Job title: Advocacy Officer

deadline: February 21, 2024

About Heartland Alliance International 

Heartland Alliance International’s (HAI) mission is to secure the rights and well-being of marginalized people and communities. HAI envisions a world in which those whose rights have been violated are safe and empowered to actively engage in their communities and be at the forefront of social change.  In Iraq, HAI provides holistic services focusing on psychosocial support, legal aid, violence prevention, livelihoods strengthening, and social cohesion to diverse vulnerable populations.

Project Overview

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) in partnership with the Center for Research and Protection of Women’s Rights in Syria (the Women’s Center) in Northeast Syria (NES) will implement the 12-month Atfal al Nahrain- Children of the Two Rivers: Enhanced Protection for Syrian Children project. Children of the Two Rivers will build on previous national and international efforts to address critical gaps in child protection in NES, including working with NES authorities to enforce positive provisions of existing law and policies, identify deficits, advocate for changes to existing law and policies, and tangibly improve the quality of life of many detained children. Children of the Two Rivers will improve access to safeguarding and legal protections for at–risk children and their families in the detention centers of Houri, Panorama - Guhwrein, and Alaya in NES.

Position Summary

The person who will lead this position will be based in NES and will have overall responsibility to oversee, coordinate and lead implementation of the project’s advocacy campaigns and relevant activities. S/He must be willing to travel if security allows to projects implementation locations within Hasaka and Qamishi.

The Advocacy officer will work directly under the administrative supervision of the project manager to oversee the implementation of project advocacy activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

The Advocacy officer will ensure that all project advocacy activities, including the recommendations concluded from project assessments, FGDs and KII will be implemented in line with the project work plan and in accordance with HAI, the donor’s standards and requirements and in compliance with best practices in this regard.

Reform Legislative/Public Policies Advocacy

The Advocacy officer will work with Project Manager, Project team and partners to:

• Develop advocacy strategies/campaigns aimed to positively change laws and public policies related to children in conflict with the law, Follow up the implementation of the legislative advocacy strategies/campaigns, ensure the response of official authorities and their adoption of positive provisions of the existing laws and policies, and Identify deficits, and improve the quality of life of detained children.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders, i.e the High Judicial Council, the National Security Advisory as well as with key civil society stakeholders, including the Bar Association and local CSOs, among others in NES to advocate them to accept positive changes to existing laws and policies related to children in conflict with the law.
• Participate in coordination meetings of the project when required (political parties, ministries and partners).
• Support the implementation of project assessments, FGDs, KII, and analyze the collected data.
• Support partners in designing and implementing awareness campaigns and know your rights, therefore the enforcement officers and community better aware about the rights of children in conflict with the law.
• Support compilation and writing of daily, monthly and quarterly updates regarding to the advocacy’s activities.
• Support partners in drafting the end of project advocacy report.
• Support the project team in drafting the lessons learnt report.

Other Tasks

• Support the project manager in reporting against indicators on a monthly basis for advocacy activities and meeting targets as demonstrated in the project work plan.
• Work with the MEL team to Monitor and evaluate the advocacy’s activities.
• Support the project manager in other project activities as needed and requested.

Qualification, skills and Experience 

• A bachelor degree, preferably in Law or Social Science, is required. Candidates should possess a minimum of five years' experience in providing advocacy campaigns, managing Humanitarian Access, and working on similar projects and development initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills.
• A broad network of contacts and ability to navigate within the legislative and judicial fields in NES and across various ministries.
• A strong commitment to human rights and to implementation of international law.
• Demonstrated understanding of protection and ethical principles in humanitarian programming.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills, with the ability to proactively problem solve and find solutions.
• Proven ability to calmly, professionally, and successfully manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work as a member of a team essential and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multicultural environment.
• Positive, professional attitude, organized and prioritizes work under pressure, work overtime when necessary and be able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.

Language Skill

• English Proficiency Level Required: Intermediate.
• Kurdish Proficiency.

Other Skills and Qualifications (required)

• Excellent drafting and oral communication skills in Kurdish and English.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills, with the ability to proactively problem solve and find solutions.

Computer Skills

• Experience with Windows platform, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Internet, Emailing skills, etc.
• Experience in working on online databases.

Personal Competencies: Collaborative spirit and ability to work independently as well as in a team; commitment to knowledge sharing and teamwork; positive attitude and ability to see through challenges to find solutions; and strong interpersonal skills and an ability to clearly communicate, including complex concepts into layperson language.

Resilience: This project will address sensitive issues. Interested applicants should have a strong commitment to addressing the issues with cultural sensitivity, respect, and confidentiality.  Candidates should be flexible, have a sense of humor and patience.

Work Environment

Demonstrates initiative and is comfortable working in a group, as well as independently.