I. Job Context:

ICCO Cooperation (www.icco-cooperation.org) is an international organisation, working for empowering people that will build sustainable livelihoods within a society that will uphold their rights for all in Bangladesh since 1972 and also has innovative interventions in more than 40 countries since 1965.

ICCO is focusing on four priority topics, which combine our thematic knowledge with the markets we work in: Blending, Climate Resilient Agri-Food Systems, New Technologies and Youth Entrepreneurship.

In Bangladesh, Civic Engagement Alliance (CEA) program is currently implementing 3 pathways; (1) Political Space for CSOs on land rights, (2) Realizing the right to adequate food and nutrition and (3) Small-producers empowerment and skill development.
Pathway 1 aims to create the space for CSOs to effective lobby for the formulation of policy for informal Agri sector and access to land needs to improve to create more structural access to land for landless who have insufficient land and mainly work as day labourer on other lands. This pathway is important for pathway 2 and 3 that are also rooted in similar communities and will relate with the part the same government actors but then more thematically focussed.

Pathway 2 aims at improving nutrition services and nutrition behaviour through better implementation of new nutrition policies with a focus on the first 1000 days (pregnant women, lactating mothers and young infants). The cooperation with CSA SUN is strategic as this national network and platform play a key role in such processes.

Pathway 3 aims at small producers that are unable to acquire access to the opportunities, skills and resources to upgrade and that have limited capabilities to engage with and influence the market system. It will work with existing cooperatives and other rural and member-based entities that want to improve their access to a diverse range of services and service providers.

At present ICCO is looking a dynamic person for Lobby and Advocacy Coordinator position to implement and capture the outcome of the current CEA program. She/he will be responsible for close coordination with the implementing partners and provide technical directions to implement the projects to achieve high-quality results and outcome of the project.

The Lobby and Advocacy Coordinator also have to contribute to design the potential second phase of CEA program which focuses on future-proof and inclusive food systems, which create a socio-economic perspective, providing livelihoods and decent work for smallholders and rural & semi-urban workers, especially youth and women.

II.            Responsibilities and Tasks:  

Responsibility # 1: Coordinate with partners (CSOs, local and international NGOs) to implement and guide to get qualitative outcomes of the CEA program in Bangladesh

• Guide the partners to implement the project according to the detailed implementing plan (DIP) and budget to achieve the goal on L&A issues.
• Assist in developing contract/MoU with CEA implementing partners and CSOs.
• Play the supportive role to design and redesign of the CEA project L&A activities based on ICCO global office and donors’ requirements.
• Provide technical guidance to the CEA partner’s staff for timely delivery of the project activities.

Responsibility # 2: Contribute to designing the CEA program with special focus on realising an attractive future-proof food system by influencing government and private sector.

• Capture the learning from the current CEA program and translate these learning to design the new concept note and proposal for fundraising.
• Partnership development with the government and private sectors.
• Participate and contribute to the development of concepts and proposals for fundraising on L&A interventions
• Documents of ICCO’s strengthen and assist in presenting different local to national forum, INGOs and donors.

Responsibility # 3: Capture the results-outputs and outcomes of the CEA program and present to different stakeholders.

• Organise regular meetings and field visit to capture the results of the CEA program, including strategic direction to partners and colleagues at field and Dhaka level.
• Maintain the lobby logbook and regular update with the senior management
• Write the case study, report and prepare the presentation for the stakeholders.
• Assist to document evidence and capture practical experience from the field.

Responsibility # 4: Contract, Coordination and Networking with stakeholders such as high government official, financial institution, journalist, civil society, policymakers and other influential people at the local and national level. 

• Maintain and develop professional relationships with government, private sectors, donors, civil society organisations and other like minded organisation and network in Bangladesh as well as region.
• Share the field learning and need/demand of the target community with the public and private service providers at the local and national level.

Responsibility #5: Implement the lobby and advocacy related activities, including capacity development Initiatives for the partner organisations and CSOs.

• Research different inequality to get ideas about lobby and advocacy issues
• Organise policy dialogue in media to cover wider community in Bangladesh
• Assist in conducting lobby and advocacy training for the partners' staff and CSO members
• Coordinate to develop training materials and arrange ToT and basic training for project staff.

Responsibility # 6: Strengthen the field operations through the field visit and lobby initiative at the national level.

• Regular visit the field and provide strategic direction to implement the capacity building, research, lobby and advocacy related activities of the project.
• Formulate and implement advocacy strategies with the support of senior management and partner organisations.
• Facilitate/organize advocacy events at local, regional and national level.
• Engage Government-private sectors and CSO’s actors including media personnel to cover stories.

Responsibility # 7: Contribute to developing new project and concept note for fundraising

• Active participation and contribution to develop the concept notes and proposals, especially the right based and CEA related program design.
• Maintain relationship with potential partners to raise funds as consortium.

III.           Working Conditions:

• Dhaka based position with frequent field  travel in the northern and southern part of Bangladesh.
• Working days from Sunday to Thursday with 40 hours per week.
• This position may be required to work some overtime hours to attend meetings/workshops/ Training.
• Any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor from time to time.
• Assist in implementing other projects of ICCO.
• Yearly renewable  contract based on fund availability and performance.

IV.       Key contacts:

Head of Programs, Project Manager, Implementing Partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Public and Private Sectors; ICCO  Monitoring, Finance, Admin and Procurement units of ICCO, etc.

V.      Skills/Knowledge:

• Master's degree, preferably Development Studies, International Relations, Economics, Journalism, or related fields.
• At least 5 years’ experience in lobby and advocacy program, preferably in human rights, food system and youth involvement.
• Knowledge and skill to design the lobby and advocacy related program design and concept note development for fundraising.
• Skill in capturing the results-outputs and outcomes of the CEA program and present to different stakeholders.
• Working experience with government, media, civil society and different networks including like-minded programs and organizations.
•  Experience in supporting CSOs and organizations to strengthen lobby and advocacy to get service and to establish the rights.
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills and experience in managing lobby and advocacy teams.

• Skill in organizing and conducting training, national-level workshop, roundtable discussion, etc. through presentation, interpersonal relationship and negotiation skills.
• Good computer skills in MS Office.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Bangla, including the ability to present coherent and convincing messages to different audiences.