About You
You are a strategic thinker with deep political acumen and cross-border experience. You bring both intellectual rigour and practical skills in government engagement, the ability to translate community evidence into powerful policy narratives, and the commitment to ensuring that girls' and survivors' voices inform policy change at all levels. You excel at building bridges between diverse actors - government officials, traditional leaders, youth advocates, CSOs, and survivors - and have the diplomatic sensitivity and cultural competency essential for navigating sensitive cross-border issues.
A self-starter who works well independently across countries, you are equally skilled at collaborating as part of a regional team. You demonstrate pragmatic, adaptable approaches to problem-solving, with the ability to operate effectively in complex, sometimes volatile contexts. Given the critical nature of cross-border work, you have proven experience working across multiple countries, understanding border dynamics, and coordinating harmonized approaches. You understand that policy change is not transactional - it requires sustained engagement, relationship-building, and the ability to leverage evidence alongside community voice to drive meaningful change.
Above all, we seek someone with a genuine passion for girls' rights, gender equality, and the elimination of harmful practices. You are enthusiastic about amplifying community voices in policy spaces, working with affected girls and survivors, and driving systemic change. You understand that policy advocacy is fundamentally about power - ensuring that those most affected by harmful practices have a voice and agency in the decisions that affect their lives.
Principal Responsibilities
Cross-border Policy Harmonziation & Coordonation (40%)
Develop and support the implementation of cross-border policy advocacy initiatives connecting Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia on the elimination of harmful practices
Develop harmonized legal and policy frameworks that address borderland dynamics and enable consistent girl protection across borders
Support government engagement across three countries to build aligned policies on FGM/C and CEFMU elimination
Facilitate cross-border policy dialogues bringing together government officials, regional bodies, CSOs, and communities from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia
Map cross-border risks and protection gaps and develop policy recommendations to address them
Build relationships with border county/regional administrators and government officials to support coordinated protection approaches
Support harmonization of legal frameworks with regional bodies (EAC, IGAD) on FGM/C Bill and cross-border protection mechanisms
Monitor cross-border harmful practices patterns and inform policy response
National Policy Advocacy & Reform (25%)
Develop and support the implementation of evidence-based policy advocacy strategies for each country (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia)
Support engagement with national governments (ministries, parliamentarians, legislative bodies) on FGM/C and CEFMU elimination policies
Support policy reform processes, including guideline updates, law enforcement, and implementation of existing bans
Create evidence-based policy briefs tailored to each country context, drawing on programme data and survivor voices
Develop policy position papers addressing key barriers to the elimination of harmful practices
Support parliamentary advocacy and engagement with legislators on protective legislation
Track and document policy changes and government commitments to elimination efforts
Work with country teams to maintain a database of key policy contacts and decision-makers across three countries
Regional & International Policy Advocacy (20%)
Support engagement with regional bodies (African Union, IGAD, EAC) on harmonized approaches to the elimination of harmful practices
Coordinate advocacy on EAC FGM Bill and support regional legal harmonization
Support participation in international forums (CEDAW, UN Human Rights Council, UNGA) to amplify evidence from border communities
Leverage international observance days (Zero Tolerance for FGM/C, International Day of the Girl Child) for cross-border advocacy campaigns
Build relationships with regional and international advocacy networks working on girls' rights and harmful practices
Represent the programme at key regional policy meetings and conferences
Document and share cross-border policy learnings with regional partners and international platforms
Youth & CSO Policy Advocacy Support (10%)
Build the capacity of border-based CSOs in cross-border policy advocacy
Work closely with Country Teams to support the training of youth advocates and CSO staff on evidence-based policy engagement across borders.
Support cross-border youth networks in joint policy advocacy campaigns
Work with country teams to coach survivors and affected girls in sharing their voices in policy spaces
Organise joint CSO-youth advocacy activities that connect grassroots voices with policymakers
Document and amplify policy wins from community-led advocacy efforts
Ensure that safe spaces are created for survivors to participate in policy dialogue
Policy Evidence & Documentation (5%)
Package programme evidence into policy-relevant materials for government and regional bodies
Work with country teams to monitor policy developments across three countries and report on implications for girls' protection
Document policy wins, barriers, and learnings from cross-border advocacy work
Maintain records of government commitments and track follow-up and implementation
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in public policy, law, development, gender studies, international relations, or related field
Minimum 7+ years professional experience in policy advocacy, government engagement, or policy analysis
Minimum 5+ years working specifically on gender equality, women's rights, girls' protection, or harmful practices elimination
Demonstrated experience working across multiple countries, particularly in East Africa or similar complex, borderland contexts
Proven track record of influencing policy change or supporting policy reform processes
Strong understanding of regional governance mechanisms (African Union, IGAD, EAC) and international human rights frameworks
Direct experience working on FGM/C, child marriage elimination, or girls' rights is essential
Fluency in English and proficiency in at least one of the following: Amharic, Somali, or Kiswahili.
Skills and Competencies:
Policy & Advocacy
Advanced skills in policy analysis, advocacy strategy development, and evidence-based policy messaging
Proven ability to translate research and community evidence into compelling policy narratives
Demonstrated experience engaging with government officials, parliamentarians, and policymakers
Strong understanding of policy processes, legislative development, and government decision-making
Cross-Border Experience
Proven experience working across multiple countries simultaneously on complex issues
Understanding of border dynamics, transnational challenges, and cross-border coordination
Ability to facilitate dialogue and build trust across different governance systems and cultural contexts
Experience harmonizing approaches across countries and developing coordinated strategies
Diplomatic sensitivity and political acumen for navigating multi-country environments
Communications & Engagement
Excellent written communication skills with ability to produce high-quality policy briefs, position papers, and advocacy materials
Strong presentation and public speaking skills
Ability to engage diverse stakeholders (government, CSOs, youth, survivors, traditional leaders) with cultural competency and respect
Experience translating technical or research evidence into accessible, compelling messaging
Track record supporting survivor and community voice amplification in policy spaces
Strategic & Operational
Strategic thinker capable of managing complex, multi-country initiatives simultaneously
Strong project management and time management skills, ability to deliver under pressure
Problem-solving mindset with pragmatic, adaptable approaches to obstacles
High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Gender, Rights & Justice Perspective
Deep commitment to gender equality and girls' rights
Understanding of power dynamics, social norms change, and gender-based violence
Passion for amplifying the voices of those most affected by harmful practices
Commitment to equity-centred approaches and community leadership
Additional Information
WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND TRAVEL
This role requires significant travel (estimated 40-50% of time) across the program regions as needed.
Work across three countries with different governance systems, political contexts, and cultural norms
Travel to border regions and borderland communities where much of the harmful practices work takes place
Navigate complex political environments and work diplomatically with government at all levels
Operate in some contexts where security is variable and require flexibility and pragmatism
Engage with diverse stakeholders including government officials, traditional leaders, youth, survivors, and CSOs
Work in field settings as well as urban policy spaces.