Job Vacancy : Senior Advocacy Director. Heroes AIDS Project. Mumbai

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Senior Advocacy Director

Heroes AIDS Project Mumbai

Last Date: August 31, 2008

Email: ritaa@... (Reference: DevNetJobsIndia.org )

BACKGROUND

The Heroes AIDS Project is a national HIV/AIDS initiative launched in

July 2004 to work with media organizations and societal leaders in

India. It seeks to develop coordinated campaigns to address the

spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma and discrimination by

influencing public perception and policy through two platforms: mass

media and advocacy.

India, with its population of over one billion people, requires

timely and sustained intervention in the area of HIV/AIDS. Heroes

AIDS Project aims to harness India's communication power by

converting the passion and ideals of a small but powerful core of

concerned individuals into tangible actions by the government and

public in India. The Project seeks to advocate with the Indian

government to strengthen existing methods of information

distribution; and create a range of communication materials to

complement advocacy and media initiatives so that the public is

connected to important HIV/AIDS related services.

Initiated by Parmeshwar Godrej and Gere, Heroes Project in

the first three years received a grant of $2.4 million from Avahan,

the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS Initiative. Under a

unique partnership, Star India provided Heroes AIDS Project

approximately $4.65 million worth of free airtime across its various

channels annually enabling an estimated reach of over 70 million

viewers. The partnership through 2009 will bring Star India's five-

year commitment to a total of $23.16 million.

PROGRAM APPROACH

A) Media Advocacy

The project develops coordinated campaigns to address the spread of

HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma and discrimination by educating the public

and advocating for a change in behavior and attitude. It follows a

collaborative approach towards creating sustainable advocacy

leadership through effective messaging and communications. Through

strategic use of public service announcements (PSA) at a national and

state level, online and print content, television and radio

programming, on-ground activities as well as several educational

events, the project is committed to addresses diverse groups such as

key populations (FSW, MSM), women, youth, sexually active men, across

all levels of society. These programmes are run in close

collaboration with nodal agencies such as State AIDS Control

Societies and State Level Partners.

The Project works with a range of media, including broadcast and

print, to reach a wide segment of the Indian population with HIV/AIDS

messages. One of the main objectives during the course of the mass

media initiative is to expand and coordinate the campaign with a

range of media partners.

Societal Leaders Advocacy

The Societal Leaders Program seeks to garner the collective force of

key community leaders - opinion leaders and key stakeholders from

various sectors, whose influence can be leveraged to affect public

perception and bring about policy level changes on the issue of

HIV/AIDS. The program places emphasis on advocating with leaders of

the media and entertainment industry, besides seeking to involve

business heads and industrial groups to institute and implement

HIV/AIDS programs and policies at the workplace.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Parmeshwar Godrej

Hailing from one of India's largest and most influential families,

Parmeshwar Godrej is renowned for her philanthropic work and

commitment to drawing attention to the plight of poor, women and

children in the country. Creating awareness about HIV/AIDS is another

issue that is close to her heart. She spearheaded the successful

event, `A Time for Heroes, India', which heightened the political and

community awareness of the AIDS pandemic in India and prevention of

mother to child transmission of HIV. The success of this event laid

the foundation for the formation of `Heroes Project' and

subsequently, funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Parmeshwar has also personally assisted earthquake disaster victims

in Gujarat and worked with many charities to improve the lives of

people suffering from cancer. Through Godrej Industries, she has made

her mark in providing educational aid, medical treatment to the poor,

assistance in disaster prone areas as well as support in preserving

historic and cultural monuments. To date, the company has spent in

excess of Rs 1000 million on providing education, hospitals, land,

ambulances and key support services to the poor in India.

Godrej serves on the board of Godrej Properties, Gates Foundation,

Gere Foundation, The American India Foundation, The Palace School in

Jaipur, JCB Board, Sir Ellykadoorie School, IHHR Hospitality Pvt.

