Advocacy & Program Manager (will start as consultancy)

Job Description

Title: Advocacy & Program Manager (will start as consultancy)

Company Name: Mercy Corps

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Contractual

Job Context:
∎ Background: The `Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance` (ZFRA) is an alliance of ten organizations including international NGOs, private sector and research organizations, who have come together with the support of the Zurich Foundation to drive better policy and practice to reduce the negative impact of floods on people`s and communities` ability to thrive.
∎ Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action by helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps is completing its registration in Bangladesh and will begin country operations, focusing primarily on responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Southeast Bangladesh. Mercy Corps is the Advocacy and Influence lead within ZFRA and will support national Alliance partners in implementing an advocacy strategy to improve Bangladesh`s resilience to flooding.
∎ Purpose / Project Description: Bangladesh has a fairly well developed set of policies related to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and development. There are significant needs and opportunities to improve flood resilience as well as take lessons from Bangladesh to the global policy arena. For example, local governments can improve the implementation of national strategies and policies and increase investment in preparedness activities. Moreover, there could be more effective channels for funneling innovative finance to support flood resilience in vulnerable areas of the country.
∎ Mercy Corps Bangladesh is seeking an Advocacy and Program Manager to support the ZFRA to influence national actors to improve national and sub-national flood resilience policies and funding. The Advocacy and Program Manager will conduct stakeholder analysis as well as in-depth policy analysis to support capacity building at local levels to improve planning and execution of budgets, and advocate at the Deputy Commissioner and national level for funding to be allocated at the local level. The priority advocacy areas include improved funding flows for flood resilience building activities at the local level, loss and damage, and flood resilience in humanitarian contexts. S/he will coordinate with Mercy Corps field-teams in Cox`s Bazar, Zurich Alliance partners in Bangladesh, as well as interact with government, UN and private sector representatives. S/he will work with the Asia Program Manager based in Jakarta, and the Program Manager based in London, to support the implementation of the ZFRA Bangladesh advocacy strategy and ensure Mercy Corps conveys an articulate, well-informed, field-driven perspective to national policymakers.
∎ The Advocacy and Program Manager will also establish and maintain relations with national Zurich Alliance partners Concern and Practical Action to develop policy-relevant documents including memos, policy briefs, talking points, assessments of on-the-ground dynamics and recommendations. The Advocacy and Program Manager will analyze this information and share it with global policy staff to inform Zurich Alliance global advocacy efforts. S/he will track and analyze key policy initiatives in Bangladesh, informing the global Policy and Advocacy team, and partner agencies when necessary. The Advocacy and Program Manager will be asked to engage in trainings, and organize workshops in coordination with the Zurich Alliance Bangladesh team, helping raise awareness about flood resilience nationally. S/he will assist the knowledge, community or research workstreams, and may be asked to participate in global, regional or national policy and advocacy events.
∎ The Consultant will report to:
∎ Team Leader, Mercy Corps Bangladesh
∎ Zurich Flood Resilience Asia Manager, Mercy Corps

