Advocacy Specialist

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Organizational Context

UNOPS hosts the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership Secretariat (STBP) as of 1 January 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland. The purpose of STBP is to realize the goal of elimination of tuberculosis as a public health problem and, ultimately, to obtain a world free of tuberculosis. In order to achieve this, STBP manages the Global Drugs Facility (GDF), the TB REACH, and the Challenge Facility, which provide a broad range of procurement, grants and advocacy activities, as well as a leading coordination role at national, regional and global levels. The vision of the Stop TB Partnership is to realize the goal of elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) as a public health problem and, ultimately, to obtain a world free of TB by ensuring that every TB patient has access to effective diagnosis, treatment and cure, stop transmission of TB, reduce the inequitable social and economic toll of TB, and developing and implementing new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic tools and strategies

Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership's mission is to serve every person who is vulnerable to TB and ensure that high-quality treatment is available to all who need it. Our partners include international and technical organizations, government programmes, research and funding agencies, foundations, NGOs, civil society and community groups and the private sector.

There  is  therefore  an  urgent  need  to  scale  up  advocacy  in  both  donor  and  low income  countries to  secure political leadership, increased funding, and reduce stigma for tuberculosis. The Partnership is looking for an experienced and passionate advocacy professional to join its Advocacy and Communications team for a six month consultancy, with possibility of extension.

The Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for working on all aspects of the Stop TB Partnership’s Advocacy work, including:

• Contribute to the  development  and execution of policy and advocacy strategies related to the Board, Secretariat and key partners;
• Develop an advocacy toolkit for the Global Plan to End TB and other tailored advocacy materials to support rollout, uptake and evaluation of the Plan and related documents.
• Supports the Advocacy and Policy Officer to identify opportunities for the development of strategic programs, alliances and coalitions with other organizations, political leaders, and Ministers;
• Edit or draft reports, forewords, op-eds, interventions, speeches, speaking points and other documents upon request;
• Provide inputs on advocacy efforts in selected countries, assist in developing and rolling out global campaigns for TB, including the recently launched TB Red Arrow as the new global symbol of the TB cause;
• Contribute to the  implementation of  the BRICS and TB stream of advocacy work, including assembly of a BRICS and TB advocacy focused report, organizing BRICS TB meetings, and supporting advocacy in BRICS countries;
• Provide substantive support in implementing advocacy components of the Global Plan to End TB 2016-2020, including a Civil Society Scorecard to measure countries implementation of TB Policies against data collected by the Partnership;
• Produce advocacy materials to equip partners and stakeholders in different countries to influence decision-makers and for general advocacy and communications, including campaign toolkits and calls to action;
• Arrange external meetings and side-events with advocacy targets and stakeholders from governments, Permanent Missions to the UN, NGOs, and other external actors;
• Assist with developing and updating the Partnership’s global advocacy strategy and M&E of the advocacy workplan;
• Supports the Advocacy and Policy Officer to monitor external global events and political opportunities for TB advocacy;
• Attend meetings, internal and external, upon request and write up minutes and/or meeting reports;
• Draft formal correspondence, including meeting requests and follow up letters to external contacts;
• Edit or draft reports, interventions, speaking points and other documents upon request.

• Proven communication and negotiation skills with both high- level representatives including Ministries of Health officials and Government, and with local community leaders and stakeholders;
• Excellent writing skills and previous experience writing reports, op-eds, forewords, and other Mediums;
• Experience in development of advocacy and communication products and activities at international level;
• Data evaluation, analysis and reporting skills;
• Previous experience in the Global Health and TB field;
• Knowledge of the UN system, intergovernmental bodies, fundraising and public relations;
• Ability to plan and organize meetings and satellite events;
• Experience developing and implementing successful global campaigns;
• Experience with Excel to analyse basic data for advocacy purposes;
• Experience working with NGOs on advocacy projects.

An Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably  in public health, political science, communication, international relations or other related discipline is required.

A First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced university degree.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.