Advocacy and Communications Manager
About CBM
CBM (registered as CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V.) is an international development organisation committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the persons communities of the world. Based on our Christian values and more than 100 years of professional expertise, we address poverty as a cause and a consequence of disability. We work in partnership to create an inclusive society for all.

About the role:

The successful candidate will provide operational leadership for continuity and execution of existing advocacy and communications strategy for CBM’s Inclusive Health Initiative (IHI). The role ensures the effective implementation of the IHI advocacy strategy across global and country levels, strengthens partnerships and stakeholder engagement, coordinates communications and knowledge sharing, and leads the development of the IHI Annual Report to advance CBM’s vision of inclusive, equitable, and integrated health for all. This is a 6-month temporary maternity cover position.

You will:
Provide advocacy, policy and influencing expertise to the implementation of Inclusive Health Initiative (IHI) strategy through:

• supporting the development and implementation of advocacy strategy and tools
• Develop and disseminate IHI advocacy tools.
• Develop and disseminate IHI key advocacy messages.
• Support the development of advocacy statements by the initiative

Support Country offices in development and implementation of IHI priority areas advocacy strategies

• Compile and share global IHI priority areas updates with Country Offices
• Support Countries in development and implementation of IHI priority areas advocacy strategies
• Work with country offices to include advocacy activities in project t plans where possible

Partnership and stakeholders’ engagement

• Participate and represent the initiative in IHI networks such as IAPB, FOV, GCI, Inclusion Working Group and UTC to ensure that CBM is well represented in Global IHI priority areas spaces including proper follow up on work packages in these groups.
• Closely liaise and coordinate IHI advocacy work with the CBM advocacy alignment group
• Identify and engage stakeholders in IHI priority areas.

Coordinate the IHI Communication activities

• Ensure timely compilation and submission of IHI monthly articles for CBM connect and Spotlight
• Compilation and updating IHI website content
• Represent IHI in internal and external communication forums.
• Coordination of communications and advocacy statements by the Initiative
• Coordinate the IHI activities for World Health Days such as the World NTD day and World Sight Day

Compile and submit comprehensive handover notes to the Advocacy and Communications manager (IHI) upon her resumption.
These are your qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in social science (economics, political science, psychology, sociology, international relations) or related field is required. Advanced academic degree in a related field is desirable, with minimum eight years’ experience
Exceptional writing skills, including proven experience producing advocacy and policy materials
Experience in policy research and analysis, with a focus on evidence, understanding political and policy contexts, and finding solutions
Proven experience in strategic communications and advocacy planning, especially in global public health themes. Working knowledge of the global eye health sector or NTDs desirable
Experience working with civil society organizations and with policy makers
Ability to think strategically
Experience with partner relations and building coalitions for advocacy and policy dialogues.
Management experience preferred
Team player with the ability to work independently
Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage several projects simultaneously
Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Ability to communicate in a cross-functional environment
Identification with Christian values and the mandate of the CBM

What we offer
A meaningful position with a lot of creative freedom in the world's leading organization in the field of Disability Inclusive Development
A fair salary and other social benefits based on the local conditions in the country you apply for
An approachable, agile organization with self-reliant people in a diverse and collegial team and great team spirit
How to apply
Please apply exclusively online via our applicant portal (see APPLY NOW).
A letter of motivation, CV and relevant (work) references complete your application.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Your contact person: Regina Kagwiria
We would like to further promote diversity in our teams and therefore welcome applications from people of different ethnic and social backgrounds, religions and world views, different ages and genders, and especially from people with disabilities.

Suitability is decisive, gender is irrelevant!

• Provide advocacy, policy and influencing expertise to the implementation of Inclusive Health Initiative (IHI) strategy through:
  • supporting the development and implementation of advocacy strategy and tools
  • Develop and disseminate IHI advocacy tools.
  • Develop and disseminate IHI key advocacy messages.
  • Support the development of advocacy statements by the initiative
• Support Country offices in development and implementation of IHI priority areas advocacy strategies
  • Compile and share global IHI priority areas updates with Country Offices
  • Support Countries in development and implementation of IHI priority areas advocacy strategies
  • Work with country offices to include advocacy activities in project t plans where possible
• Partnership and stakeholders’ engagement
  • Participate and represent the initiative in IHI networks such as IAPB, FOV, GCI, Inclusion Working Group and UTC to ensure that CBM is well represented in Global IHI priority areas spaces including proper follow up on work packages in these groups.
  • Closely liaise and coordinate IHI advocacy work with the CBM advocacy alignment group
  • Identify and engage stakeholders in IHI priority areas.
• Coordinate the IHI Communication activities
  • Ensure timely compilation and submission of IHI monthly articles for CBM connect and Spotlight
  • Compilation and updating IHI website content
  • Represent IHI in internal and external communication forums.
  • Coordination of communications and advocacy statements by the Initiative
  • Coordinate the IHI activities for World Health Days such as the World NTD day and World Sight Day
• Compile and submit comprehensive handover notes to the Advocacy and Communications manager (IHI) upon her resumption.

• Exceptional writing skills
• Policy research and analysis
• Strategic communications and advocacy planning
• Partner relations and building coalitions
• Management experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social science or related field
• Advanced academic degree in a related field desirable
• Minimum eight years’ experience
• Experience in policy research and analysis
• Proven experience in strategic communications and advocacy planning
• Working knowledge of the global eye health sector or NTDs desirable
• Experience working with civil society organizations and with policy makers
• Ability to think strategically
• Identification with Christian values and the mandate of the CBM