RFP Invited for Advisor - Transgender Wellbeing & Advocacy

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Advisor: Transgender Wellbeing & Advocacy

About the Organization:

India HIV/AIDS Alliance (Alliance India) is a diverse partnership that brings together committed organisations and communities to support sustained responses to HIV in India. Complementing the Indian national programme, they work through capacity building, knowledge sharing, technical support and advocacy. Through their network of partners, they support the delivery of effective, innovative, community-based HIV programmes to key populations affected by the epidemic.

Summary of Responsibilities:

The Advisor: Transgender Wellbeing & Advocacy will be playing a central role in enhancing the synergy among the programmes that are being implementing by Alliance India, especially on Sexuality, Gender & Rights related issues. The advisor will spearhead the advocacy and policy initiatives at the national and international level with an inclusive and participatory approach aiming towards the welfare of the community. The Advisor will identify newer areas of interventions and innovative ideas; and in collaboration with rest of the team; ensure such ideas are part of the programme implementation ensuring overall welfare and rights of the LGBTQ community.

As a key member in the Programmes Management Team, the Advisor is also responsible to ensure that the Sexuality, Gender & Rights Unit’s initiatives are directed towards the accomplishment of Alliance India’s overall strategic frame work. S/he will also lead the new business development initiatives to ensure sustainability. The person will also develop and maintain key relationships with a range of external stakeholders in community networks, government, donors and civil society.

The Advisor will provide technical support to the Sexuality, Gender & Rights team. The incumbent shall also contribute to a management culture that is based on clear communications, collaboration, transparency, maintaining dignity at work place and acknowledging excellence

The key responsibilities of the position are as follows:

 Advocacy & Policy Initiatives

• Collaborate with Alliance India team and take forward the policy and advocacy initiatives, especially on issues related to the LGBTQ community
• Develop strategies to ensure information and initiatives from civil society groups and state level advocacy work informs national level policy initiatives.
• Contribute to the strategy development and planning of various Sexuality, Gender and Rights related programmes being implemented by Alliance India, especially for LGBTQ communities.
• Contribute to Alliance India’s conceptual understanding of legal and ethical issues, as well as rights based programming, and provide inputs into the programmes to incorporate these issues.
• Lead on the identification of areas of policy relevant research for Alliance India in close coordination with Strategic Information team and manage the documentation and dissemination of these findings; and take further action to influence the policy makers.
• In coordination with the team assess the organisational and technical support needs under the programmes implementing for LGBTQ communities and develop capacity building plans for needs identified; also undertake review and evaluation of the progress and impact of such activities and take corrective actions wherever required.
• Support the team in analysing the progress, impact, challenges and lessons learned of programmes, and ensure effective documentation of programme activities, in order to disseminate lessons learned and best practices for internal and external audiences. 
• Wherever appropriate, develop strategies to link national policy work for the LGBTQ communities with Frontline AIDS’ initiatives and maintain collaboration with Advocacy & Policy team colleagues at Frontline AIDS.

Innovation for Community Wellbeing

• Conceptualizing innovative programme strategies aiming at the wellbeing of transgender community and identify opportunities to integrate such strategies as part of the programme implementation plans
• In Coordination with rest of the team, ensure consistent systems are put in place for community engagement within projects and conducting routine community interaction/consultations (at national, state and grassroots levels).
• Identify and adapt global good practices on services for TG populations and integrate the same in all programmes being implemented by Alliance India.

Strategic Planning and Management

• Provide thought leadership to the Sexuality, Gender, Rights team, and appropriate input to overall Alliance India strategic planning.
• Contribute to organisation-wide strategic review, strategic planning and organisational development as a member of senior leadership team.
• Ensure that Alliance India continues to be positioned as a leading HIV/AIDS organisation, with a strong technical contribution to be made within the national and international levels including the dialogue for LGBTQ rights and inclusion.

