Senior Advocacy Officer, FSTIP Project

Job Description

Title: Senior Advocacy Officer, FSTIP Project

Company Name: Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)

Vacancy: 1

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ Masters in Law (LLM)/ Sociology / Development Studies / Economics or any relevant discipline from a reputed university.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ BLAST is one of the leading legal services organizations in Bangladesh, and the only one that provides access to legal aid across the spectrum, from the frontlines of the formal justice system to the apex court. It prioritizes support to women, men and children living in poverty or facing disadvantage or discrimination. It also provides legal aid, advice and representation across a range of areas, including civil, criminal, family, labour and land law, as well as on constitutional rights and remedies, providing access to judicial remedies alongside alternative dispute resolution wherever appropriate. Alongside individual legal aid, BLAST undertakes strategic litigation, or public interest litigation, as a key part of its advocacy for law and policy reforms to ensure effective legal protection of rights. Currently operating in 24 districts across the country, BLAST works through its staff lawyers (and paralegals and researchers) at headquarters and in each district unit, in collaboration with its enlisted panel of about 2600 lawyers across the country who provide legal redress to clients on a pro bono basis, with a nominal honorarium.
∎ Job Description: BLAST is looking for a Senior Advocacy Officer for its FSTIP project. The Advocacy Officer must be a highly motivated individual with a proven track record of advocacy work. The Senior Finance Officer will provide support to ensure day to day BLAST`s advocacy functions and run those functions effectively to build strong advocacy networks. More specifically, s/he will support managing advocacy strategies to increase BLAST`s activities. S/he will be responsible to assist the advocacy Team in developing and implementing a comprehensive advocacy strategy to promote BLAST`s activities and organizational principles. S/he will perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor/BLAST management.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Prepare plans for implementation of advocacy especially focus on FS/TIP Project.
∎ Prepare concept notes, background documents and presentations for different advocacy events.
∎ Assist to organizing seminars, workshops and lectures, including correspondence with speakers, press and participants.
∎ Collect and maintain documentation on key policy and legal changes relevant to the organization's advocacy activities and plans.
∎ Prepare monthly, the quarterly, half-yearly and annual report regarding advocacy activities
∎ Will be responsible for assisting in identifying socio-legal research issues arising from the community and other consultations, organizing seminars, workshops and lectures, including correspondence with speakers, press and participants;
∎ Review all BLAST's documents, develop advocacy materials and the lessons learned from BLAST's activities and different projects specially FS/TIP and assist to develop the advocacy strategies and operational guidelines.
∎ Assisting in maintaining internal and external communications, including with government ministries and agencies, the judiciary, the media, national and international organizations relating to advocacy; coordinating with other networks and organizations regarding press releases or preparation of advocacy campaigns focusing FS/TIP
∎ Assist in maintaining internal and external communications, including with government ministries and agencies, judges, lawyers, academics, the media, national and international organizations, different communities and donors relating to advocacy.
∎ Actively participate and represent the organization in various networks and movements.
∎ Update contacts for advocacy on our core areas of work.
∎ Coordination and liaison with FS/TIP Project partners and donor on advocacy issues
∎ Ensure accurate and updated maintenance of files including electronic files on all advocacy initiatives.
∎ Keep all advocacy-related documents properly and assist to ensure those as and when required.
∎ Ensure proper recording and placement of books, journals, newspapers, reports and other publications, photographs, and slides in a proper place.
∎ Record and maintain minutes of advocacy meetings, and relevant materials.

Additional Requirements:
∎ At least 5 years relevant experience in NGO or development organizations.
∎ Should have excellent experience in advocacy and communication activities
∎ Should be an outcome-oriented person.
∎ Good knowledge in advocacy and relevant task.
∎ Good in communication both in English and Bangla.
∎ Good computer skills in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
∎ Women are encouraged to apply.

Salary:
∎ Negotiable
∎ Salary, Benefits and allowances: commensurate with experience and BLAST`s salary scale and policy, two festival bonuses equivalent to one month`s basic salary each payable after successful completion of 6 months probation.

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ Weekly 2 holidays

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 7 Nov 2021

Company Information:
∎ 1 Nov 2021
∎ Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
∎ Address : YMCA Development Center, 1/1 Pioneer Road, Kakrail, Dhaka-1000.
∎ Web : www.blast.org.bd
∎ Business : BLAST is one of the leading legal services organizations in Bangladesh, and the only one that provides access to legal aid across the spectrum, from the frontlines of the formal justice system to the apex court. It prioritises support to women, men and children living in poverty or facing disadvantage or discrimination. It also provides legal aid, advice and representation across a range of areas, including civil, criminal, family, labour and land law, as well as on constitutional rights and remedies, providing access to judicial remedies alongside alternative dispute resolution wherever appropriate. Alongside individual legal aid, BLAST undertakes strategic litigation, or public interest litigation, as a key part of its advocacy for law and policy reforms to ensure effective legal protection of rights.

Category: NGO/Development

: BLAST is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified candidates from all religious, gender and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. However, qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply to achieve significant gender equality at all levels of the organization.