Advocacy and Partnerships Manager Vacancy

About MSUG

Are you looking to join an organisation who strives to deliver social change for women globally? Do you have a passion for advocacy and building strategic partnerships to advance global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)? Do you have experience working with a wide range of local stakeholders, NGOs, and local governments? Then look no further!

Marie Stopes Uganda (MSUG) is affiliated with MSI Reproductive Choices and is registered in Uganda as a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Since launching in 1993, MSUG has grown to become one of Uganda’s largest sexual and reproductive healthcare providers, offering a wide range of high-quality, affordable, client-centred services.

Our service delivery channels are adapted to fit the different contexts of each region to maximise opportunities for building sustainable platforms that can provide a lasting impact on the health outcomes of Ugandans.

About the role

Reporting to the Head of Programmes, the purpose of this role is to ensure high visibility for MSI among stakeholders and strengthen beneficial relations with the Ministry of Health/Other Key ministries, development partners, Members of Parliament and Media.

Provide technical support to all channel leads, field Coordinators, and external stakeholders for the successful implementation of all Marie Stopes Uganda (MSUG) activities at national, district and Ministry of Health levels.

The role will require strengthening MSUG’s overall collaborations.

Developing and managing strategic partnerships between Marie Stopes and external stakeholders, and support activities of the grants, programme’s team, execution of CP advocacy strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

Policy Advocacy

• Provide technical assistance and support to MOH in the development of SRHR guidelines and other policies.
• Oversee the implementation of advocacy grants through tracking activities and work plans, and expenditures against budget provisions to ensure that planned activities are in line with allocated budgets and time frames and in compliance with donor regulations.
• Lead the implementation of the CP advocacy strategy and the resilience plan and provide periodic reports on the progress of activities.
• Support MSI in the acquisition of new advocacy grants and maintenance of the current portfolio to increase grant funding aligned with Marie Stopes Uganda’s strategy.
• Support effective and ongoing coordination among MSI, partners and collaborators throughout the advocacy grants implementation process.
• Identify, cultivate and strengthen beneficial relationships with government ministries, community leaders and other implementing partners that benefit MSUG.
• Represent MSU on different NGO forums and SRH advocacy groups as appropriate.
• Work closely with the partners, stakeholders, and other agencies to develop strategic Family Planning / Sexual Reproductive Health communication plans and ensure that MSI’s activities are in tandem with national policy objectives.

External Relations and Communication

• Develop relationships and new partnerships with other implementing partners and community stakeholders to expand reach, impact and value for money.
• Initiate and support planning and organizing all key meetings/events for the organization like performance reviews, project inception, project launch, and key national and international health conferences.
• Ensure representation of MSI on different forums and technical working groups, strengthen and cultivate mutually beneficial operational relationships with partners through an effective information, education, and communication mechanism.
• Develop and manage strategic external relations promotion programs targeting district leaders, community members, MOH and other stakeholders.
• Support the smooth operation of MSUG programs by ensuring proper documentation of legal documents in place at the district local government level and any other partnerships with other organizations, entities, or bodies.
• Use collaborative approaches like supporting the MSUG Inter-Channel Exchange Platform (ICE-P) for improved communication about district needs and field performance.
• Compile and share monthly joint channel work plans and reports with key district health team members.

Coordination

• Provide oversight on activities with MoH trainings, TWG Meetings, project consultancy and ensure that costs are tracked through supporting approved payment processes (Activity memos, advance requests, PRFs, Beyonic payments, accountabilities, reporting and reconciliation with the finance and grants team).
• Ensure the buy-in of relevant stakeholders for all MSUG projects/activities.
• Identify organizations /partners with whom to partner for successful project implementation.
• Engage key community influencers (political, religious and opinion leaders) to support MSUG service delivery.
• Build relationships with district local governments and the relevant MOH technical staff to promote MSUG activities to achieve the MSUG Business plan. (ensure that workplans, activity reports are shared with relevant Districts and District meetings have MSUG representative
• Coordinate activities of MSUG inter-channel exchange platform (ICE-P) to strengthen collaboration and team work at field level.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

To perform this role, you’ll need the following experience:

• At least 5-7 years demonstrable experience of working with a wide range of local stakeholders, NGOs, and local governments.
• Clear understanding of the day-to-day procedures in the Ugandan Local government, Health Partners, and Government Ministries.
• Clear ability to work with District Local Government and Ministry of Health officials.
• Proven work experience in partnership and advocacy related activities or similar role.
• Ability to maintain good relations with a wide range of local stakeholders.
• Experience in Crisis Management.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communicator on key strategic issues
• Excellent interpersonal and networking Skills.
• Prior experience of being in a supervisory position.

Qualifications and Training (essential/desirable)

• University Degree in Mass communication, Public relations, Communication studies, Development studies, Public Health, or relevant field preferred.
• Strategic Communication training is desirable.
• Project planning and management training desirable.
• Knowledge of Sexual Reproductive Health and rights policies

Please click here to view job framework

Here is how to Apply

Click here to apply or send your application to [email protected]

Submit your cover letter, CV and Academic Documents as a single PDF file.
Include the job title “Advocacy and Partnerships Manager” in the subject line of your email.

Deadline: 25th April 2025