Advocacy Officer, Public Policy Engagement

Job Description

Organization Unit: Communications and Advocacy

Reports to: Senior Manager, Advocacy – International Fora

Location: This position will be based in a CGIAR Center in the Global South (LMIC) in a duty station to be determined.

Grade: SO4 / CG9

Closing Date for Applications: 6 February 2025 at 9am CET

CGIAR has an ambitious agenda to deliver science and innovation and advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems to deliver diverse, healthy, safe, sufficient, and affordable diets, and ensure improved livelihoods and greater social equality. CGIAR operates as a matrix with each Center having its own governance and leadership structure operating alongside the integrated governance and leadership arrangements of CGIAR as a whole. 

The Communications and Advocacy unit, provides programmatic and advisory services for the engagement of the CGIAR Systems Organization’s stakeholders – internal and external – to increase CGIAR’s voice, influence, and impact around the world. The promotion of the research for development of CGIAR as a whole, and of individual centers, using a distinct, unified voice, boosts the understanding and relevance of CGIAR’s science and supports investment, positioning the organization to achieve its mission to transform food, land, and water systems. A capacity to envisage the needs of international stakeholder communities and respond with targeted insights and programs lies at the core of the organization’s relevance and is the foundation of its reputation as a distinguished provider of advice and solutions in the agriculture and food sector.

The Advocacy Officer, Public Policy Engagement, reporting to the Senior Manager, Advocacy – International Fora designs and implements strategies and campaigns and develops content to engage with and provide input to the public policy debate, highlighting CGIAR’s contribution to collective global targets for transformation of food, land, and water systems across locally, regionally, and globally. Conceptualization and execution of campaigns and the development of networks of champions and with civil society is critical to the promotion and recognition of the role of agricultural research in achieving sustainable development goals, and to highlighting CGIAR’s contributions.

• Identify gaps and develop and sustain relationships with policy makers and other stakeholders in the policy making process and disseminate information about the CGIAR’s advocacy goals and policy positions to support the organization’s objectives.
• Identify and monitor developments/trends in public policy development at the national and international level, to inform and articulate the CGIAR System Organization’s advocacy positions and policy stances, and align messages to engage with and impact policy making.
• Identify and develop innovative advocacy events, opportunities, and activities for promoting the work of the CGIAR to enhance the group’s reputation and build support among policy makers in target geographies.
• Develop targeted messaging and content that aligns with advocacy goals and ongoing campaigns, consistent with CGIAR editorial standards.
• Organize production and dissemination of advocacy materials to sustain engagement and shape global, regional, and national policy discourse on identified impact areas.
• Coordinate closely Donor Relations and Business Development and Communications colleagues to ensure the design, implementation and impactful delivery of robust integrated external engagement strategies and plans. 
• Advise the Communications and Advocacy team regarding emerging issues and topics of interest to policy makers and governmental stakeholders to aid in strategy and campaigns development.
• Collaborate with members of the Communications and Advocacy team to create events, digital engagement, and other activities to support advocacy initiatives targeting policy makers and policy fora.
• Collaborate with partners from across the CGIAR (e.g., scientists, media or digital engagement, communications) to gather inputs on knowledge products, policy papers, etc.
• Organise and monitor relevant policy dialogue opportunities that help advance critical topics, leveraging key policy forums and identifying and building relationships with relevant stakeholders. 
• Develop and implement project plans and content for advocacy and outreach activities aligned to campaigns and content calendars, as well as regular programming and funding cycles.
• Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and develop monitoring, evaluation and learning plans to determine the impact of outreach initiatives and inform campaign and strategy development.
• Consolidate best practices in public policy engagement from across the CGIAR to sustain a knowledgebase that helps build capacity and strengthen its communications and advocacy work.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• University Degree in Journalism, Communications, Social Sciences, Political Science, Public Relations, or other related disciplines.
• General/relevant experience in international advocacy work required, advocacy work related to food and agricultural sciences desirable.

Key Competences

• Substantive Knowledge: Demonstrated capacity gained through advanced training/education in advocacy reflecting conceptual understanding
• Communication skills: Demonstrated Skill gained through exposure in presentation/promotion
• Execution skills: Demonstrated Achievement in the execution/delivery of simple programs/services

Languages

Fluency in English essential to communicate in writing and speaking. Knowledge of a second language desirable.

About the Organization

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is conducted closely with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations, and the private sector.