and response to humanitarian emergencies.
Commitment to Child Protection:
Save the Children is committed to keeping children safe from abuse and harm. Candidates
applying for these positions will be subject to the Child Safeguarding recruitment procedures
and checks.
Accountability Commitment:
Save the Children is committed to be transparent to children, their careers and communities
with whom it works by promoting and abiding by existing organizational accountability system
which includes - sharing relevant information on its work with children, their careers and
communities with whom Save the Children works; reporting concerns raised by children, their
careers and communities about the intervention and involving children at all stages of the
intervention.
Advocacy and Policy Officer – (Liberia] Country Office
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Liberia Programme
LOCATION: Monrovia
GRADE: 4 (Competitive Package)
POST TYPE: National
Child Safeguarding:
Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with
or access to children or young people
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Liberia
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Policy and Advocacy Officer will direct Save the Children’s efforts to influence and bring
about change in the awareness, attitudes, behaviors and policies related to the rights of children in
the country programme. She/he will support in developing an integrated policy and advocacy
strategy and implementation plan; monitor and evidence policy change, across all thematic
programme areas and provide technical support to programme teams and ensure delivery of
quality results
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Advocacy and Policy Manager
Dimensions: Save the Children implement health programs in 7 of the 15 counties in the
country – Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland and Grand Kru
counties in Liberia .
Staff directly reporting to this post: None
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Liberia
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Key area
Strategy
 Identify policy and practice change, on the basis of Save the Children’s experience, that
would promote and protect the rights of children
 Formulate key advocacy messages and targets from lessons learned, assessments, research
and evidence gained through project implementation
 Develop and implement advocacy objectives and initiatives, both short and long term,
encompassing a wide range of issues and audiences
 Ensure that voices of children form the basis of Save the Children’s advocacy strategy
 Acquire information and understanding of social policy and adapt strategies as necessary
 Maintain a strategic overview of issues affecting children’s rights, monitoring trends in the
external environment and inputting to organizational strategy and planning processes
 Keep a watching brief on policy makers and other key players in relation to children’s rights
issues and identify opportunities to raise awareness and influence policy change
 Strengthen the capacity of the CSOs and other advocacy organization in budget advocacy and
budget tracking.
 Build capacity on the Health Advocacy Platform (including mobilizing CSOs working on the
budget to advocate for universal health coverage and pro poor health financing mechanism).
 Participate in relevant policy meetings and committees with the aim of contributing positively
the Save the Children position on health issue.
 Formulate key health advocacy messages and targets from lessons learned, assessments,
research and evidence gained through project implementation.
 Ensure that voices of children form the basis of Save the Children advocacy strategy.
Influencing:
 Develop good knowledge of local and national government structure, parliamentary and
political processes and key decision making structures and how to influence them in issues
related to the SC Everyone campaign.
 Undertake a range of lobbying, communications and other activities to inform and persuade
policy makers, including donors and politicians, of the value of Save the Children policy and
advocacy recommendations.
 Build systems for research, analysis and documentation that underpin evidence based
advocacy and influencing at national level
 Develop communication strategies based on through analysis and participation of key
stakeholders for generating key advocacy messages to influence change.
 Produce reports, briefing papers and presentations for internal and external audience, as
directed
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Liberia
Collaboration & Representation:
 Develop strategic relationships with other agencies engaged in health advocacy and policy
work.
 Develop and maintain a network of external contacts with key individuals in the government,
NGO sector, civil society and the media.
 Support the Liberia Midwives Association and Everyone Campaign ambassador to campaign
for improved newborn health in the country
 Build the capacity of staff from Save the Children and partner agencies in advocacy and
communications.
 Represent Save the Children at various policy forums and advocacy opportunities at national
and international levels, as directed.
 Work with and provide support to the health teams at county levels in supporting advocacy
activities implementation as is relevant and necessary.
Programme Development:
 Support the programme team in the development of research methodologies, data analysis,
report writing and publication.
 Ensure that all projects in Liberia have a clearly developed advocacy component and provide
ongoing support and guidance to programme staff in monitoring and implementing advocacy
activities.
 In conjunction with the quality programme team, write regular progress reports, including
annual impact monitoring reports.
 Contribute to the development of proposals and secure funding on behalf of the country
programme where necessary.
 Perform other tasks as required to ensure the smooth running of the country programme.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and
role modelling Save the Children values
 Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them
the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development
to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not
achieved
Ambition:

Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility
for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Liberia
 Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
 Future orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:

Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and
external partners and supporters
 Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
 Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
 Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
 Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:

Honest, encourages openness and transparency
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The post holder will possess a high degree of analytical skill, political acumen, ability to facilitate
change, ability to influence, and ability to communicate key advocacy messages effectively and
convincingly to a diverse audience, national and international levels.
1. The post holder will possess a high degree of analytical skill, political acumen, ability to
facilitate change, ability to influence, and ability to communicate key advocacy messages
effectively and convincingly to a diverse audience, national and international levels.
2. University degree in social policy and research, communication or related social science
field.
3.
Experience in advocacy and policy development / research in the development context.
4. Good understanding of the possibilities and tactics for influencing decision and policy
makers, politicians, donors, and other key actors.
5. Knowledge of the media and its role in raising awareness and shaping public policy.
6. Knowledge of the policies, functions, structures and decision-making processes of key
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Liberia
international institutions with regard to children’s rights.
7. Good understanding of strategies for achieving children’s rights through participatory
processes, and the links with gender, diversity and other aspects of identity.
8. Excellent conceptual and analytical skills and demonstrable ability to think creatively,
strategically, innovatively and practically to ensure achievement of desired change
objectives.
9. Sound understanding of rights and development issues in the region and the work of
NGOs and other players in the international humanitarian aid and development sector.
10. Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audience at local, national and
international levels.
11. Proven communication skills, in particular, written English.
12. Commitment to Save the Children values
Desirable:
13. Good knowledge and understanding of the issues within the health, including health
financing, Familiar with relevant policies on child rights
14. Good contacts within key government Ministries and including: the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare, Ministry of Gender and Development and Ministry of Planning and
Economic Affairs; international community and local NGO and civil society networks.
How to Apply:
Letter of applications along with a copy of your resume, a contact telephone number and the
names of 3 referees who you have previously worked for, quoting their email addresses
properly and send to this email address [email protected] to the HR/Support
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Liberia
Services Department. Clearly label/quote the job title above on your envelope and hand deliver
to the Security Guard at Save the Children’s nearest offices in (Monrovia, Margibi, Bong and
Zwedru). Deadline for the submission of application is Monday-6th April 2015 at 4:00 PM. If you
fail to indicate the job title on the envelope, your application will not be accepted. Only short
listed candidates will be contacted. Phone calls are not acceptable. Also, kindly note that in
view of the current emergency situation, applications will be vetted as we receive them and
the recruitment process may be concluded before the deadline.
Save the Children is an Equal Opportunities Employer – Qualified female candidates are
encouraged to apply.