External Affairs Officer - Advocacy Specialist, GPE
Job #:req22365Organization:World BankSector:
External Affairs & Corporate RelationsGrade:GFTerm Duration: 3 years 0 monthsRecruitment Type:International RecruitmentLocation:Washington, DC,United StatesRequired Language(s):EnglishPreferred Language(s):Closing Date:5/12/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Are you a very passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.
Who We Are
GPE is a shared commitment to end the world's learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world.
We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to transform education systems so that
every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency.
What We Do
GPE helps low- and lower-middle-income countries to build stronger education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We currently support nearly 90 countries where
the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by extreme poverty or conflict.
Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. GPE is also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning can safely continue.
How We Work
Now, GPE is working to help governments transform their education systems to get the most vulnerable children in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. Between 2020-2025, GPE will support transformative change in up to 90 countries and territories, which are home to 1 billion children.
Transforming education is about creating lasting changes and achieving impact at scale. GPE sets out to deliver this transformative change by convening partners, mobilizing funds and catalyzing reforms to help partner countries accelerate access, learning outcomes and gender equality.
Raise Your Hand
In July 2021, the Global Education Summit put GPE firmly on the path to be fully-funded by 2025, by raising a record US $4 billion from donors for GPE's Raise Your Hand campaign. At the Summit, Heads of State and Government from partner countries made historic commitments to education financing and GPE also mobilized an unprecedented number of pledges from businesses, private foundations and development banks.
A fully funded GPE would support transformed education systems in up to 90 countries and territories, enable up to 175 million children to learn and help get 88 million more girls and boys in school by 2025. In the longer term, this investment could add $164 billion to economies in GPE partner countries, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect 2 million girls from early marriage.
Governance And Organizational Arrangements
The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnership's breadth. The Board Chair is the President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Dr Susan Liautaud. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions.
The GPE Secretariat, with 160 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariat's headquarters are in the World Bank's offices in Washington, D.C. and the European office is in Paris with a satellite office in Brussels.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The External Relations team (EXR) responsibilities include donor relations, communications, advocacy, civil society outreach, private sector and private foundation outreach and it has the primary responsibility for overseeing GPE's Financing Campaigns.
The Global Advocacy Team is part of the External Relations Team (EXR). This team is responsible for the strategic positioning of GPE in key global and regional fora and public policy discourse; development and management of relationships with advocacy partners and champions; management of relationships with global CSOs, and youth leaders including support to CSO board constituencies.
ABOUT THE JOB
The position will be based in the GPE office located in Washington, DC, but may be subject to relocation if business needs so indicate.
Description
The Global Advocacy Team seeks to recruit an External Affairs Officer to lead global advocacy and public policy on education, and to lead the implementation of the GPE youth leaders' program.
The Global Advocacy team sits within the External Relations Team and promotes the importance of education to sustainable development outcomes and GPE's added value in the global education sector. This is done through public policy engagement, developing and managing advocacy partnerships as well as securing relationships with young people through the GPE youth leaders' program.
The role will serve a unique function as GPE's advocacy focal point on public policy influencing and partnerships, including UN, think tanks, civil society, youth and champions, to build GPE's networks and profile.
The candidate will report to the Deputy Team Lead for Global Advocacy.
Duties And Accountabilities
Advocacy and Campaigning
Develop and implement advocacy, public policy, and political strategies to advance GPE's objectives and position GPE across global education and sustainable development fora
Translate political intelligence, policy information and programmatic data into salient briefs and talking points for GPE leadership
Lead on building GPE's relationships with DC based donor and partner country embassies to engage with Ambassadors
Lead on building networks and connections with US and New York based CSO advocacy and youth partners e.g. UN Foundation, UN envoy on youth, Obama Foundation Girls Opportunity Alliance, UNGEI, and other relevant champions and influencers.
Share relevant intel and information internally to advance GPE's political knowledge and maintain the external engagements calendar.
