Regional Advocacy & External Engagement Director, Asia Pacific Location: [Asia & Pacific] [Thailand] Town/City: Bangkok Category: Advocacy Job Type: Fixed term, Full-time *Only World Vision internal applicants will be considered. *Position location to be determined by home country of successful candidate within the Asia Pacific region where WVI is registered to operate. PURPOSE OF POSITION: Asia Pacific region is made up of 18 country office located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), India, Indonesia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, (Pacific Island Countries). The role of the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) is to provide direction, guidance and technical support in the effective implementation of the regional strategy to achieve the child well-being aspirations of WV. World Vision is committed to address causal issues through its work to achieve the child wellbeing outcomes and combat injustice. Areas of focus include supporting the implementation of sustainable development goals, rights of children, child protection issues (e.g. human trafficking, exploitation of children in travel & tourism, child education, child health, urban programming and good governance. The Partnership Strategy, Our Promise 2030 has defined five strategic imperatives and one of the strategic imperatives (# 3) urge field offices to collaborate and advocate for broader impact to create greater scale and more sustained impact. The Advocacy Directors position will ensure that the regional sector programmes and National Offices can access adequate technical support in influencing policy formation that affects the well-being of children. The Regional Advocacy function will support the development of advocacy strategic guidance and integration of evidence based advocacy approaches into field
programs that will strengthen WVs voice to advocate issues concerning children at local, national and regional levels. The Regional Advocacy Director will engage with regional mechanism such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Open Government Partnership, the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative (COMMIT Process) and Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) and will ensure WVs presence and contributions in the regional policy debates resulting in increase of World Visions profile as an authoritative voice for the MVC in Asia Pacific Region. Provide strategic leadership and support in the development of an advocacy strategic guidance and implementation plan that is appropriate for the programmes and context of Asia Pacific region. Ensure the integration and delivery of advocacy services that is in alignment with WV regional and partnership strategy, Our Promise 2030; policies, standards and priorities, in order to achieve the well-being of MVC in Asia Pacific Region.. Serve as a champion and focal point for the Advocacy & External Engagement Line of Ministry through strategic leadership and active involvement with regional planning and will ensure program quality and effective external engagement and advocacy to promote change The Advocacy Director Asia Pacific will support Field Offices in successful delivery of advocacy project models, Sustainable Development Goals, WV flagship campaign It Takes a World to end violence against children and social accountability. This will involves providing strategic input, support and direction to ensure campaign is integrated across all sectors and functional areas at the national level as well as ensuring campaign implementation meets quality standards defined by the Global Center. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Leadership: Advise and support the Regional Leader on advocacy and policy integration and in development of his plans to engage with regional bodies and policy forums. Ensure support and leadership to implement project models; such as the Child Protection Advocacy (CPA) Model, the Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) A social accountability model with the high quality standards determined by the Global Centre. Lead WVs engagement with the regional bodies and regional civil society networks to influence national policy agenda related to child wellbeing objectives and child rights agenda. Lead process of review and strengthening the application of advocacy models in disaster response. Provide leadership to planning and coordination of the global campaign, It Takes A World campaign. Enhance World Visions advocacy capacity and focus according to its mission, principle level choices and strategic imperatives.
