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Programme and Advocacy Director, Gavi CSO Host Arrangement

• Employees can work remotely
• Full-time
• Opportunity Type: Current Opening

Company Description

Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organisation; currently implementing more than 180 programs, reaching more than 40 million people across 35 African countries; and a staff complement of over 2,000. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in ten countries in Africa – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea (Conakry), Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. An additional eleven advocacy and fundraising offices are located in Europe and North America.

Amref Health Africa is driven by its vision of ‘Lasting health change in Africa’ and its mission ‘To catalyze and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health’. We believe that the power to transform Africa’s health lies within its communities, and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional but that communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for the delivery of quality and affordable health care.

Why Join Amref Health Africa?

We are a diverse, dynamic, and mission-driven organization committed to transforming healthcare systems. Our team includes public health experts, medical professionals, researchers, communicators, and leaders from various industries who share a common goal: making health accessible to all.

Job Description

**Contract Period: Up to December 31, 2025 (with possibility of an extension)**

GAVI CSO HOSTING ARRANGEMENT

Amref Health Africa serves as the host of the Gavi Civil Society Organization (CSO) Constituency, collaborating with an extensive network of civil society organizations across local, national, and international levels. This partnership provides coordination, strategic advisory services, governance support, process management, comprehensive communications, and administrative services aimed at advancing Gavi’s Immunization Agenda 2030, and the implementation of Gavi 6.0 Strategy.

JOB PURPOSE

The Programme and Advocacy Director will provide high-level managerial and technical leadership for the Gavi CSO Hosting Arrangement. This role blends program oversight with strategic advocacy and policy engagement, aimed at amplifying civil society voices within Gavi’s governance and operational frameworks. A key focus will be on aligning CSO priorities with Gavi’s 6.0 strategy and effectively positioning civil society actors for the next strategic period, particularly in a rapidly evolving global health landscape. The Director will lead engagements with various teams within the Gavi Secretariat, the Gavi CSO Constituency, members of the Gavi Alliance, and other global health initiatives to ensure coherence with Gavi’s global immunization goals. The role also requires ensuring full compliance with relevant policies and regulations, including Gavi’s financial management policies, safeguarding standards, risk mitigation measures, ethical and accountability frameworks, and any applicable host institution and donor compliance requirements.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Programme Leadership and Management:

• Provide strategic vision, leadership, and management for the effective delivery of the Gavi CSO Hosting Arrangement’s objectives.
• Rapidly adapt and oversee implementation and monitoring of the 2025 work plan and budget to address the changing operating climate and emerging constituency needs.
• Ensure quality, timeliness, and compliance of all program activities in accordance with Amref Health Africa and Gavi policies.
• Convene relevant Gavi CSO meetings and facilitate participatory decision-making.
• Lead recruitment and onboarding of new constituency members when necessary.
• Support CSO board members in the process for recruiting the Gavi Board Alternate member, SAGE Representative, delegate to the Policy and Programme Committee (PPC).
• Support the Board Member, Alternate Board Member and the Special Advisor in engaging the Gavi CSO Constituency in Board paper reviews and communicating board decisions to the Constituency.
• Line management of the host arrangement team and maintaining a motivated, high performing team.

Advocacy, Policy Engagement and Future of Gavi CSO Engagement:

• Design, coordinate, and implement robust advocacy and policy engagement strategies that advance Gavi CSO Constituency interests in global immunization and CSO engagement at country level;
• Lead in the development of position statements, advocacy pieces on key issues of importance to the CSO Constituency;
• Guide the holistic approach for CSO engagement in 6.0., including constituency activities to input into the new structure for Gavi CSO engagement;
• Work closely with the Gavi Secretariat to ensure CSOs’ input are represented in strategies, policies, plans, grant making processes, resource mobilization, etc.
• Lead representation and ensure balanced participation of CSO voices in key regional and global policy forums, task teams, and working groups.
• Facilitate the development and dissemination of knowledge translation products including policy briefs, evidence summaries, and advocacy materials in collaboration with the Gavi Secretariat and CSO leadership.
• Manage engagement with key stakeholders including governments, CSOs, private sector, and donor communities to foster strategic partnerships and enhance influence.
• Coordinate attendance and input of CSO representatives in Gavi policy discussions to support evidence-based decision-making and constituency priorities.
• Monitor advocacy outputs and outcomes, ensuring timely reporting and compliance with donor requirements.
• Lead in development of policy briefs as may be required from time to time.

Coordination, Networking, and Knowledge Management:

• Strengthen coordination between Gavi Secretariat and CSO Constituency to enhance communication and information flow.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning within the Constituency and across Gavi platforms, contributing to Gavi’s learning agenda on civil society engagement.
• Oversee management of the CSO membership database to ensure up-to-date records and enhanced transparency.
• Promote capacity building within the Constituency to enable effective policy engagement and advocacy.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure adherence to all legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations related to the Gavi CSO Hosting Arrangement.
• Manage project risks proactively, including financial, reputational, and operational risks, ensuring appropriate mitigation measures.
• Ensure ethical stewardship of resources, including financial, human, and data assets, in line with organizational standards and donor policies.

Reporting and Communication:

• Prepare, review, and submit timely and accurate quarterly (and final) technical and financial reports to Gavi and other stakeholders.
• Provide regular updates to the Gavi Secretariat, Board and Alternate Board members, as well as other governance structures as needed.
• Support clear, transparent communication within the Gavi CSO Secretariat and with external partners.

Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, Social Sciences, International Development, Non-Profit Management, or a closely related field.

Experience

• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs, preferably in global health, immunization, or civil society sectors.

• Demonstrated expertise in advocacy, policy engagement, and behaviour change communication.
• Proven experience engaging with civil society, government bodies, donors, and private sector actors at local, regional, and global levels.
• Team management experience, including developing and managing high performing teams.
• Strong track record in managing donor compliance and reporting, including strategic planning and budgeting.
• Experience working across diverse geographic contexts, with familiarity in Africa preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders such as civil society, private sector, government ministries and officials, donors, community-based institutions.
• Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively, conflict resolution, and promote a team approach to enhance staff commitment to the program’s success. 
• Familiarity with Gavi policies, procedures, strategies and work.
• Language skills: Proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in French is an advantage. Knowledge of other languages is desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Additional Information

Please include a cover letter that highlights why you believe you are an ideal candidate for this role, along with your CV showcasing your relevant skills and experience.

Kindly note that the application deadline is July 23, 2025.

Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. Although Amref may use different job boards from time to time to further spread its reach for applicants, all open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly also note that official emails from Amref Health Africa will arrive from an @amref.org address.

Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is is dedicated to diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment policy.

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