Head of Policy / Advocacy

 Job Title:  Head of Head & Advocacy

Reports to (title):  Country Director  

Travel: In WaterAid Pakistan interventions areas and internally when required

Clean water, decent toilets and hygiene are three essentials that help people lead dignified and healthy lives. They should be normal for everyone, but for millions of people they are not. We are determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere within a generation.

Role of position in the organisation: 

This is a senior management role specifically looking after the influence and enabling function at the Country Programme (CP) level. The Head of Policy & Advocacy will be responsible to sustained engagement with public, private and academia at the national and provincial level with greater emphasis on influencing water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) agenda at Federal as well as Provincial level.

Key working relationships:

Internal: Country Director (CD), Senior Management Team (SMT) and programme staff of WaterAid Pakistan and relevant colleagues in WA South Asia Region and UK teams.

External: Partners, consultants, sector stakeholders, media, Government officials and other I/NGOs.

Purpose of Role

The Head of Policy and Advocacy will lead WaterAid Pakistan Influencing and Enabling (I&E) Programme for the effective implementation of Country Strategy of WaterAid Pakistan through a programmatic approach that combines programmatic, learning, research and advocacy activities in collaborative partnerships with a range of organisations and to support the strategic designing and implementation of I&E programmes for bringing about the transformational changes necessary to achieve sustainable WASH services for all.

 Responsibilities

• Be an active member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and contribute to strategic direction setting, organisational decision-making, effective management and a culture of openness and accountability. 
• Design and lead I&E programme in line with the country strategy to ensure maximum impact and effectiveness and transformational change at scale
• Initiate challenging and innovative programmes and ensure learning is applied for improved programme effectiveness and external influencing
• Represent WaterAid, as recommended by the CD in relevant national CSOs, donors, and government forums related to WASH to influence thinking of other stakeholders on effective delivery of WASH. 
• Proactively analyse and review sector policies and plans and seek to influence government and foreign aid and assistance towards pro-poor, gender-sensitive, and sustainable WASH approaches.
• Design and launch issue-based advocacy campaigns at national and provincial level.
• Support partners in developing and aligning policy and advocacy agenda for creating synergies in the work.
• Contribute in regional and global policy and advocacy work in country by shaping the regional and global advocacy agenda as well as participating in regional and global advocacy initiatives.
• Keep close liaison with Regional Advocacy Manager- South Asia and Policy and Campaigns Department (PCD) in UK.
• Manage and monitor expenditure against budgets for strategic and annual plans in the programme, adhering to financial guidelines, ensuring value for money, and acting as appropriate within delegated authorities
• Monitor the qualitative and quantitative outcomes and impacts of the country programme and partners’ work, in collaboration with the Programme Quality team, to ensure successful implementation in line with the plan
• Ensure that any contractual requirements related to donor funded programmes/projects are fully committed to by all involved, effectively monitored and evaluated, and that appropriate plans for meeting them are made.
• Along with the Country Director and Head of Programmes, represent WaterAid in relationships with senior decision-makers to persuasively advocate for WaterAid’s change agenda
• Encourage and actively promote cross sectoral linkages so that WASH is mainstreamed in other sectors and strong links are established with other sectors
• Identify, coordinate, commission and/or undertake thematic research and studies for supporting the policy and advocacy agenda.
• Identify key sector players of relevance to policy and advocacy agenda of WAP and build working relationships/partnerships with such individuals and organizations wherever feasible.
• Establish strong relationship with relevant sector ministry and other institutions for collaboration, support, capacity building and policy influencing.
• Establish relationship with other sector actors in the country including UN and bilateral agencies, INGOs, CSOs, media and academic research institutions for learning and initiating joint programmes wherever feasible. 
• Strengthen and nurture CSOs based alliances and networks at national and provincial level for creating greater influencing and impact.
• Ensure WAP and or partner organizations involvement in and contribution towards strategic consultative processes within the sector.
• Lead, manage, motivate, and develop team members in order to maximise their contribution to the team, organisation, and their own professional development. 
• Manage the performance and development of staff to create and maintain an effective, motivated team.
• Take on any other tasks assigned by the line manager

Person Specification

Qualification:

• Post graduate degree in development studies, social sciences, public health, public policy, project management or development economics from a reputed university.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Minimum 15 years of experience in the relevant field. 
• 5 to 7 years of experience in senior management position.
• Proven experience in water and sanitation sector in Pakistan context.
• Ability to conduct policy analysis, undertake cutting-edge research and advocacy as well as managing campaigns would be preferred
• Very strong policy influencing and strategic planning skills with demonstrated experience 
• Proven experience of developing diverse donors’ successful funding proposals
• Proven experience of developing and leading programmes that deliver transformational change through the integration of learning
• Demonstrated knowledge on WASH sector issues, advocacy networks and social movements in Pakistan and in South-Asian Region.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships and alliances for effective programme development and implementation 
• In depth understanding of the WASH sector in Pakistan, key sector stakeholders and critical blockages
• Understanding of rights-based approaches to development and how they might apply to the WASH sector in Pakistan
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Good analytical skills and stable/calm demeanour.

Please note: to apply for this role you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in Pakistan.

WaterAid is committed to ensuring that wherever we work in the world there is no tolerance for the abuse of power, privilege or trust. WaterAid reinforces a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of inappropriate behaviour, abuse, harassment, or exploitation of any kind. The safeguarding of our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf, is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All staff and volunteers are required to share in this commitment through our Global Code of Conduct. We will conduct the most appropriate preemployment references and checks to ensure high standards are maintained. 

WaterAid is an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, fairness and equality.