Job Title: Advocacy Adviser, Africa
Department: Programs, Africa
Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights around the world. With offices in New York City, New York; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; Geneva, Switzerland; and Washington, D.C., the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $50 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world, with an additional $29 million annually of donated legal services, representing the work of countless lawyers from more than 46 countries.
The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they are today. The Center has a track record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. Additionally, the Center has led the development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights and has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting.
The Role: Under the supervision of the Senior Advocacy Adviser, Africa, the Advocacy Adviser will primarily support the implementation of the Changing the Laws, Changing Lives project within the Africa Program and contribute to the delivery of the Center’s strategic policy and advocacy objectives, working with partners to build, strengthen and implement SRHR standards and norms regionally and internationally.
This is a fixed-term role ending January 31st, 2026 with the possibility of extension. The position will be based in the Center's Nairobi office, with travel across the region.
Primary Responsibilities: The primary job responsibilities for the Advocacy Adviser, Africa include, but are not limited to:
Program implementation and management
- Under the guidance of the Senior Advocacy Adviser, be responsible for planning, implementation, and reporting within the Changing the Law, Changing Lives project.
- Ensure project learning is generated and documented and shared within the project in line with GLP and overall, Center’s reporting systems and guidelines.
- Liaise with Center’s partners and Center’s program staff to ensure relevance and quality of activities and to maintain effective partnerships.
- Ensure timely production and submission of project reports and other knowledge products in accordance with donors’ requirements.
Technical Support to Project Partners
- Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of partner advocacy strategies.
- Provide ongoing support/accompaniment to partners under the Changing the Law, Changing Lives project as they implement the project and work towards outcomes.
- Participate in the implementation and review of capacity support plan for partners as they translate advocacy priorities into concrete actions with key deliverables.
Advocacy Support
- Develop and ensure that effective messages and clear positions are crafted and delivered to different audiences in line with the Changing the Law, Changing Lives project.
- Conduct analysis on trends / issues related to SRHR in the project areas, with a view to informing advocacy strategies and partner support.
- Develop and maintain an excellent working knowledge of current and emerging legal and policy trends relevant to the country and partner strategies.
- Support research initiatives that provide evidence for the delivery of project priorities
- Support the process of identifying programming and advocacy priorities in collaboration with the Center program teams and partners.
- Provide advocacy support for the Center’s and partner’s strategic interest litigation and the implementation of progressive SRHR court decisions in the countries of focus.
- Represent the project at any relevant meetings within delegated authority.
Qualifications:
- Degree in law or other relevant degree required with 5 – 8 years professional and/or relevant experience.
- Knowledge of international human rights, women’s rights, Africa regional and global human rights mechanism.
- Posses excellent writing and editing skills.
- Demonstrable Experience in:
- Successfully achieving advocacy objectives and achieving policy change, in the context of NGO influencing agenda.
- Designing and delivering successful advocacy strategies.
- Strategic understanding of the political trends, opportunities, and challenges in international development and of the African and international political landscape
- Designing and delivering successful advocacy strategies.
Behavioral Competencies:
- Develop & Manage Self & Others: Takes ownership of individual growth in order to achieve full potential; recognizes the value of team members and helps them develop their full potential while also achieving set objectives.
- Collaboration (People First): Works intra- and/or cross-departmentally to support the goals and overarching strategies of the Center and its strategic plan.
- Feedback (Improve & Innovate): Actively engaged in feedback cycles: Gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports about work products, behaviors, values, style, and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals, and teams.
- Accountability: Follow-through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way.
Work Competencies:
- Project Management: Works effectively on project teams in order to achieve long-term project goal and objectives.
- Problem Solve & Make Decisions: Identifies, analyzes and resolves existing and anticipated problems, using common sense to make timely decisions in order to reach the best solutions for the organization.
- Internal/External Focus: Anticipates internal and external partner’s needs; assesses requirements and identifies new solutions that align with overall goals and objectives of the organization.
- Communication & Influence: Communicates with and influences others to gain agreement and commitment to the strategic goals of the organization.
Compensation: This annual salary for this position is KES 6,650,000.
Benefits:
- Health: The Center pays up to 95%* of the premium for a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage. (* % may differ in various countries)
- Flexibility: The Center currently operates in a hybrid model, allowing staff to work 3 days in the office and work 2 days from home
- Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical and community well-being. The Center offers generous leave including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are also closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend time with their loved ones.
- Growth: You will be working with and learning from some of the top legal and operational minds, all passionate about the mission of advancing reproductive rights around the world. You will also be eligible for a stipend to use towards professional growth.
- Global: You will get a front-row seat to update on the fight for reproductive rights in the global space. You will also have access to Employee Resource Groups to connect to colleagues that share similar interests/backgrounds/views.
- Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (* only applicable in US and Kenya)
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Our hiring processes and our work culture offer support and flexibility for staff with a variety of needs. Should you face an accessibility barrier in the application and interview process please let us know by contacting talent@reprorights.org. We will work with you to provide the accommodation that works best for you.
To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights
Learn more about the Center for Reproductive Rights, go to www.reproductiverights.org
How to Apply: Please complete the application below to apply. A cover letter and resume must be included in your application. Please include these application materials as attachments.
Please note that all genuine Center openings must be applied through the Center website. The Center does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process (application, interviews, or selection). Nor does it request any medical examinations or bank account information as part of this process. If someone contacts, you on behalf of the Center requesting payment for your application please notify talent@reprorights.org before taking any further action.
Our hiring processes and our work culture offer support and flexibility for staff with a variety of needs. Should you face an accessibility barrier in the application and interview process please let us know by contacting talent@reprorights.org. We will work with you to provide the accommodation that works best for you.
Deadline for applications: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
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