Direct and facilitate effective policy and advocacy engagement with the Regional Programme Leaders, Technical Advisors and NO Advocacy and Justice for Children Directors to maximize strategy execution and CWB impact. Maximise the regions strategic CWB and strategy impact results and accountability as it relates to policy and advocacy, developing an effective cross functional Regional Policy and Advocacy Leadership Team from the region and NOs with Primary Strategy Execution responsibilities. Identify and lead regional strategic opportunities to influence regional government policies and structures to increase WVs impact on CWB, child rights and reduces child vulnerability across the region. Promote WV as a leader in CWB and child rights, by identifying key opportunities for strategic research, partnering with credible research institutions to maximize the regions CWB impact and provide a regional and global voice on CWB and child rights issues. Coach, develop and manage a strong Policy and Advocacy Team, fostering a culture of learning, innovation and collaboration as well as, high performance, accountability and mutual support. Guide organizational change, improvement and integration at a strategic and operational level across the region and NOs. Strategy: Ensure NO strategy alignment with WV regional and partnership strategies, policies, standards and priorities. Provide leadership in overall strategy/plan development, management and execution on Advocacy and External Engagement and Child Protection for the region as well as National Offices. Lead the development and implementation of an integrated operational plan for Advocacy function that is aligned with NOs Annual Business Plans and Regional Asia Pacific strategies. Specifically, contribute to the development of Annual Business Plans of the Regional Team Members and NOs Advocacy and Child Protection Teams. Coordinate the development and implementation of advocacy and external engagement business plan in support of and in alignment with other regional and global strategies. Lead regional engagement with global advocacy priorities in addressing Child Well Being Aims. Collaborate with the other regional functions to ensure that World Visions advocacy commitment is adequately and appropriately integrated within all regional office functions and priorities. Participate and contribute to development of regional strategy and global advocacy strategies, priorities and plans ensuring that the advocacy and policy priorities of Asia Pacific Region is integrated and prioritized.
Support the National Offices in developing effective advocacy strategies and plans appropriate to their context in alignment with the regional and global strategies and priorities. Contribute to organizational wide communication and change management processes to support implementation of regional advocacy strategy as part of broader regional strategy and change management plan. Working with Senior Director of Operations, Ministry Impact & Engagement, and Regional Leaders in Asia and Pacific Region to position World Vision in strategic engagements with strategic interagency partnerships to influence governments on implementation of key public policies effecting children. Management: Management of Advocacy and External Engagement Team Members including budget monitoring, performance management & review, and motivation/mentoring of the team members. Oversight on all regional Advocacy projects ensuring alignment to global and regional strategy. Approve project expenditures and contracts within approved budget and established Limit of Authority. Endorse to Senior Director Operations, - Ministry Impact & Engagement, Asia Pacific Asia Pacific, for approval of expenditures and contracts beyond the LOA of Advocacy Director. Guide and support the development and/or contextualization of WV advocacy policies and procedures in the National Offices and Regional Office. Motivate and lead the team ensuring open communication and integration. Organize regular Advocacy staff team meetings. Keep the Senior Director of Operations, Ministry Impact & Engagement informed of accomplishment, critical project issues and status. Provide leadership in overall strategy development, management and execution on Advocacy and Justice for Children and Child Protection for the region as well as National Offices. Partner and where appropriate lead key regional and interagency campaign and lobbying initiatives that will strengthen the regions impact on CWB, child rights and reduce child vulnerability. Support effective organizational and businesses practices and foster a culture of learning and evidence base decision making especially as it relates to policy and advocacy. Effectively coordinate with Public Engagement to ensure critical regional engagements are effectively managed to foster regional partnerships that maximize the success of the regions strategic initiatives and strategy achievements.
Operational/ Technical Support: Work closely with National Offices providing technical leadership support and critical guidance and input in the area of advocacy integration. Contribute to development of global policies, guidelines and standards relating to advocacy, child protection, and provide leadership in contextualizing and mainstreaming them within the Asia Pacific region. Support planning in higher capacity NOs for maintaining capacity levels that allow for sharing and deployment to other NOs (where strategic from a regional perspective). Support planning in lower capacity NOs to strategically address capacity gaps (e.g. capacity building or outsourcing of tasks to internal or external consultants / TSOs) prioritizing NO's OCP and Programme Support Team (PST) processes. Provide leadership in the development of advocacy policy positions related to WVs advocacy priorities in the Asia Pacific Region. Contribute to the development of global policies, guidelines and standards. Coordinate support to national offices required in HEA responses within the regions for advocacy integration. In close collaboration with the Regional Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director and Regional Leadership, provide operational support as needed to all CAT II and III disaster responses in the region. Support national offices in resource acquisition for regional / multi country/ advocacy projects. Support organizational capacity planning (OCP) process in National Offices in relation to advocacy ministry Ensure a regional network (internal WV and external) is developed and maintained, with deployable capacity (TSOs) that is effectively managed through the GTRN. Support the Regional Leadership and National Directors in identifying and prioritizing data collection to build an evidence base for all aspects of regional policy and advocacy performance and progress against strategy execution. This evidence should, in turn, be used to inform policy, advocacy and campaign management decisions. Capacity Building: Lead the development and implementation of an integrated competency development plan informed by regional advocacy priorities, strategy and capacity assessment. Share / facilitate access to programming resources and an appropriate learning and support opportunities for national offices that may include, but not limited to, active involvement in training, engagement with TSOs, establishing institutional links, and identifying opportunities for staff exchange or mentoring.
