CTWWC-Regional ILE Advisor for Africa At Catholic Relief Services

Job Title: CTWWC-Regional Influence, Learning, and Engagement Advisor for Africa

Internal Title: Advisor II
Position Type: Full-Time
Department: PIQA
Reports To: Changing the Way We Care/Influence Le
arning and Engagement Director with dotted line to CTWWCKenya Program Director
Length of Contract: One Year
About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
About *Changing the Way We Care:*
Changing The Way We Care^SM
(CTWWC) is a USAID Global Development Alliance funded by USAID, the MacArthur Foundation and the GHR Foundation, and implemented by Catholic Relief Services and Maestral International along with other key partners such as national governments,
L
umos Foundation, Better Care Network and Faith to Action. CTWWC’s vision is to be a bold global initiative designed to promote safe, nurturing family care for children, including reforming national systems of care for children, strengthening families, family reunification and preventing child-family separation, which can have harmful, long-term consequences, development of alternative family-based care, and influencing others to build momentum towards a tipping point of change for children.
CTWWC has three strategic objectives: (1) Governments promote family care through improvement and uptake of policies, investment in social workers, therapists, and other social service staff and the national and community system
s that serve vulnerable children and families; (2) Children stay in or return to families through family strengthening that includes the voice of children, community engagement, and transitioning institutions to family support init
iati
ves; and (3) Family care promoted globally, through global, regional and national advocacy to advance policies, best practices and redirection of resources by multi-lateral, bi-lateral, corporate, philanthropic, faith-based and secular organizations and individuals, increasing the demand from other countries to support family care.
CTWWC’s Theory of Change is based on learning and evidence generated from demonstration country programs, maximizing this learning towards influencing commitments and practice amongst key actors in favor of family-based care. Current countries of operation include Kenya, Guatemala, and Moldova, as well as privately funded activities in India and Haiti. The demonstration countries were de
liberately selected to represent geographic diversity that could be leveraged for learning by neighboring countries. Current countries of operation imply regional effort in East/Southern Africa, Latin America, and Europe regions.
r /> T
he process of change is promoted by CTWWC’s Influence Learning and Engagement (ILE) team, under the leadership of the ILE Director. Team members operate from different locations and focus on different care reform stakeholders.
Job Background/Summary:
In this position, you will be a key member of the broader ILE Team, leading CTWWC’s efforts to influence regional stakeholders in Eastern and Southern Africa and their support for family care. You will promote increased engagement in care reform efforts at the regional level of civil society organizations, care leaver associations, faith-based organizations and networks, intergovernmental organizations, international and multilateral agencie
s, and donors. You will identify key learnings and case studies from CTWWC’s program in Kenya and other CRS programs in the region to disseminate strategically within the region. You will conduct a mapping of civil society networ
ks in th
e region to identify those with the most potential for strategic engagement. You will help to build capacity and willingness among regional actors to change policies and funding practices away from residential care and toward family care, with the ultimate objective of optimizing practices in East and Southern African countries. You will also ensure people with lived experience have opportunities to give voice and have meaningful participation in the regional ILE work.
Specific Responsibilities

1. Lead the participatory development, coordination, and implementation of a CTWWC regional influence and learning strategy for East and Southern Africa, ensuring concrete linkages to and leverage of both the demonstration country work in Kenya and the overall ILE influence strategy.

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of all new and existing activities within the regional ILE strategy throughout
  the projec
  t cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Ensure high quality quarterly and annual progress reporting and planning processes in the implementation of the strategy.
• Liaise with Kenya, CRS regional and HQ-level CTWWC technical advisors to ensure sound technical quality of the ILE regional work

1. Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to ILE and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.

