Advocacy Officer (PWUD/MSM and TG Programmes)

Main Job Purpose

The Human Rights Advocacy Officer is responsible for promoting, protecting, and advancing the human rights of key populations—within HIV, public health, and community justice programs. The role involves leading advocacy initiatives, strengthening community empowerment, monitoring rights violations, and engaging government, civil society, and health stakeholders to ensure equitable access to services, legal protections, and non-discriminatory environments. The Advocacy Officer will also be responsible for supporting the advocacy and engagement of stakeholders and players in the district of programme implementation. He/she will manage the engagement of stakeholders, advocacy within the district, sensitisation trainings, human rights defenders and the respective reporting on these issues.

Advocacy for the human rights and needs of people who use drugs

• Advocate for the rights and needs of people who use drugs in COJ.
• Develop monthly advocacy plans for the district and implement it
• Working with the programme team, play a key role in the networking and engagement with communities, district stakeholders such as the DoH, PCA and DAC, SAPS and DSD.
• Participate in meetings with programme team to discuss progress and address challenges to continuously improve engagement, advocacy and ensure seamless implementation.
• Working with the programme team, play a key role in the networking and engagement with district stakeholders such as clinics, SAPS, DSD etc.
• Along with programme team and peer educators, identify stakeholders in district to engage in sensitisation training.
• Conduct sensitisation trainings to stakeholders
• Conduct community dialogues in reducing stigma and discrimination and change people perception about PWUD programme.
• Participate in regular meetings with programme team to discuss progress and address challenges to continuously improve engagement, advocacy and ensure seamless implementation.
• Ensure linkages to the district drug networks are made within the district.
• Identify gaps of services for people who inject drugs and strategies with the programme team to ensure they are filled.
• Working with the programme team, ensure the implementation of the operational plan.
• Engage with and build the capacity of the drug network in the district.
• Represent the programme with integrity at meetings and engagements and respond to all programme requests from external parties.
• Organise monthly District clean ups with PWUDs and stakeholders across regions.

 Human rights defenders support and supervision

• Monitor the activities of the peer educators trained as Human Rights Defenders.
• Provide emotional support, counselling and supervision to human rights defenders.
• Work closely with the human rights defenders and peer educators to ensure successful referral and follow-up.
• Support human rights defenders on identifying PWUD in need of further psychosocial support.
• Address any challenges and performance related issues with the human rights defenders to the programme manager.
• Train peer educators on the human rights violations standard operating procedure (SOP) and data tools.

Reporting, Administration and Facilitation

• Support human rights defenders in completing tools and reports correctly and accurately.
• Submit weekly advocacy plans to the line manager.
• Submit monthly &quarterly narrative reports every last day of the month.
• Verify reports from human rights defenders.
• When applicable, participate in programme activities.
• Complete and submit reports 24 hours after all activity implementations.
• Update stakeholder referral list weekly and submit to line manager.
• Perform related office administration duties of the programme.

 Personal Development

• Participate in learning and development opportunities (trainings, workshops, information sessions etc.).
• Stay abreast of developments in the fields of HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB.
• Responsible for driving yourself and your team to the sites of work as and when required, and you should adhere to the Anova vehicle management policy.

 Organisational Responsibilities

• Attend meetings, briefings, debriefing, staff meetings and other as directed to do so on a regular basis.
• Represent the organisation with pride and ensure you adhere to the ethos and principles.
• Represent the organisation on behalf of the programme.
• Perform any other additional duties assigned by the Programme Manager and the management team.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that you familiarise yourself with Anova Policies, especially those relevant to your position.
• Responsible for driving yourself and your team to the sites of work as and when required, and you should adhere to the Anova vehicle management policy.

 Qualifications and Experience

Social Sciences Degree, Public Health preferable

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in lobbying/advocacy/human rights or programming in the public health or HIV field.
• Experience in advocating for minority KP health, social and legal rights.
• Experience in harm reduction and PWUD programming beneficial
• Experience in conducting trainings.
• Experience in conducting trainings and workshops.
• Experience in community-based advocacy and community sensitization for PLHIV and/or key and vulnerable populations.
• Experience in identifying and engaging with community stakeholders
• Demonstrable facilitation skills.
• Willing to work overtime, night & weekend shifts, and public holidays as needed.
•  Driver’s license (Code B).