Networking & Collaboration

• Develop and sustain relationships with national and international networks, ministries and bodies which promotes legal, health and social wellbeing of the LGBTQ communities.
• Showcase the best practise from Alliance India programmes for the community; identify and promote areas for collaborations for regional level advocacy and policy initiatives.
• Act as the key focal point with Frontline AIDS, UK for programming, advocacy and policy initiatives for transgender persons and ensure newer areas of collaborations aiming at their welfare.
• Act as the focal person for Alliance India for LGBTQ with external stakeholders, institutions including key government agencies and representatives, policy makers and other key non-governmental organizations.
• Establish relationships with policy makers, national and state level authorities, key stake holders, and media persons. Represent Alliance India at high level meetings to build its reputation as a leading organisation working for the transgender wellbeing.
• Act as a spokesperson and ambassador for Alliance India, protecting and promoting its goodwill at all times with a view to enhance the visibility and creating a brand image for the organization at national and international levels.

New Business Developments

• Identify leads for new areas of collaborations and funding opportunities and lead the proposal development process for all Sexuality, Gender & Rights related programme opportunities.
• Actively involved in developing and writing proposals for major bilateral/multilateral donors, private foundations and trusts.
• Work closely with senior management team to formulate a long term fund raising and new business development strategy that are consistent with the current strategies and programmatic priorities of Alliance India.
• Identify innovative areas for fund raising and forge new collaborations to expand our services to the community.
• Collaborate with the Alliance India Fund raising team (End AIDS) to further fundraising directed towards transgender wellbeing programmes

Other Responsibilities

• Act as the catalyst for effective coordination and collaboration within Sexuality, Gender & Rights team and with other departments to maximise opportunities offered by an integrated team.
• Ensure proactive management of risk within area of responsibility, including regular risk assessment, designing and implementing actions to manage risk and escalating critical risks, as necessary.
• Uphold the mission/vision and values of Alliance India and to work within its equal opportunities framework, demonstrating the behaviours and competencies as appropriate for the position.

Qualifications/Education/Knowledge

• Master’s degree in social sciences, public health or development field (or equivalent)
• In-depth understanding of HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ inclusion and rights

Experience required

• At least 8 to 10 years of progressively responsible management experience in the health, development or other relevant sector.
• At least 5 years’ experience of management and interface with vulnerable and marginalised populations in the context of HIV, sexuality, gender and Rights related programming and human rights initiatives at national level programmes and preferably at the international level as well.
• Experience in implementation of advocacy projects, ideally in the area of sexuality, gender & rights for the LGBTQ community.
• Preferably a candidate from transgender community with strong human rights background and sound knowledge on HIV programming, also has experience working with trans led CBOs 

Skills & Expertise required:

• A passionate community leader, with proven experience at the field level, and the energy and vision required to deliver.
• Significant management experience within national or international level NGOs/LGBTQ networks.
• Proven connects with Trans-community networks at national and international levels.
• Experience in developing advocacy strategy at national/regional level.
• Commitment to LGBT rights and inclusion and rights-based responses to HIV and generally to the key populations affected by the epidemic.
• Hands on experience in programme conceptualisation and management at national and international level.
• Experience of collaborating with community organisations and groups to deliver excellent HIV and health interventions.
• Sound understanding of the principles of NGO/CBO support, in the context of both public health and human rights dimensions of sexuality, gender & rights.
• Experience of providing technical support and capacity building of organisations on rights base approach
• Knowledge of the politics and the role of the media in influencing policy.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of partnerships and/or donor environment, donor relations and reporting.
• Proven experience developing and writing funding proposals for bilateral/multilateral donors, private foundations and trusts.
• Strong commitment to team-working, collaboration, consensus building and negotiation
• Ability to work with a diverse team
• Proven experience of developing and maintaining strong and effective relations with donors, government functionaries, media, and other stakeholders.
• Strong commitment to HIV/AIDS and human rights.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Ability and willingness to undertake travel, within India and abroad

Desirable qualities/experience/skills:

• Good understanding of development issues and the HIV epidemic.
• A good understanding of legal and ethical issues around HIV/AIDS.
• Apart from English and Hindi, knowledge of other regional languages.
• Experience of implementing programmes funded by national and international donors
• Experience of working with the media.

Compensation package will commensurate with qualification and experience.

Interested candidates meeting the above criteria are requested to submit their application along with a covering note to recruit@allianceindia.org before the closing date. Please indicate the title of the post applied for on the subject line of your e-mail. Definitely mention your current pay details in the covering note.

India HIV/AIDS Alliance

6 Community Center, Zamrudpur, Kailash Colony Extension

New Delhi – 110 048

Tel: (011) 4536 7700

Email: recruit@allianceindia.org

Website: www.allianceindia.org

Deadline: 11th October 2020