TERMS OF REFERENCE
Advocacy Advisor
| Organization | NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) (Hosted by Adeso – African Development Solutions) |
| Position | Advocacy Advisor |
| Reporting To | Policy Director |
| Working With | NEAR Secretariat (including Executive Director, Regional Representatives, and other project team members), NEAR members and stakeholders |
| Duty Station | Remote (ideally around the GMT timezone) |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Starting Date | ASAP |
ABOUT NEAR
NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) is a Global South-led movement of local organisations committed to transforming the top-down humanitarian and development system. Our vision is a world where local communities have the resources and agency to respond to crises and development challenges on their own terms. NEAR is a membership based organisation with members coming from four regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
ABOUT ADESO
NEAR is currently hosted by Adeso, an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. Adeso and NEAR both aspire to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: Influencing policy change and enacting systemic change through innovative solutions led by local and national actors.
POSITION PURPOSE
The Advocacy Advisor will play a critical role in shaping and delivering NEAR’s advocacy on multilateral engagement, with a particular focus on United Nations systems, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), and the Grand Bargain. This includes NEAR’s engagement in the humanitarian reset process, support to local and national leadership within global coordination forums and advancing policy positions that reflect the realities of Global South civil society.
This role supports NEAR’s broader objective to challenge and transform multilateral aid mechanisms to be more equitable, locally led, and accountable. This work will be delivered under guidance from the Policy Director, and in cooperation with the NEAR Secretariat and NEAR Members.
SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Policy Advocacy & Strategic Analysis
- Shape NEAR’s advocacy related to humanitarian system reform, with a focus on UN-led multilateral processes including the humanitarian reset, IASC, and the Grand Bargain.
- Lead NEAR’s policy positioning and messaging in these spaces, ensuring alignment with member priorities and NEAR’s long-term vision for localisation.
- Provide strategic advice to the Policy Director and Secretariat on the political landscape and opportunities for influence.
- Track relevant developments across the multilateral system and identify timely entry points for NEAR engagement.
2. Representation & Engagement
- Represent NEAR in multilateral forums including the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), Grand Bargain, and relevant humanitarian reset structures.
- Participate in or support NEAR’s member presence in these spaces, their sub-groups, and/or strategic bodies.
- Provide inputs, analysis, and talking points to strengthen NEAR’s voice in global coordination processes.
- Support NEAR’s engagement with UN80 and other emerging UN system reform efforts.
3. Member Coordination & Internal Alignment
- Coordinate member input into multilateral policy processes, ensuring coherence of messaging and visibility of Global South perspectives.
- Draft briefing materials, position papers, talking points, and other advocacy tools to support NEAR representatives and spokespeople.
- Collaborate with the Influencing Team to ensure alignment between multilateral engagement, campaign work, and bilateral donor advocacy.
- Contribute to regular internal updates and strategy meetings to refine NEAR’s approach across influencing workstreams.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY. This position has no supervisory responsibilities, currently. However, the Policy Advisor is expected to coordinate efforts with key personnel to achieve the position’s purpose.
OTHER DUTIES. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Proven experience in humanitarian or development policy advocacy, with a focus on multilateral processes and UN system reform.
- Strong understanding of global humanitarian architecture, including the IASC and the Grand Bargain.
- Demonstrated political judgment and ability to engage with high-level actors diplomatically and strategically.
- Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English.
- Ability to work effectively across cultures and time zones, particularly in collaboration with Global South civil society.
Desirable
- Experience working within or alongside Global South networks or movements.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages (e.g. French, Arabic, Spanish).
- Familiarity with the UN80 reform process or other major global initiatives on system change.
APPLICATION PROCESS
All applications should be sent to jobs@near.ngo by 16 July 2025 with “Advocacy Advisor” on the subject line. The selection committee will review all applications as they arrive.
Each application package should include the following:
- Cover letter with the applicant’s current contact information (limited to one page)
- CV
- Two Professional References, with complete contact information
All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Adeso is an equal opportunity employer.
