ThaiNGO

Plan International Thailand

Job Advertisement: OVOC (Our Voices Our Choices) Regional Advocacy Specialist

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for equality for girls and better lives for all children. We are independent of governments and have no political or religious affiliation.

Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Position:  OVOC Regional Advocacy Specialist

Assignment duration: Fixed-Term 1 year Contract with possibility of contract extension

Duty station: Countries in Asia with Plan's operational presence.

JOB Purpose:               

In 2021, Plan International in partnership with four Co-applicant CSOs: Article 19, the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO), Phayao Youth News Agency (PYNA), and Thailand Youth Institute (TYI) (collectively with Plan: the OVOC Consortium). successfully secured a grant from the European Union with the overall objective to support and empower civil society in protecting and promoting democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide by ensuring that young people and especially women and girls in target communities in Bangladesh, Nepal and Thailand (also the broader Asian region) enjoy fundamental human rights and are actively engaged in improving their lives and communities through inclusive, effective, pluralistic and representative civic participation with a focus on inclusive civic space. Inclusive civic space plays a central role in our action.

Our Voices Our Choices: Women and Youth for Democratic Space (OVOC) aims to address the needs and constraints of youth and women in all their diversity including Dalits, LGBTIQ+, persons with disabilities and other excluded groups, as they are often overlooked, suppressed and underestimated, and are not taking part in decision making. The genuine engagement of these often excluded youth/women groups empowers civil society to play a key role in democratic policy implementation at all levels. This, as well as their advocacy and ability to hold duty bearers to account, improves compliance with international human rights policies and law. The project intends to strengthen an enabling environment for youth/women-led civil society participation and engagement in the Asian region. It aims to facilitate CSOs and youth networks as independent actors who hold their governments to account, and to amplify the outcomes they seek in their societies.

Under the Project, Plan International’s Asia Pacific Regional Office (APAC) is committed to fulfill deliverables that involve regional influencing, partnership with organizations, organizing key events, and coordination with Plan International country offices in Thailand, Bangladesh, and Nepal.  

TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The OVOC Regional Advocacy Specialist will:

• Ensure or carry out the regional project activities and also provide technical support to Country Offices in collaboration with Plan International Netherlands National Office (NLNO);
• Collaborate with project partners, networks (internally and externally), other donors, National Offices (Nos), Area of Global Distinctiveness (AoGD) LEADs, etc.;
• Ensure the achievement of the project contribute to the Regional Influencing and Programs goals and objectives, and align with Global initiatives; 
• Provide technical support to Country Offices involved in the OVOC project;
• Work closely with the Regional Advocacy and Civic Engagement Advisor (RACE) in coordinating with regional bodies such as the ASEAN, AICHR, SAARC, etc. to build relationships for influencing;
• Work closely with the RACE in coordinating with relevant civil society organizations who will be part of regional initiatives;
• Coordinate with CSO partners and youth-led groups in organizing regional activities;
• Provide support in the provision of capacity building for youth-led and girls’ led organizations which include, self-protective training, an online human rights (HR) course, dissemination of tools and learning packages on freedom of speech, enhancing inclusive civic space, gender transformation, lobby and advocacy;
• Lead the coordination for organizing international events to foster learning and exchange, promote social mobilization, and to provide a safe space particularly at the Asia Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development, as well as regional events such as a South Asian feminist journalist summit, the Asia Pacific Youth Symposium, and the CRC Asia Children’s Forum;
• Work with Civil Society, Youth and Advocacy (CYA)Team and other teams;
• Build and maintain relationship with CSOs in order to achieve the project objectives;
• Contribute to CYA objectives and Regional Influencing and Programme team (RIP);
• Ensure that the other activities in the Grant under Plan APAC are implemented efficiently;
• Perform relevant administrative tasks such as budget planning and monitoring as required.

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

Qualifications and experience

Essential

• A university degree in development, gender, politics, human rights or a relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience in using key influencing strategies such as advocacy, lobbying, movement building, or policy development;
• Experience in cross-country coordination;
• Experience in project management;
• Commitment to gender equality, children’s rights and girls’ rights;
• Good understanding of the development and NGO sector;
• Experience of working with coalitions and networks and working with partners
• Youth engagement skill;
• Strong support and commitment to children’s rights, gender equality, and social inclusion.

Desirable

• Demonstrated understanding of Asian political contexts;
• Proven writing ability in blogs, reports, briefs, analyses and written testimony;

• Experience in developing and delivering advocacy strategies in development/humanitarian contexts;
• Skills in conducting capacity building initiatives.

How to apply:

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are required to submit a motivational letter, a comprehensive CV and details of at least 3 referees via E-mail only to: preedee.ittipong@plan-international.org

Closing date for applications:   20 February 2022

Reference & background checks will be performed for successful candidate including clearance on child related offences in conformity with Plan’s Child Safeguarding Policy, Anti-Terrorism Screening (ATS) and Criminal Check Record. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.