Take the lead on coordinating GPE engagements on US based events including Spring Meetings, High Level Political Forum, and backstopping on UNGA
Provide quality support and advice to management and develop strategies for engaging in global, regional, and national public policy fora, e.g. G7, G20, UN and other global forums.
Identify strategic opportunities and challenges for GPE in the global public policy domain
Support effective cross-functional collaboration with GPE teams in order to advance policy outcomes
Coordinate with GPE Communications Team in ensuring that advocacy engagements are amplified in external communications including social media.
Other duties as identified by the team lead.
Youth advocacy
Lead the management of the GPE Youth Leader's program including:
Identify platforms, events and partnerships through which GPE can support and amplify young people's voices
Brief youth leaders on GPE activities and engagements across partner countries
Develop and manage partnerships with youth focused organizations e.g. UN OSGEY, SDG4 youth network, and others
Identify and provide opportunities for capacity building of youth leaders, including for external facing engagement.
Collaborate across EXR to find opportunities to feature youth leaders as partners at the regional, global and national level
Provide training and support to GPE staff to improve the quality of youth engagement.
Integrate youth leaders across GPE's advocacy actions
Ensure best practice for meaningful youth advocacy is understood and followed across the global advocacy team and in the wider organization.
Selection Criteria
Education
Master's degree in education, international development, or a relevant related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
Experience
At least five years relevant experience
Knowledge of advocacy tactics and approaches for global advocacy
Strong understanding of the global education sector
Experience of working with youth activists supporting youth led advocacy in global events
Competencies
Advocacy and influencing - aware of political dynamics and how best to strategically engage to influence global public policy processes, working with partners when needed to demonstrate thought leadership.
Collaboration & Teamwork - Actively collaborates with others and models and open, helpful disposition. Acts as a teammate, proactively stepping in to support colleagues as needed. Recognizes and values the role of each team in delivering on GPE's mission. Approaches challenges and obstacles as shared challenges to be overcome. Sincerely contributes to productive group dynamics and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
Accountability & Results Focus - Engages in productive consultation without losing sight of responsibility for own decisions, deliverables and deadlines. Doesn't let the pursuit of perfection prevent forward progress. Seeks clarity when needed to move work forward and takes initiative to remove obstacles. Takes ownership of own mistakes, failures or oversights, and seeks to correct them. Manages differences of opinion to productive resolution so as not to impede progress. Works to ensure group efforts produce clear actions and decisions and tasks conclude.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills - Has experience & success working in multicultural environments. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, adapting language, tone, style and message to diverse, multicultural audiences. Skilled at communicating complex information in succinct and digestible ways. Shares information and keeps people informed; Models transparency, in a way that builds trust in a culturally diverse environment. Maintains productive working relationships with colleagues and models this behavior for junior staff. Engages in active listening and two-way conversation. Asks questions for clarification and responds to others appropriately. Learns from others' ideas and expertise.
Adaptability - Models flexibility - responds to changing circumstances by innovating and altering behavior to better fit different situations. Learns new skills and performs work in different ways. Remains calm in stressful situations and influences others do so. Professionally deals with personal discomfort in a changing work environment.
Planning & Organizing - Works well independently and in teams. Plans and prioritizes work effectively, making adjustments as needed to accommodate changes. Sets and meets individual and team deadlines. Works well under pressure and against tight timelines, and still delivers high-quality work. Foresees risks and identifies mitigation strategies and contingencies.
BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITION
Term appointments include, but are not limited to, medical benefits, including dental and vision, Staff Retirement Plan, financial assistance program, life & disability insurance, comprehensive leave policy (minimum 26 days/annum) and parental leave policy (50-100 days).
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, creed, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.
GPE has a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in line with its PSEAH policy.
Individuals with disabilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions of the role and support in receiving other workplace accommodations. Please contact the DAF-Disability Accommodation Fund at disabilityfund@worldbank.org for further information and support.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.
Address
Form of work