Work closely with the members of the Ministry Impact & Engagement Team and other functions within the region promoting mutual learning, support and accountability. Knowledge Management: Lead the process of continuous learning related to advocacy and integration of advocacy with other lines of ministries and sectors and themes Encourage mutual learning between National Offices within the Asia Pacific region and with other regions by linking NOs advocacy leads within the Asia Pacific region to promote peer to peer learning. Facilitate formation and coordination of regional advocacy network that promotes learning Lead scaling up of field evidence to influence regional policy discussions Oversee research and analysis where necessary to support areas of advocacy within the Asia Pacific Region. Support Senior Policy Advisor in development of policy briefing and analysis related to CWB priorities advocacy issues. Quality Assurance: Support National Offices in ensuring adherence to policies, protocols and standards related to advocacy. Support regional senior leadership in addressing alignment with the strategies, quality assurance and needs related to advocacy. Provide feedback to NOs leadership regarding NOs capacity and strategy implementation. Internal Liaison & Coordination: Work closely with the Regional Leader to see how the additional needs might be met and solicit for high level strategic input in enhancing child wellbeing outcomes within the Advocacy, Gender and CP Programmes. Develop close relationships with National Office Directors and senior leadership to ensure that the work of the Advocacy, Child Protection Teams is connected and responds to the National Offices (NOs) needs. Act as a strategic link and focal point for regional advocacy connecting National Offices, Support Offices and Global Center for mutual support.
Act as a focal point person for external and media engagement on child protection and ITAW Campaign which may require profiling and advocacy interventions in the Asia pacific Region. Participate and actively contribute in the partnership forums, working Groups and networks related to advocacy as deemed necessary by regional leadership. Collaborate with other regional lines of ministry, sectors and themes and other functions to ensure complementarities and effective integration within wider ministry of World Vision in the region. External Relations: Provide support to the senior leadership team, particularly the Regional Leaders and Senior Director Operations, in engaging external agencies in line with regional strategies and business plans. Develop and maintain good external relations with key regional advocacy organizations and networks so as to ensure that World Vision is well positioned as a credible and influential actor in the region. Work with coalitions at the regional level to help achieve advocacy objectives. General: Contribute and support Christian activities that enrich and develop mutual growth in Christ in a way that promotes holistic and integrated witness in our life and work and impacts the poor and vulnerable. Lead and participate in devotions and chapel. Perform any other tasks assigned by the Senior Director Operations, Ministry Impact & Engagement, Asia Pacific. Be available for other assignments as deemed necessary by the Programmes Director and Regional Leadership. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES: Advanced degree (e.g. Masters degree in law, social science, politics, international development studies or other related professional degree), MBA or other relevant degree or experience. In-depth understanding of key aspects of child right, advocacy and campaigns, demonstrable understanding of the essentials of transformational development and humanitarian programming. Knowledge on Child Rights, regional bodies, CEDAW, etc.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Strong interpersonal, collaborative, negotiating, networking and organizational skills. High level of awareness of global and regional socio-economic, political and environmental issues. Minimum of 5 years experience in public advocacy at senior level. Work experience in Asia Pacific countries. Experience in Conflict Negotiation and Management.