Humanitarian Advocacy Adviser

Our Package

We offer flexible working, a competitive benefits package:

· UK Grade E or equivalent according to location / type of contract

· 8.5% employer pension contribution

· Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

· Opportunity to work for a leading organisation working with and for older people globally **

Candidates can be based in any country in which they have the legal right to live and work and where HelpAge is able to employ and pay them legally.

The Organisation

HelpAge International is entering into an exciting phase of its evolution as we fundamentally transform what we do, how we do it and how we are organised. Driven by our commitment to the localisation agenda, we are evolving the way we partner and deliver value at the country and local level. In the coming 3 years, we will localise our country offices and programmes, and develop new and diverse forms of partnerships globally.

We seek to give primacy to local agents for change. To this end, we will replace all programmes delivered by HelpAge staff and resources on the ground with implementation by partners. This will apply across all our work -humanitarian and long-term development. Going forward, our value is framed around supporting, convening and thought leadership.

A key way of creating value and bringing impact is collaborating across boundaries and by bringing different perspectives, skills and talent together. We will deliver our work through agile teams and a global operating model, with regional roots, to focus on impact and maintain the relationships at the national level to help build collaborations and support others to set their own agendas.

Job Purpose

In collaboration with the Business Development and Transformation Teams develop, test and iterate non-traditional opportunities that deliver impact for older people, increased reputation and diverse sustainable revenue stream for HelpAge.

With your colleagues, you will develop identify, develop and deliver the technical expertise and advocacy opportunities to promote HelpAge’s thought leadership within and beyond the sector. Through partner led programming building evidence & learning to develop initiatives and utilise platform to support drive for longer term sustainable change through influencing and advocacy at the national level.

Job Context/ Key Tasks

· Actively engage with other humanitarian actors to mainstream knowledge and understanding of older people’s humanitarian rights and needs, and to ensure that older people are provided with the assistance they require and are entitled to.

· Build the evidence base on older people in humanitarian crises and emergencies by documenting our operational and technical knowledge and experience and by conducting practice-oriented research.

• Advocate with key humanitarian stakeholders to promote the inclusion of older people in humanitarian policies, programmes and funding strategies
• Act as an effective representative of HelpAge in public forums (e.g. global humanitarian clusters) and liaise with key stakeholders e.g. Interagency Standing Committee (IASC), Voice, Sphere, Bond, CaLP and others
• Produce and/or ensure the production of high-quality policy guidance and briefs, technical papers and research reports for dissemination or publication, working with relevant humanitarian and communications staff and academic consultants as appropriate

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• In depth knowledge and experience in social or public policy or humanitarian responses

• Demonstrable skills and/or experience in influencing decision-makers, national and international institutions, policy planning and delivery

• Knowledge and understanding of national and international humanitarian policy, humanitarian coordination structures and current debates

• Experience of taking a lead role in coalitions for change

• Experience of working with CSOs in low- or middle-income countries on humanitarian programmes

• Ability to think strategically and analytically

• Proven ability to work collaboratively and dependably with colleagues and in a way that encourages experimentation, learning and agency

• Available to travel if needed and as agreed

Our Values

At HelpAge International we work hard to achieve our goals together as a team with a clear shared purpose. Our values inform how we work together:

Inclusive

We respect people, value diversity and are committed to equality.

Impact

We value and recognise the contribution of our staff and network members, as we put older people at the center of everything we do.

Partners

We work alongside network members and others to increase reach, influence and impact. We are committed to a culture of collaboration and building positive relationships.

Learning

We are passionate about learning, accountable and work together to find creative solutions.

Everyone who works at HelpAge share our values and are committed to behaviors that demonstrate and support them.

Safeguarding

Everyone has a role in creating and sustaining a safe and respectful working environment, where no one comes to any harm or is maltreated. At HelpAge we take our responsibilities very seriously and will take action against wrongdoing. We will do everything we can to ensure that we do not engage people that pose a safeguarding risk and will undertake criminal record checks as required.

Equal Opportunities

HelpAge International is committed to creating an inclusive working environment, promoting and providing equal opportunities and respecting diversity in employment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Closing date: Tuesday 18 October 2021 at 9am (UK Time)

Important Message:

Please ensure that you remove your date of birth, gender and marital status from your CV.