The Policy and Advocacy Consultant (Middle East and North Africa - MENA Region) will play an important role in a dynamic team during a particularly busy period - including supporting the implementation of the UK Government-funded NISSAM project in Iraq; conducting foundational work to scale up Women for Women International’s (WfWI) policy and advocacy work in Palestine; contributing to our external advocacy on the situation in Syria; and identifying opportunities for policy and advocacy at the regional level.

The Policy and Advocacy Consultant (MENA Region) works closely with the rest of the Global Policy & Advocacy Team, Global Programs Unit, WfWI’s Country Offices and valued partners (with a particular focus on Iraq, Palestine and Syria) to inform and advise on our strategic approach to policy and advocacy at all levels. They are required to tailor and adapt their approaches and priorities to policy and advocacy, both depending on the changing external environment as well as their thorough understanding of the varied needs, capacities, resources and contexts relating to policy and advocacy work across the organization.

The Policy and Advocacy Consultant (MENA) will be experienced in policy and advocacy, using their skills to identify opportunities and develop connections and partnerships with civil society, government or multilateral institutions – particularly at the national and regional levels across the MENA region. Specifically, the Global Policy and Advocacy Consultant will support us in identifying national and regional stakeholders (partners, networks and coalitions) across the MENA region, conduct policy analysis and develop organizational positions to influence relevant policy developments and advise on crafting and adapting advocacy focused communications (e.g. statements regarding policy developments, blogs etc.).

Candidates should be able to work with a wide range of actors and stakeholders including government, civil society and regional entities.

The consultant will demonstrate a commitment to gender equality and women’s rights and power; Women, Peace and Security (WPS); as a well as development in conflict-affected contexts.

Key Responsibilities

This role will:
- Contribute to policy and advocacy deliverables for the MENA region, including a series of consultations and written outputs/reports for WfWI’s UK Government funded ‘NISSAM’ project in Iraq, working to support women’s rights organizations to advance the WPS Agenda
- Conduct scoping exercises to provide input into WfWI’s strategy to scale up policy and advocacy work in Palestine, Syria and the MENA region, including by identifying potential opportunities for advocacy focused partnerships.
- Develop and implement country specific policy and advocacy activities and outputs including research, analysis, and evidence to support advocacy strategies in the region.
- Support Country Office teams with policy and advocacy guidance and the development of written or digital media products, as well as provide technical support to the Country Offices and partners.
- Ongoing monitoring and analysis of conflict situations and trends, updating the team’s advocacy positions and analysis based on emerging conflict and policy developments as relevant.
- Be accountable for drafting policy and advocacy products such as briefing notes, research and position papers, talking points, key messages, press releases, social media outputs, and ad-hoc reports as relevant.
- Represent WfWI as relevant in meetings with key stakeholders and identify opportunities to advocate WfWI’s position in meetings with policymakers and partners.
- Provide ad hoc policy and advocacy support as needed.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Fluency in Arabic and English essential.
• Significant experience in a policy and advocacy role, or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Experience working on Women, Peace and Security / women’s rights / humanitarian response across the Middle East, with specific experience working in/on Iraq, Palestine and Syria.
• Experience representing an organization within a civil society network/coalition either at the national or regional level in the Middle East (with a specific focus on Iraq, Palestine and/or Syria), including working groups (ideally on gender equality, WPS ).

Application process
If you are interested in this consultancy, please submit your:
• CV/ Resume
• Cover letter, and
• Samples of past work.

About Women for Women International

Background
Women for Women International invests where inequality is greatest by helping women who are forgotten — the women survivors of war and conflict.

In Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan, women learn skills to rebuild their families and communities through the Women for Women International’s Stronger Women, Stronger Nations Programme.

They form support networks, are equipped with the skills to earn an income and save and gain knowledge and resources about health and their rights. Since 1993, our global community has invested in the power of over 550,000 women across 17 conflict-affected countries, to create a ripple effect that makes the world more equal, peaceful, and prosperous.

Diversity at Women for Women International is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, political opinions, and pregnancy and maternity.  Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all interested parties.

All our staff are required to adhere to WfWI’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies and to our organizational values: Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, Resilience and the Leadership Principles: Decisive, Accountable, Courageous, Adaptable and Inclusive.