Specialist in evidence-based research and policy dialogue for supporting project-targeted CSOs in Policy Engagement
Background
About the project: The “Partnership for Syunik: Enhanced Community-Based Social Services” project is part of the Team Europe initiative, funded by the European Commission. Its primary goal is to foster a more resilient and sustainable social service system in Syunik, Armenia. The project is implemented by People in Need in collaboration with the “WINNET Goris” Development Foundation and Armenian Caritas. The project focuses on three key objectives: enhancing the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to deliver high-quality social services; establishing sustainable mechanisms for participatory planning and service delivery in cooperation with local authorities; and advancing policy dialogue and advocacy for the long-term funding of community-based social services. These efforts aim to transition from a reactive, ad-hoc approach to a more cohesive and resilient social service system, tailored to the needs of Syunik’s vulnerable populations.
Armenian Caritas leverages its advocacy expertise to support targeted capacity-building for CSOs, concentrating on evidence-based research, advocacy, policy dialogue, and monitoring. Through customized workshops, training and direct support, CSOs will gain the skills to assess policy frameworks, craft data-driven recommendations, and advocate for inclusive and effective reforms in social services. The project emphasizes strengthening CSO collaboration with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of RA.
To achieve these objectives, a Specialist will lead capacity-building activities to enhance the advocacy skills of project-targeted CSOs, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to public consultations during policy and legislative reforms. Additionally, the expert will support CSOs in advancing municipal-level initiatives, ensuring sustainable funding for community-based social services and fostering impactful, long-term solutions.
Duration: 3 -4 months (service contract)
Location: Remote and In-person at Syunik province, Armenia
Expected Start Date: 3rd of March, 2025
Reporting to Project Manager of “Partnerships for Syunik. Enhanced Community-Based Social Services” project of Armenian Caritas
Contract Type: Service Contract
Objective
The Specialist will support project-targeted CSOs to:
- Enhance their understanding of legislative and policy processes.
- Strengthen their advocacy skills to effectively engage in policy dialogue with government in the face of the Ministries and adjacent structures, Parliamentarians, other.
- Provide meaningful, evidence-based contributions to social service legislation and policy reforms.
- Maintain policy engagement and capacity building activities of CSOs.
Key Responsibilities
Capacity Building:
- Conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps in advocacy skills and policy engagement capabilities of project-targeted CSOs.
- Design and deliver tailored training sessions and workshops, priorly agreed upon in with the project consortium team (PIN, Caritas), on advocacy strategies, policy analysis, and stakeholders’ engagement.