Tetra Tech ARD is currently accepting expressions of interest from qualified Senior Public Engagement and Advocacy Advisor candidates for the Initiative to Strengthen Local Administrations (ISLA) program.

The purpose of this Program is to strengthen the sub-national government system in Afghanistan to enable the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) to improve provincial governance in the areas of fiscal and development planning, representation of citizens, and enhanced delivery of public services. The ISLA program will strengthen subnational systems in the areas of planning, operations, communication, representation, and citizen engagement. Improvements in these areas, along with the passage of clear, legal sub-national governance frameworks by GIRoA will improve GIRoA’s ability to prioritize service delivery and develop central plans and budgets that represent provincial interests. This will lead to services that more closely respond to all citizens’ needs in health, education, security, justice, and urban services. As all citizens benefit from public services, their perception of government legitimacy will increase. The core problems to be addressed are better integration of provincial priorities into the national plan and budget, and strengthened flows of information. The program will work within the existing system to improve its functionality. This will be done by fostering a combination of top-down and bottom-up consultative processes between central and provincial levels to formulate plans and budgets that align with local community service delivery priorities and with national developmental priorities and available resources.

Responsibilities:

* Provide technical inputs to the development of a roll-out process for provincial and inter-ministerial advocacy plans, guidelines, and templates. This will include the development of a strategy for the engagement of different provincial and national actors and the preparation of presentations and other communication materials on the advocacy plans.

*Support the development of provincial advocacy plans, guidelines, and templates, which reflects strong communication mechanisms between the provincial and national levels.

*Support the development of inter-ministerial advocacy mechanisms and plans that strengthen horizontal advocacy across national level entities that support provincial governance, focusing on IDLG, MoEc and MoF and engagement with sectoral line ministries.

*Support the facilitation of forums on provincial needs, bringing together selected members of PCs and Provincial Governor’s Offices (PGOs), and central government officials to discuss provincial service delivery needs, including those of marginalized or vulnerable populations.  This includes women’s and youth specific forums and the development of tools and approaches for the convening of these forums which can be sustained by provincial governmental entities.

* Support ISLA’s communications and reporting needs, including the preparation of reports, regular progress reports and other project communications (press releases, best practices, success stories), to ensure that progress is accurately documented and project accomplishments and lessons learned are captured and shared with USAID and the project’s stakeholders. 

*Contribute to the development of project workplans and reports as required.

*Provide coaching, mentoring, and training support to relevant members of the project technical team and embedded advisors to strengthen skills in public engagement, communications, and advocacy.

*Coordinate and support project short term technical assistance providers, subcontractors, and consultants in the areas of provincial monitoring and evaluation, public engagement and advocacy. 

*Collate relevant Monitoring & Evaluation data to inform project reporting (for stakeholders, GIRoA, and USAID) as needed;

*Coordinate closely with GIRoA counterparts, including IDLG, MoEc, and MoF focal persons and leadership. 

Qualifications:

*Master’s degree in Communications, International Development, Public Policy, Public Administration, Public Relations, Sociology, Journalism, or related field.

*At least 8 years of relevant technical assistance or other relevant work experience in developing countries on donor-funded development projects in the areas of advocacy, public awareness and outreach, communications and reporting.

*Experience working in Afghanistan or similar post-conflict environments and understanding of the subnational governance system of Afghanistan is a plus.

*Prior experience on USAID-funded projects is a strong advantage.

*Excellent oral and written English language skills.  

*The ability and resilience to produce high quality written work to tight deadlines without close supervision and under often difficult and stressful working conditions.

*Experience implementing capacity development programs, including on-the-job coaching and mentoring.

*Proven organization, management and communications skills in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.

Submission deadline: September 1, 2017