Advocacy Manager - Environmental Justice Foundation

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is a UK-based non-governmental organization working to secure a world where natural habitats and environments can sustain, and be sustained by, the communities that depend upon them for their basic needs and livelihoods. EJF is dynamic, agile, and effective, and the team works across 13 countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

EJF is working to eradicate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and associated issues, such as human rights abuses. To do this, we work with governments and industry to promote transparency and traceability within seafood supply chains and markets. We conduct detailed investigations into illegal, unsustainable, and unethical practices and actively promote improvements to policy-making, corporate governance, and the management of fisheries along with raising awareness among consumers to incentivize market-driven solutions.

EJF’s global team also works on a range of other campaigns where environmental insecurity impacts human rights. These include climate, forests, cotton, and activist training.

Job Description

• Based: Accra, Ghana
• Contract: Full-time
• Closing date for applications: 17 March 2023
• Start date: ASAP
• Salary range: US$ 21,600 – 28,800, per annum

Position Overview

We are seeking an Advocacy Manager who is passionate about protecting the marine environment and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The Advocacy Manager will lead the development of advocacy strategies to guide a series of campaign activities in Ghana. The successful candidate will be a determined and motivated person who has proven experience in campaigns and advocacy and can communicate effectively to diverse audiences, most important policy and decision-makers.

This position will be based in Accra with intermittent travels to our Cape Coast project office and the four coastal regions of Ghana.

Key Responsibilities

• Immediately work to ensure the promulgation of vital amendments to Ghana’s fisheries law by the current Government (2023)
• Adopt a leading role in EJF’s Ghana team to ensure that the current revision of the Fisheries Act is successfully completed.
• Lead the development and implementation of an advocacy strategy to guide our campaign activities in Ghana.
• Engage extensively and regularly with relevant ministries, parliament, the presidency, embassies, and high-level state and non-state actors.

• Monitor and identify opportunities with regard to policy and political developments, particularly in fisheries and ocean-related policies, and provide political and legislative insights in support of possible engagement.
• Deliver compelling presentations on relevant fisheries and ocean issues and promote corresponding recommendations, including in one-to-one meetings and EJF events.
• Identify, analyze, and report on internal or external factors that might have a negative influence on campaign and advocacy strategies.
• Work with the Ghana Senior Management Team to monitor EJF’s impacts in the country and complete all necessary internal and external reporting.
• Draw on EJF’s global findings, investigations and grassroots partnerships, to produce Ghana-focused briefings and reports to inform the development and implementation of fisheries and ocean issues.
• Present EJF’s evidence and recommendations to industry players, government and other stakeholders; delivering compelling communications to secure and maintain support for policy positions.
• Represent EJF at high-level meetings in Accra and elsewhere in Ghana as required.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required Skills or Experience

• At least five years of professional experience in marine environmental policy, fisheries & oceans issues, human rights, government, and/or other relevant fields;
• Demonstrable professional experience in advocacy, public affairs, or communications;
• Confident in representing EJF and delivering EJF’s message to high-level government officials and industry members;
• Ability to work independently and also in a remote international team;
• Attention to detail and ability to manage and prioritize tasks;
• Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork, and planning skills with a proven ability to function effectively with multiple partners in both the NGO and the public sectors;
• Creative, innovative, and problem-solving capabilities;
• Fluent in written and spoken English

Desirable skills and attributes:

• Experience working on fisheries policy.
• Fluency in other relevant languages