Advocacy Officer

KOSHISH, National Mental Health Self-Help Organization, established in 2008, is breaking the silence and amplifying voices of persons with mental health condition and psychosocial disability for inclusion of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) within and beyond the health system. KOSHISH promotes self-advocacy in the spirit of “NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US”.

We are looking for the following positions:

Advocacy Officer

Number of positions: 1
Reports To: Project Coordinator
Location: Nuwakot and Rasuwa (Based in Nuwakot)
Duration: Fulltime
The Advocacy Officer will support the project coordinator in implementation of the “Improving the mental health and psychosocial well-being of vulnerable communities in Nuwakot and Rasuwa” project. S/he will coordinate with the local governments and collaborate with other likeminded organizations, OPDs, CSOs and CBOs for effective implementation of the advocacy and awareness initiatives in the project. S/he will also build the capacity of the community campaigners as well as advocacy groups in advocacy.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy at local and provincial level through effective coordination and collaboration:

• Build and maintain collaboration/ partnerships with stakeholders, especially with the OPDs, Government line
  agencies, CSOs, CBOs and local health facility in the project municipalities.
• Advocacy for mainstreaming rights and services of persons with mental health issues and psychosocial disability
  in government policy, plan, and program
• Ensure that our work reflects and is responsive to the needs of people with mental health issues and
  psychosocial disability.
• Lobby and advocacy with local government representatives and support in Provincial level advocacy in
  coordination with Project Coordinator and Advocacy Coordinator.
• Organize advocacy and awareness campaigns in close collaboration with the project team and various units at
  the central level
• Support in carrying out development of advocacy notes, demand papers and delegations by the right holders
  and mediate with the duty bearers
• Follow up with the duty bearers along with the right holders
• Represent KOSHISH on different platforms with the approval from Project Coordinator.

Evidence Generation for Advocacy:

•  Review of policies of the project municipalities and the province government to identify the state of inclusion of
  mental health and psychosocial disability in the policies, program and budget.
• In collaboration with the project team, carry out situational assessment of the right holders from the rightsbased perspective to identify and support to have access to rights they are entitled.
• Collect evidence through case stories in the project location to identify and highlight cases of violation of human
  rights and support the right holders to demand with the duty bearers for them to be addressed.

Coalition Formation and Capacity Development:

•  Formation of coalition between persons with mental health issues/ psychosocial disabilities, cross disability
  groups, parents/ caregivers and community leaders for joint advocacy.
•  Capacity development in advocacy and awareness from the rights-based perspective to strengthen strong voices
  for advocacy
• Improve capacity of the project team on human rights-based approach through real-time feedback, support,
  coaching and mentoring in coordination with Project coordinator.

Documentation, database management and reporting:

• Develop materials for advocacy and awareness in close coordination with the project coordinator, psychologist
  and the central team.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation, plans and reports.
• Submit project progress updates to the Project Coordinator.
•  Ensure Quality project reporting requirements are met in line with donor requirements, Government
  compliance within specified timeline.
• Develop news, success stories, good practices, and learning documents and maintaining record and
  disaggregated databases of beneficiaries including pictures, and voices from the field.

Safety & Security

• Ensure safety & security during project implementation in collaboration with central office.
• Analyze / identify potential risks and handle any issues that may arise.

Safeguarding

• Accountable for ensuring that all children and adults who are reached by the project are safeguarded to the
  greatest extent possible.
• Promote safeguarding among project teams and ensure safeguarding is embedded in all stages of project cycle
  management.
• Any other task assigned by the organization relevant to your experience and requirements for the projects.

QUALIFICATIONS & ESSENTIAL QUALITIES

• At least a bachelor’s degree in law, social science, public health, or relevant field (master’s preferable),
•  At least 3 years of experience in project management with NGOS/INGOs
•  Experience in the field of mental health and psychosocial issues, disability rights and advocacy are desirable,
• Flexible approach to work demands,
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking and planning skills,
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team,
• Demonstrated skill in building collaborative relationships with stakeholders,
• Proactive, focused and result oriented.
• Excellent written and spoken Nepali and English,
• Computers: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Salary: Negotiable as per competence and experience.

Applying Procedure:

• Interested candidates are requested to send their updated curriculum vitae and Cover letter including expected
  salary in PDF version via email at recruit@koshish.org.np .
•  Please clearly mark in the subject line as “Advocacy Officer-Application “.
•  The application will be processed on a rolling basis and closed when the suitable candidates are
  selected. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further process.
•  Please clearly mention minimum three referees on your Curriculum Vitae. (including contact number, email id
  etc.)

Note:

1. Eligible candidates with disabilities, women and from the local area are encouraged to apply.
2. KOSHISH reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever.