Consultancy Opportunity to Provide Global Advocacy Support to Family for Every Child

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Family for Every Child

Background and Purpose

Family for Every Child (Family) is a global alliance advancing local practitioner knowledge. We are 51 local civil society organisations from 39 countries. We have come together as an international network to share our rich understanding of context relevant work on child rights, child care reform and child protection issues. Collectively we seek to transform the knowledge base and the power dynamics of international AID’s responses to child rights.

Family for Every Child members work closely with children, families and communities. As an alliance of local organisations we hold crucial knowledge about how to address inequalities and violations. We work together based on three shared goals . Firstly, to enable more children to grow up in secure families. Secondly where necessary and suitable for children to access temporary, high quality alternative care. Thirdly to ensure all children outside of adult care are protected and have access to family like support.

In 2025 we seek to capitalise on several International advocacy opportunities. There will be the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD63), 10-14 February 2025 in the lead up to the Summit of the Future in November in Qatar. There is the 2025 Annual Day on the Rights of the Child which will focus on Child Rights and Early Childhood Development in March. There is follow up on the Global Ministerial Conference on VAC held in November 2024 and the OHCHR focus on Care and Support Systems.There is also the potential to build a closer relationship with FCDO.

All of these are opportunities for Family to promote our key advocacy messages; work with others to host side events and influencing activities and to support our member ambassadors to participate and present when possible.

Family for Every Child seeks to take advantage of these and other international global advocacy opportunities in 2025.

This requires a technical expert who will:

  • Attend inter-agency working groups and partnership convening to position Family’s unique model of local CSO leadership and knowledge alongside our key advocacy messages.
  • Provide intel and a deeper understanding of FCDO, UN mechanisms, the World Summit and others in relation to positioning Family’s global advocacy agenda
  • Input into technical briefings as part of inter-agency working.
  • Coordinate Family’s attendance at these events: create advocacy materials and tools in support of attendance at events, briefing those attending events.
  • Identify opportunities for Family to take advantage of International platforms; initiatives and fora to take forward our global advocacy.
  • Generate the argumentation and political analysis to support our outreach and influencing efforts at an international level.
  • Engage with relevant UN bodies in New York and Geneva to plan and deliver high-level engagement
  • Monitor (and regularly report on) the international landscape for relevant intelligence and updates.

Key specific deliverables will include:

  1. An advocacy plan and calendar for taking forward the strategy over the year.
  2. Advice on the viability, key relationships and accordingly coordinate with other agencies to host a side event at at least one of the International opportunities identified in this document and attendance and ideally presentation at at least one other event.
  3. Advocacy materials and support to capitalise on attendance at the International events as stated in this document
  4. Proactive and timely expert guidance on global advocacy opportunities for 2025.

Timeframe and budget:

The consultancy will be initially for 3 months between January and March 2025, to be delivered on approximately 5 days a month, with the possibility of extending to another 3 months, depending on funding availability.

Based on the above, the applicant is invited to share a letter of interest and supporting CV.

Experience/skills:

  1. Extensive experience (10 years plus) of working within the international humanitarian and development sector (ideally with particular experience of working with the child-rights sector)
  2. Extensive experience of the design, development and implementation of global advocacy strategies and plans
  3. Current relevant networks to support delivery of Family for Every Child’s advocacy eg OHCHR; UNCRC Committee; UN in New York and Geneva, Unicef HQ.
  4. Experience of supporting international organisations in developing strategies that are contextual to the organisation
  5. Proven track record in producing powerful and targeted communication both verbal and written in support of advocacy goals
  6. A good understanding of the decolonisation and localisation agendas
  7. A good understanding of the child rights sector
  8. Minimum of 5 years of experience as working in a senior advisory role
  9. Experience of working with local CSOs to develop strategy and plans.
  10. Experience of working in a multicultural and multilingual environment
  11. Excellent communication skills
  12. Proven ability to work in a participatory, consultative and inclusive way to deliver outputs.

Management and coordination:

The Consultant will work with the CEO and Director of Alliance Programmes as the first point of contacts and will work closely with the Senior Programme Advisor - Advocacy and other relevant staff & consultants and members of our alliance.

Application and selection process:

Consultants/Contractors will be shortlisted against the criteria in the Experience/Skills section above.

Please send your application (including the following) to recruitment@familyforeverychild.org as soon as possible:

  • CV
  • Cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience according to the criteria above
  • A sample of your work

Shortlisting will be done and interviews arranged as applications are received.

At Family we value Diversity and understand it is crucial for ensuring relevance, creativity and innovation. We are passionate about creating a positive, safe and inclusive working environment. We are proud of our diverse workforce and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Please note that all applications will be subject to our due diligence procedures, which includes familiarisation with, and adherence to, the appropriate organisational Safeguarding Policies and any associated checks.