Head of Policy & Advocacy

Strategic leadership

• 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, innovation and accountability.
• Design and lead the delivery of Policy and Advocacy portfolio on the thematic areas of WASH and Health and WASH and Climate Change, in line with the country strategy, for transformational change at scale

Evidence-based advocacy and policy analysis

• Design and conduct research studies addressing inequalities and causes of WASH poverty, linkages between WASH and Health and WASH and Climate Change. Lobby with the government to adopt research findings & recommendations for the benefit of the most marginalized people
• Learn and document successful WASH approaches and models using them for evidence-based advocacy
• Proactively analyse and review sector policies and plans and seek to influence government and foreign aid and assistance towards pro-poor, gender-sensitive, climate resilient and sustainable WASH approaches.
• Initiate challenging and innovative projects and ensure learning is applied for improved programme effectiveness and external influencing
• Design and launch issue-based advocacy campaigns at national and provincial levels.

Advocacy integration and capacity building

• Support WA Pakistan Programmes in identifying advocacy opportunities, raising the profile of their work and using evidence from programmes to replicate successful models at scale
• Support partners in developing and aligning policy and advocacy agenda for creating synergies for achieving WASH outcomes.
• Strengthen and nurture CSOs based alliances and networks at national and provincial level for creating greater influencing and impact.

Representation, collaboration and alliance building

• Represent WaterAid, as recommended by the CD in relevant national CSOs, donors, and government forums to influence the thinking of wider stakeholders on sustainable and inclusive WASH services.
• Identify key sector players of relevance to the policy and advocacy initiatives of WAP, especially in Climate Change, Health and Nutrition sectors and build working relationships/partnerships with such individuals and organizations wherever feasible.
• Establish strong relationships with relevant sector ministries and other institutions for collaboration, support, capacity building and policy influencing.
• Establish relationships with other sector actors in the country including UN and bilateral agencies, INGOs, CSOs, media, private sector and academic research institutions for learning and initiating joint programmes wherever feasible.
• Contribute to regional and global policy and advocacy work in the country by participating in and influencing regional and global advocacy initiatives.

Programme and People Management

• Manage and monitor expenditures against budgets for strategic and annual plans, 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 CP Strategy and annual plan.
• Involvement/support in programme design and fundraising.
• Ensure that any contractual requirements related to donor funded programmes/ projects are fulfilled by the Policy Advocacy Team and that appropriate plans are made for meeting them.
• Ensure WAP and/or partner organizations’ involvement in and contribution to strategic consultative processes launched by the government within the sector.
• Lead, manage, motivate, and develop team members in order to maximise their contribution to the progrmame, organisation, and their own professional development.
• Take on any other tasks assigned by the line manager.

Education

Essential

Desirable

Qualification

• Post graduate degree in development studies, public health, environment sciences, climate change (with a focus on climate policy and/or climate financing), public policy or development economics from a reputed university.
• Certificate course(s) in Water Resource Management or any aspect of WASH

Professional Experience

• 10 years of proven experience in leading evidence-based policy advocacy and influencing, especially on issues of WASH or public health or climate change.
• 5 to 7 years of proven experience in a senior leadership position with a reputable national or international organization.
• Ability to conduct evidence-based policy analysis and undertake cutting-edge research
• Proven experience in leading national/provincial/global campaigns
• Very strong policy influencing and strategic planning skills with demonstrated experience
• Proven experience in developing successful and diverse donor funding proposals
• Proven experience in developing and leading programmes that deliver transformational change through the integration of learning, practice and advocacy.
• Demonstrated knowledge of WASH sector issues, advocacy networks and social movements in Pakistan and in the South-Asian Region.
• Author of newspaper articles, development reports, blogs etc. on the topics related to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene and their links to climate change and health.

Knowledge & skills

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships and alliances for effective programme development and implementation
• In-depthth understanding of the WASH sector in Pakistan, key sector stakeholders, power and decision making; and the critical blockages and drivers of sustainable and inclusive WASH.
• Understanding of rights-based approaches to development and how they might apply to the WASH sector in Pakistan
• Excellent interpersonal
• Good analytical skills and written communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and to contribute strategically
• Open to continuous personal development, learning and innovation