• ILE for regional bodies
• Map and identify regional fora including government, civil society, faith-based actors among others. Identify and develop key advocacy contacts among relevant regional fora, coalitions and other stakeholders
• Support mapping of networks of people with l
  ived experie
  nce in the region
• Conduct capacity building and awareness raising among regional networks. Support the strengthening of regional networks/alliances. Manage the design and delivery of workshops and learning events.
• Prepare for representation at major regional and global events being held in the region, facilitate global participation including by those with lived experience
• Connect regional groups to global activities and fora like the Global Collaborative Platform for Transforming Children’s Care
• Work with UNICEF ESARO on the regional learning platform
• ILE for national government stakeholders in the region
• Coordinate study visits for high-level government staff from countries in the region
• ILE for care reform actors, faith-based organizations, and children/youth
• Assist with the scoping and identification of faith-base
  d actors, in c
  lose collaboration with demonstration countries, CRS regional advisor and with the ILE Faith Engagement Advisor.
• Conduct outreach to networks on faith and child care reform

1. Identify capacity growth needs and oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in ILE for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.

• Support broader influence and engagement activities and colleagues with linkages from the Kenya country program to regional actors, and from regional actors to global-level initiatives

1. Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
2. Lead the development of relevant program learning for regional ILE work; identify key audiences and users of CTWWC learning, opportunities for learning, research and publications, conference
   s in the area of
   ILE and implementation of MEAL policy. Work with the ILE and MEAL teams on the learning agenda. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the initiative knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.

• Work with the MEAL team to monitor the existing situation (baseline) and impact of influence, engagement and learning activities in line with the Performance Monitoring Plan
• Participate in the Global Learning Team to ensure that the CTWWC Learning Agenda meets the needs of the influence and engagement strategy, across various levels of the initiative, including providing input on the learning needs amongst intended influence audiences and appropriate learning products and dissemination methods to effectively reach those audiences.
• Actively contribute to ILE monitoring data and Outcome Harvesting data collection on a regular basis
• Report
  activities on a qu
  arterly basis

1. Actively engage in CRS agency strategy and contribute to learning and leverage of CRS programs towards the broader strategy, and more specifically, to Strategic Change Platform 5 (Strengthened Families, Thriving Children)
2. Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the regional ILE sector portfolio in line with agency and regional strategic priorities. Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in ILE per agency and donor standards. Contribute to budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships:

• Internal:
• CTWWC/Kenya Program Director and team; CRS/Kenya Head of Programs, HR, and other country program departments and staff;
• CTWWC G
  lobal Director, Oper
  ations Director, Technical Director, Senior Philanthropy and Development Advisor, Senior Faith Engagement Advisor and Financial Manager; MEAL Director and Advisors; global/HQ ILE team
• External: Representatives of regional care sector and regional governmental bodies, as well as faith-based networks, in collaboration with the CTWWC Faith Engagement Advisor

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience:
Required qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in International Relations or Development, Public Policy or related field, or relevant professional experience required.
• Minimum of five years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years relevant field-based experience in influence learning and engagement.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in th
  e care reform sectorli>
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and capacity building
• Demonstrated knowledge of regional stakeholders and platforms active in care reform
• Demonstrated inter-personal and relationship management skills
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in Influence Learning and Engagement. General knowledge of other related disciplines including provision of social services, to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation, particularly for ILE work.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word,
  PowerPoint), Web Confer
  encing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Agency-wide Competencies:
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Consortium-wide Competencies:
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CTWWC and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results:

• Serves with Integ
  rity
• Models Stew
  ardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

CTWWC Core Values:

• Child-focused. Children always come first in our work. We place the rights and needs of children and their safety, protection, and well-being and the center of everything we do.
• Accountable. We take responsibility for our actions when carrying out our programs, exercising great care in the use of our resources and seeking to deploy them to maximum effect, always considering the consequences and impact on children.
• Transformative. We support change to create a positive and sustainable difference to the lives of children, and transformation that brings lasting benefits.
• Inclusive. We aim to ensure access to opportunities for everyone. We endeavor to operate in open and hone
  st ways in both our internal
  and external relationships, developing and delivering flexible approaches that address the needs of all. We involve young people both in matters that affect them and in our advocacy activities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
What we offer:
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
CRS’ emphasis on family values supports benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, policies that promote exclusive breastfeeding, the availability of a baby room at the office, and flexible working hours where possible.
*Our Catholic identity is at the heart
of our mission and operations
. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secul
ar traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS Kenya strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.
CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, tra
in and promote persons solely on
their qualifications and abilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.
*By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to
treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.*

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.