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Program Management and Support:
∎ Guide and manage the ZFRA advocacy strategy for Mercy Corps and partners to deliver high-quality resilience initiatives, with a focus on demonstrating innovation, influence and impact in relation to ZFRA Bangladesh advocacy priorities.
∎ Supports national Zurich Alliance partners Concern and Practical Action around the refinement and delivery of advocacy work plans and events to align activities and approaches with the agreed Alliance strategy.
∎ Leads the development and dissemination of a range of advocacy products including reviewing and contributing to the finalization and dissemination of research products from the project.
∎ Works closely with Zurich Alliance partners Concern and Practical Action on the creation and management of research and learning to ensure evidence and messages from the program align with national advocacy goals.
∎ Support the Team Leader to ensure the ZFRA is compliant with donor and country requirements, and communication protocols.
∎ Works with internal support teams to manage the budget and ensure donor compliance.
∎ Strategy, Thought Leadership and Influence:
∎ Develop and actively guide the consolidation of evidence and learning from relevant policies and strategies related to flood resilience in Bangladesh to develop strategic advocacy goals and objectives.
∎ Lead Mercy Corps policy and advocacy related to flood resilience, DRR and climate change adaptation at the national level, and lead field-based advocacy and communications work in close collaboration with the global team.
∎ Keep abreast of new thinking, research and innovations in areas of flood resilience by leading researchers, donors and practitioners, with particular focus on national themes and priorities including in Cox's Bazar.
∎ Research, Learning and Knowledge Management:
∎ Facilitate strategic learning events and opportunities, both internal and external, around flood resilience.
∎ Identify and manage consultants to implement research, ensuring strong oversight and quality control and support other agency level research initiatives that are linked to flood resilience.
∎ Track national, regional and local level policy developments affecting flood resilience.
∎ Work with the field teams and global Policy and Advocacy team to plan and produce effective, thoughtful and timely written products that advance national advocacy goals.
∎ Monitor and evaluate the impact of advocacy and communications work.
∎ Networks, Partnerships and Representation:
∎ Build and maintain close links with the National Zurich Alliance partners and link activities within the framework on the Memorandum of Understanding.
∎ Attend monthly Bangladesh Program Implementation Team meetings, and share Mercy Corps progress on the national workplan, and key advocacy activities.
∎ Network in country to establish and maintain strategic relations with relevant local and international stakeholders, especially with organizations working in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance, to continually inform, challenge, and improve Mercy Corps' advocacy, strategy, and program development.
∎ Represent Mercy Corps at the discretion of the National Zurich Alliance to represent at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in Bangladesh. Coordinate activities with Alliance partners, sub grantees, local government and other implementers and actively strengthen partnerships.
∎ Cultivate internal networks and partnerships, including with the Regional Resilience Hub, to build momentum and share learning around flood resilience across Mercy Corps.
∎ Consultant Deliverables:
∎ The Consultant will contribute to Mercy Corps advocacy goals in Bangladesh by:
∎ Ensure the implementation of the advocacy strategy developed in partnership with National Zurich Alliance partners.
∎ Increase innovative finance from loss and damage and the private sector to support local level flood resilience building activities.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Timeframe / Schedule: 3-month contract, with a possible extension contingent on performance
∎ Deliverable/ Activity: Refine the Mercy Corps advocacy strategy that includes consolidation of evidence and learning from relevant policies and strategies related to flood resilience in Bangladesh and strategic advocacy goals and objectives.
∎ Due Date: Draft by end of July 2019; Final due by mid-July 2019
∎ Deliverable/ Activity:Provide a monthly summary of discussions, activities, events, relevant policy updates, and shifts in the context that are relevant to the Memorandum of Understanding and the advocacy strategy.
∎ Due Date:By the 5th of the subsequent month
∎ Deliverable/ Activity:Analyze budget allocation versus flood resilience needs in 16 unions to develop a gap in funding and coordination
∎ Due Date:Draft by end of August; Final due by early September 2019
∎ Deliverable/ Activity:Develop a 1-2 page factsheet for National Zurich Alliance colleagues on how local governments can draw down funding from national level funding sources.
∎ Due Date: Draft by mid-September; Final due by end of September 2019
∎ Deliverable/ Activity: Develop a 1-2 page factsheet on how local governments might tap into innovative finance
∎ Due Date: Draft by mid-September; Final due by end of September 2019
∎ Deliverable/ Activity: Host a public hearings or forum for local elites on increasing investment for flood resilience
∎ Due Date:January 2020 (If Consultancy is extended)

Application Deadline: June 8, 2019

Company Information:
∎ Mercy Corps
∎ Address : Crystal Palace, 3rd floor (Room #302,) House- SE(D)22, Road-140 Gulshan South Avenue, Gulshan
∎ Web : https://www.mercycorps.org/

Category: NGO/Development