International Advocacy Advisor

RFSL, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Persons Rights, is a non-profit, member-based organization founded in 1950. RFSL’s vision is a society where diversity, and respect for diversity, is the norm. The federation has around 5.000 members, 36 local chapters all over Sweden and a broad national program.
Our international work is deeply rooted in extensive experience advancing LGBTQ rights nationally. RFSL’s International Unit has a broad capacity strengthening program and is engaged in advocacy work within the United Nations. We support organisations in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa in their work on national and regional levels. In such partnerships, RFSL contributes to capacity strengthening, experience exchange and accessing international platforms.
For our international advocacy work we are recruiting an International Advocacy Advisor. The International Advocacy Advisor will be working in the global program of our International Unit and report to the Head of Program. The International Advocacy Advisor will be leading on UN advocacy together with other Advocacy Advisors and will be responsible for the planning, implementation follow-up and reporting of parts of RFSL’s global advocacy work, which relates to human rights mechanisms and to processes connected to the 2030 Agenda. Another main responsibility will be to work collaboratively to develop and facilitate RFSL’s various international advocacy trainings for LGBTI activists. RFSL has engaged in several training programs over the years. Currently, the international advocacy flagship program, the Rainbow Advocacy Program, which has been organised since 2018, will be under the International Advocacy Advisor's responsibilities, including through mentoring participants in the training program.
As a feminist and anti-racist organisation, RFSL strives to be an inclusive workplace for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics, religion, race, ethnicity, country of origin, disability status, age and other grounds of discrimination. Candidates with diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Main tasks
- Coordinate and lead on advocacy initiatives and network with other international partner organisations.
– Engage with relevant national, regional and international stakeholders, mainly special procedures, UN agencies, and UN State missions.
– Facilitate access for international LGBTQI activists to the international UN system, through training, mentoring and strategic guidance.
– Contribute to and facilitate the development of material including; advocacy materials, reports on UN developments, communications to governments, permanent missions, the UN agencies and special procedures, and civil society.
– Communication work related to the advocacy processes.
– Plan, facilitate and conduct international advocacy trainings.
– Mentor participants in the Rainbow Advocacy Fellowship when conducting advocacy and developing small scale advocacy projects as part of the training program.
– Partake in team meetings and plan, monitor, and report on advocacy activities and related budget expenditure
– Participate in team related processes and contribute with experience and knowledge in the drafting of advocacy portfolios for applications for funding or other relevant documents
Qualifications and experience
● Minimum five years of professional experience in the area of human rights, sustainable development, UN mechanisms, especially LGBTQI rights in this context.
● Minimum 3 years of professional experience in high-level advocacy.
● Preferably a degree in international relations, human rights law, or other social sciences, or equivalent qualifications obtained through relevant work experience in the field.
● Knowledge of and experience in working in the United Nations political context.
● Experience in and ability to coordinate and lead advocacy processes.
● Experience in developing and facilitating trainings.
● Ability to navigate challenging and sometimes difficult environments.
● Excellent knowledge of English (spoken and written).
● Knowledge of another UN language would be a plus.
● Willingness and ability to travel extensively.
● Permission to work in Sweden is desirable.
● Swedish Language skills are desirable as many advocacy meetings within Sweden take place in Swedish.
Practicalities
The position should preferably be based in Stockholm, while extensive travelling will also be expected.
We offer an open ended full-time position, with a 6 months probation period.
A collective agreement is in place.
Interviews are held continuously and candidates should ideally be available as of November/ December.
If you have any questions about the position you are welcome to e-mail our International Director, Marie Månson: marie.manson@rfsl.se
Contact information to local Union representative: Jon Gjonnes; jon.gjonnes@rfsl.se, +46 76 16 06 418
How to apply
Please note that this is a complimentary advertisement for an on-going recruitment process for the position that has been announced in July/ August 2021 over other channels. If you have applied to this position already, you have received a confirmation, your application is in our system and processed according to the feed-back received.
We welcome your application with a cover letter and a CV (max 3 pages) by Oct 2, 2021. Use the email address: jobb@rfsl.se and mark the mail with INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY ADVISOR.