Advocacy Manager

Background

Jacaranda Health is a nonprofit organization whose mission for the last eight years has been to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in the public health system. We work hand-in-hand with governments, including county health management teams and Ministries of Health, to deploy affordable and scalable solutions through public hospitals, where the majority of underserved mothers and babies receive care. These solutions include PROMPTS, an AI-enabled text messaging service for mothers, and MENTORS, a facility-based training program equipping frontline nurses with lifesaving skills and knowledge. In Kenya, we are in 22 of Kenya’s busiest counties, who co-own our interventions, and work with us to design what and how we measure impact for effective decision-making. These partnerships have helped us reach 2.4 million women with our solutions across 1,100+ health centers and hospitals and will continue to be the cornerstone of how we approach the path to national scale in Kenya. We have expanded operations within Eswatini and Ghana. 

Jacaranda Health is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regards to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. 

Job Summary

The purpose of the role is to strengthen Jacaranda Health’s advocacy efforts with the National Government into endorsement and adoption of the key solutions being implemented by Jacaranda Health. This is mainly through linkages with senior government officials to create opportunities for Jacaranda Health leadership to engage, get buy-in leading to resource allocation and national roll-out of PROMPTS and MENTORS. 

The role will also support the development and implementation of Jacaranda Health’s Advocacy Strategy and Plan around maternal and newborn health, identifying and participating in National and County networks.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Head of Partnerships

Preferred start date: May, 2024.

Main Responsibilities 

1. Identify and map out key strategic national decision-makers and influencers, understand their priorities and interests to inform JH's national engagement strategy

2. Develop the engagement plan, initiate and drive engagement initiatives, and map out key activities specifically for the national level Ministry of Health.

3. Build strategic relationships and nurture them with key influencers in the different divisions and departments within the Ministry of Health. This includes regular and proactive engagements and tailored approaches to cater to the unique needs and preferences of each stakeholder.

4. Gather information, synthesize it, and provide direction to Jacaranda Health leadership on remaining relevant with government interests and priorities, adapting our programs, and using this information to influence the organization's strategy.

5. Develop and maintain a knowledge database on current political landscapes, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder changes and provide advice to Jacaranda Health leadership on adapting to changes within the Health sector

Requirements

• At least 5 years’ experience in advocacy work, as well as contributing to the development and implementation of advocacy strategies. 

• An academic qualification with a minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Governance, International development , Community development or related field of study. 

• Experience working within Kenya Health systems. 

• Superior written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex arguments into accessible English for a non-specialist audience, and the ability to write articles that would be published in the mainstream press. 

• Experience of supporting the  development of  advocacy strategies, knowledge and understanding of a range of advocacy techniques 

• Experience of effective teamwork and outstanding interpersonal communication skills 

• Experience of coalition building and working with civil society actors to deliver change 

Competencies

1. Innovation and creativity - Uses compelling approaches  backed up by data and evidence to gain buy-in for new ideas/approaches

2. Responsibility and accountability - Sets standards of performance for self, and external partners and assumes responsibility for successfully accomplishing work objectives and delivering results.  

3. Integrity - Establishes and maintains a reputation for honesty, ethical conduct, fairness, and reliability; make Jacaranda Health's position clear on difficult issues and only commit to what the organization can deliver.

4. Decision making - Assesses and incorporates organisational needs and trends into decisions taking into account the internal and external environment

5. Problem Solving - Determines the potential causes of a problem and devices testing methodologies for validation. Identifies methods to analyze data more quickly and efficiently, presents findings and recommends evidence-based solutions

6. Customer relations - Develop detail framework for successful implementation of internal/external customer focus

7. Influence - Negotiates where there are opposing ideas, achieves desired outcomes and convey opinions successfully and uses tact and diplomacy to resolve conflict amongst internal and external stakeholders

Contract Period

This position is expected to be a contract of 12 months, renewable.

To Apply: Interested candidates should send cover letter and CV to jhslcareers@jacarandahealth.org.

No hard copies required or accepted.  

Candidates should submit their applications by 30th May 2024.

Applications and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Early applications are highly encouraged.