Civil Society/Advocacy Lead - LHSS Timor-Leste

Job Description

Job Summary

Abt Associates seeks a qualified Civil Society/Advocacy Lead to support the LHHS project in Dili, Timor-Leste.

The Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) activity in Timor-Leste is part of a global task order that works to strengthen health systems as a means to achieve universal health coverage and improve population health and well-being. Interventions will focus on reducing financial barriers, holding health services accountable for meeting all clients’ needs and making sure that the care patients receive meets minimum standards. LHSS’s Timor-Leste activity will support the Government of Timor-Leste to effectively and sustainably govern, finance, and deliver quality and affordable essential health services while being responsive and accountable to users and an engaged civil society. The activity’s tentative objectives are to strengthen health sector governance, enhance health sector workforce management, improve healthy behaviors, and improve health advocacy and civic engagement for health system strengthening.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The Civil Society/Advocacy Lead will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Develop and manage relationships at the community level with organizations, community leaders, faith based organizations, and other key stakeholders involved in civic engagement in the health sector
• Host workshops and strengthen partnerships between existing civil society and grassroots community leaders and government
• Develop communication platforms that promote direct engagement with civil society and include feedback mechanisms
• Facilitate information exchanges between the MOH and civil society to promote accurate information and accountability
• Review existing health advocacy priorities in order to strengthen health advocacy and accountability messaging
• Design, implement, and monitor civil society and advocacy activities across the LHSS portfolio of interventions
• Train and supervise a Partnerships Specialist, who will support LHSS work to engage with CSOs
• Lead the workplanning process for the project’s civil society and advocacy activities in future project years.
• Implement activities in a way that is harmonized with the project’s objectives to ensure complementary and efficient implementation
• Contribute to and lead (when necessary) the timely production of quality deliverables to USAID, including quarterly reports, annual reports, work plans, budgets, technical reports, and publications
• Guide, coordinate, and collaborate with project staff and partners to implement cross-cutting activities
• Coordinate with international and local subcontractors, working with regional and technical staff to ensure that all activities and outputs are technically sound and appropriate.
• Contribute to LHSS MEL activities, including developing indicators, collecting data, and reporting on indicators, in collaboration with the MEL team
• Support LHSS’s Knowledge Management/Communications teams to develop case studies and success stories from LHSS Timor-Leste interventions
• Attend relevant meetings, technical working groups, conferences, etc. as necessary to share knowledge generated through LHSS interventions and to represent the project

Within the LHSS project, the Civil Society/Advocacy Lead will be supported by LHSS home office-based operations, finance, and technical expertise and will report to the Chief of Party.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or higher in Communications, Business, Public Health, International Development or other related field
• 6-8 years of relevant professional experience with a Master’s degree, or 8-10 years without a Master’s degree
• In-depth understanding of community engagement in Timor-Leste’s health sector across several municipalities
• Experience with mobilizing and community engagement through civil society organizations and other local community leaders, and bringing together diverse stakeholders for a common goal
• Experience with advocacy especially around the budget cycle
• Experience with capacity building is preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government counterparts and coordinate various actors such as different Ministry of Health units, other ministries and government agencies, donors and NGOs
• Experience with international development and donor-funded programs. Familiarity with USAID-funded projects will be an advantage
• Proven professional knowledge of MS Office applications and appropriate organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Fluency in Tetum required
• Portuguese language skills preferred
• Timorese nationals are encouraged to apply

Minimum Qualifications

• (6+) years of experience and a master degree OR the equivalent combination of education and experience

About the Organization

Abt Associates is a global leader in research, evaluation and program implementation; driving innovation and measurable impact for more than 50 years. What sets us apart is our evidence-based and multi-disciplinary approach to solving tough challenges in health, social and environmental policy and international development.

Specific areas we work in include:

• Health
• Education and workforce development
• Climate change and the environment
• Food security and agriculture
• Housing and communities
• Survey and data collection

Abt is a mission-driven company with a staff of 2,600. Our focus is on using evidence and cutting-edge methods to improve the lives and economic well-being of people worldwide.