Advocacy Manager Sudan

Norwegian Refugee Council · Nairobi

Background:

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an international humanitarian organisation that established its operations in Sudan in 2019. In 2025, NRC and its partners reached more than 1.3 million people directly and a further 1.5 million through humanitarian assistance across 18 states. Alongside programme delivery, advocacy is a core component of NRC's response in Sudan, with a particular focus on the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and support to local responders. Sudan is one of NRC's largest and highest-priority operations globally and a key focus of the organisation's international advocacy efforts. Within this context, the Advocacy & Media Manager leads NRC Sudan's Advocacy and Communications Department and serves as a member of the Country Management Group.

What you will do:

The Advocacy & Media Manager leads NRC's advocacy and communications work in Sudan. S/he is responsible for leading NRC's humanitarian diplomacy efforts, developing high-impact and actionable policy recommendations on the protection of civilians and humanitarian access, and driving the organisation's influencing strategy. The role is externally facing: s/he serves as NRC's lead media spokesperson and represents the organisation in relevant forums. Internally, s/he strengthens the integration of advocacy across programmes and operations and as part of the Country Management Group, strategic advice and analysis to inform decision-making and support the implementation of NRC's strategy in Sudan

General Responsibilities:

Develop and lead NRC Sudan advocacy and communications strategy, aligned with the overall country strategy, in coordination with three Regional Offices (East and South Africa, West and Central Africa and Middle East), NRC Representation Offices, the Head Office and the Secretary General's office.
Provide high-quality analysis of key humanitarian, protection, access, political, and diplomatic developments, including ongoing diplomatic initiatives and mediation efforts related to Sudan.
Deliver evidence-based and principled policy positions, develop compelling and targeted high quality advocacy products
Lead NRC Sudan's media and public communications work, ensuring that communications are strategically aligned with advocacy objectives, grounded in risk analysis, adhere to do-no-harm principles, and uphold people-centred and ethical storytelling standards, while ensuring compliance with internal clearance and sign-off procedures.
Represent NRC with key stakeholders and in relevant forums. Build and maintain relationships with diplomats, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, media, and other key stakeholders to advance NRC's advocacy objectives and humanitarian priorities.
Complies and adheres to NRC policies, guidance and procedures

Specific responsibilities:

Develop and coordinate NRC's humanitarian diplomacy strategy on Sudan, including stakeholder analysis, engagement plans, and messaging, with a particular focus on Gulf and African states.
Analyse programme findings and coordinate research initiatives to produce high-quality analytical, policy, and advocacy products, and strengthen evidence-based, programme-driven advocacy.
Build and maintain relationships with organisations involved in the Sudan response, contribute to INGO Forum advocacy efforts, and support the development of joint positions and advocacy initiatives towards key target audiences.
Lead NRC's strategic communications efforts, including engagement with media and oversight of the production of high-quality communications products.
Line manages the Advocacy and Communications Unit. This includes:
Performance management process; setting clear goals aligned to country strategy and priorities, and to follow up and support staff’s achievement.
Responsibility for key processes as workforce planning, recruitment, staff induction and development and ensure Duty of Care for own staff
Work with NRC's local partners to develop joint advocacy initiatives that are relevant, compelling, and aligned with NRC's advocacy strategy.
Oversee advocacy and communications capacity-strengthening initiatives for NRC staff and local partners.
Ensure NRC Regional Offices, Representative Offices, and relevant departments (Field Operations, External Relations, Partnerships, and Policy) are regularly briefed on advocacy priorities and supported to advance NRC's advocacy objectives on Sudan.
Identify funding opportunities for advocacy work and contribute to the development of quality proposals, ensuring the inclusion of research, advocacy, and policy activities related to humanitarian and protection issues affecting displacement-affected populations where appropriate.

What you will bring:

Generic professional competencies:

Postgraduate degree in a relevant field, with a minimum of five years' experience in humanitarian, human rights, diplomacy, mediation, or related fields within international organisations (INGOs, UN agencies, diplomatic institutions, or similar).
Demonstrated experience in advocacy, policy engagement, humanitarian diplomacy, and stakeholder engagement.
This is a specialized advocacy role. Applicants must have substantial advocacy experience, including advocacy management and influencing work in humanitarian contexts. Candidates without demonstrated advocacy experience will not be considered.
Demonstrated experience in strategic communications, media engagement, and serving as a spokesperson.
Experience working in complex, conflict-affected, and highly volatile environments, including engaging with sensitive stakeholders
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to produce high-quality briefs, reports, and policy papers.
High levels of initiative, flexibility, and creativity.
Strong interpersonal and coordination skills; managerial and project management experience are an asset.

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

Knowledge of international legal and policy processes and instruments relating to humanitarian access, Protection of Civilians, international mediation, and humanitarian action
Experience in Sudan, especially at the policy level, is ideal

Experience with humanitarian protection programmes and humanitarian policy and advocacy

What we offer:

Duty station:Khartoum
Contract: 12 Months (renewable based on funding and performance)
Travel: 50%+
Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s International salary scale (NOK 48,259.00).
NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
Applicants who do not fill in the required information will not be considered for the role.
Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
Mandatory to submit the below when applying:
- Your most updated English CV and remove all previous outdated CVs.
- Your most updated Cover Letter
- Applicants should include to their Cover Letter, links to their three most compelling advocacy, media & communications production in their cover letter, ideally one text, one video, one TV/radio interview.
- Do not attach certificates or any other documents from the two mentioned above.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
This position is open for international candidates. Internals might be assisted first.
We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
If you have any questions about this role, please email esa.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.
Learn more about NRC
Learn more about Sudan

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships.

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