Ltd. and the Ananda Hotels. She believes in working hard behind the

scenes and has declined most awards presented to her for her

philanthropic work.

Parmeshwar Godrej funded the NAZ foundation's home based care program

ensuring care and support to People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA),

through the Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation, prior to the

inception of the Heroes Project.

FUNDING PARTNER

Avahan: India AIDS initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates

Foundation

Avahan is a $200 million grant making initiative of the Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundation that supports programs working to prevent

the spread of HIV in India. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works

to promote greater equity in four areas: global health, education,

public libraries, and support for at-risk families in Washington

state and Oregon. It forges alliances with local, national, and

international partners to ensure that advances in these areas reach

those who need them most.

OBJECTIVES OF THE APPOINTMENT

The organization seeks to recruit a Senior Advocacy Director at its

central office in Mumbai. The incumbent will be responsible for the

Project's overall advocacy needs, which includes providing sound

intervention and strategic vision to managing and executing the

project's efforts on HIV/AIDS at the national level. Advocacy

Director would be responsible for the development and management of

the realistic and achievable advocacy strategies which contributes to

strengthening our advocacy efforts at national and state level. We

are looking for Persons with rich experience in advocacy, campaigning

and networking.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proactively leverage collaborative opportunities with all relevant

stakeholders – National Aids Control Society, States AIDS Control

Societies, State Level Partners, Health Ministry, Police etc.

• Leverage the Project's media advocacy initiatives to support

HIV/AIDS and health programmes of partner NGO's at national and state

level.

• Develop and maintain the Business Leaders' program by engaging the

corporate sector to become active players in addressing the issue

effectively.

• Advocate the cause with the media-entertainment sector and

encourage celebrities to commit to the issue, through celebrity

engagement in events, campaigns etc.

• Establishing innovative media partnerships with mass communication

(TV Radio and Print) and online agencies to create greater awareness

about HIV AIDS.

• Developing and executing strategic plans for raising awareness

about the issue and the Project across platforms.

• Advise the Senior Management Team on responses to national, state

and international institutions and government initiatives and on

opportunities to raise Project's profile and impact.

• Analyze and inform management of public affairs implications of

specific proposals and activities.

• Coordinate the implementation of specific campaigns around key

state, and national policies that affect the work of the Project.

• Engage with elected representatives and bureaucrats on policy and

practices on issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Mobilizing support from

government sources and identify opportunities for collaboration with

government.

• Periodically report to the Executive Director of the Project on

ongoing initiatives and future planning.

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS & SKILLS

Professional

• Good understanding of the development and public policy issues in

India including knowledge of NGO sector.

• Strong background in advocacy, networking and partnership building.

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills in order to manage

relationships with government, celebrities, media, agencies, other

organizations in the sector and other influential contacts.

• Knowledge of the government systems, public health systems.

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills including giving

speeches, writing articles in order to communicate a clear vision of

the mission and policies of the Project.

• Sound analytical and planning abilities to use available

information for decision making

• Experience in research and M & E components

Personal

• Self-motivated

• Ability and willingness to work independently

• Positive attitude

• Exceptional team player

• Creative and innovative thinker

• High level of energy and resilience

• Mature, confident, pleasing personality

• Performance oriented approach

Desired Compatibility with Heroes AIDS Project

• Understand the culture, vision, mission and goals of the Project

• Ability to work in any environment, flexible and should be willing

to travel often

• Ability to handle high volumes of work in a fast paced environment

• Commitment to the cause of HIV AIDS

EXPERIENCE

Must Have:

• Overall 8-10 years experience, in similar or related capacities

• Experience in advocacy and media, preferably in the non-profit

sector

• Track record of successfully developing and implementing programmes

• Experience in project reporting and monitoring to the senior staff

Preferable:

• Masters degree in Social Work/ Political Science/ Sociology

• Knowledge of Health Communications and HIV/AIDS

SALARY: Salary will be commensurate with background, experience and

merit of the candidate.

Email: ritaa@... (Reference: DevNetJobsIndia.org )