In-Country Regional Coordinator - East African Community-
(Based in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda or Tanzania)

Overview

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), an initiative of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), draws on decades of work on tobacco control campaigns and its growing experience on other public health issues to drive policy change campaigns around the globe to improve health. This mission is accomplished by providing training and technical assistance for organizations working on public health policy, identifying new partners where needed, and assisting in the development and implementation of strategic advocacy campaigns to promote the adoption and implementation of public health policies.

Among several programs, GHAI has a broad agenda to promote healthy diets and the prevention of the cardiovascular diseases and non-communicable diseases. The Cardiovascular Health Program (CVHP) at GHAI is a global partner of Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), an initiative of Vital Strategies, that seeks to prevent millions of deaths from cardiovascular disease through regulations to ban industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA), sodium reduction strategies, and other policies. GHAI is also a global partner and coordinator of the Food Policy Program (FPP) that supports advocacy for healthy food policies.

General Position Description

The In-Country Coordinator (ICC) for the East African Community (EAC) will have direct oversight of the regional trans-fatty acid (TFA) policy agenda, and will support in-country partners across three selected countries to carry out a coordinated regional advocacy campaign. The ICC will be based in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda or Tanzania, and will report directly to GHAI’s Associate Director for the Africa Region and the Associate Director of the CVHP at Headquarters, both of whom are based in Washington, D.C.

The ICC will work closely with GHAI’s CVHP technical teams, as well as with partners on the ground. This is a full-time contract opportunity.

Primary Duties Include

• Act as the primary liaison between GHAI and local partners across the three chosen countries in the EAC.
• Coordinate work between the local partners and contractors to advance GHAI-supported policies in the EAC (at the national and regional levels).
• Assist local partners to develop and implement work plans that feed into a coordinated overarching advocacy strategy, promoting collaboration and coalition building that leverages each partner’s strengths and minimizes duplication.
• Monitor partner performance to ensure deliverables are met and modify work plans as needed.
• Provide and/or facilitate technical assistance to local partners, as needed.
• Continuously appraise the policy landscape, including potential opposition, and ensure that local partners are taking advantage of opportunities and addressing opposition.
• Help build strategic relationships with government, non-government and other organizations to become better prepared to develop the comprehensive advocacy strategy and to monitor, expose and counter industry interference with the policy process.
• Represent GHAI at key meetings with local partners, and policymakers at national and regional level and ensure that GHAI policy positions and priorities are fully communicated to all stakeholders.
• Hold regular strategy discussion calls and meetings with the GHAI team to discuss progress of work, as requested.
• Facilitate regular, in-person and virtual meetings with local partners, among them and with GHAI.
• Produce quality and timely reports on activities and other deliverables for the assigned portfolio of work, and report against established targets.
• Perform other duties as requested by the GHAI team.

Requirements

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in public health or public policy; law degree or other related degree with focus on health highly desirable.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience coordinating and managing health projects, including advocacy for policy change. Experience in food policy is preferred.
• Proven ability to develop and work in partnership with multiple stakeholders, with government officials, NGOs, academia, and international organizations at various levels.
• Demonstrated success in planning and conducting advocacy activities (e.g. direct engagement of decision-makers, media advocacy, public actions) ideally on food policy, including planning and conducting advocacy campaigns to achieve policy outcomes.
• Ability to strategize with and coordinate multiple organizations working toward a policy goal.
• Strong understanding of government policy-making processes and players, particularly industry opposition and how to manage it.
• Interest in public health, commitment to public interest work, and demonstrated experience in working on health policy.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment while juggling multiple projects and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (verbally and in writing) complex issues in a concise, compelling, and easily understandable manner.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively as a member of a dynamic and dispersed team.
• Ability to work effectively and to report and communicate regularly and promptly with supervisor in a long-distance management set-up.
• A track record of working in an empowering and culturally sensitive style with an array of NGOs, government officials and partners.
• Proven ability to translate organizational program strategies, priorities, plans, and budgets into result-oriented activity plans at country-level.

TO APPLY

To apply for this position, please email a cover letter, resume and salary requirement to: jobs@advocacyincubator.org .  Please reference the position code: IC/EAC/GHAI-14 in the subject line of your email.  Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2021. No phone calls please.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has a strict policy of not hiring or contracting with anyone with economic ties to the tobacco industry and requires that no economic ties to the tobacco industry exist.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a non-profit, public health advocacy organization that works to prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit, and protect everyone from secondhand smoke by changing public attitudes and public policies on tobacco and actively countering the tobacco industry and its special interests. A non-profit organization established in 1996, the Campaign works with more than 130 organizational partners, including public health, medical, education, civic, corporate, youth and religious organizations. The Campaign does not accept any government or tobacco industry funding.

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator at the Campaign draws on lessons learned from tobacco advocacy to provide training and assistance to other public health advocacy initiatives funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ public health programs concentrate on policy-focused responses to global health issues such as data for public health, road safety, and obesity.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.

Job Email id: jobs(at)advocacyincubator.org