Advocacy Advisor/ Експерт(ка) з питань адвокації

Location: Kyiv

Duration: till 31.12.2026

Starting date: TBD

Compensation and benefits: 2,377.14 € - 2,790.56 €, Private Medical Insurance, PSS Support, Risk allowance, 28 annual leave days

CARE INTERNATIONAL

CARE International (CI) is among the world’s largest international non-governmental humanitarian relief and development confederations. Drawing on more than 75 years of experience, through its 21 Members, as both a practitioner and thought leader, CI’s work reaches over 100 countries worldwide to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. 

CARE’s vision is to seek a world of hope, inclusion, and social justice; where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security. CARE focuses heavily on women and girls, and the areas of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty and social injustice until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We recognize that power relations between people and within systems and structures are unequal and that these are entrenched in our broader systems, structures, and institutions. 

At the core of the CI Confederation is a globally distributed Secretariat, which provides coordination and support to its Members in areas including governance, strategic planning, communications, membership development and accountability, advocacy, humanitarian response, and program development. In addition, the Secretariat represents the CI Confederation at the United Nations and the European Union, and with other external stakeholders.

Context in Ukraine

On 24th February 2022, the invasion of Ukraine marked a significant escalation to the conflict that started in 2014. It continues to profoundly impact the lives of people across the country at various levels. The front line is continuously shifting and there are areas under Russian military control, as well as cities under siege. Attacks on military installations and critical civilian infrastructures are conducted in the whole territory of Ukraine, often resulting in collateral civilian casualties. The conflict has caused the largest population movement in Europe since World War II, with over 5 million currently displaced within Ukraine and 6 million refugees across Europe. OCHA had counted 17.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. 

At least one-third of the country’s energy infrastructure is damaged, leaving millions without heating and access to water. In October 2022, the Russian Federation claimed to have annexed four Ukrainian oblasts, further increasing the challenge of access to these areas. Therefore, an ongoing priority for the international humanitarian response is to reach newly accessible areas in the East and South, and to provide aid to previously unreachable and particularly hard-hit areas of Ukraine. 

CARE UKRAINE

CARE prioritizes a locally led response and is partnering primarily with Civil-Society Organizations (CSOs), National NGOs, local authorities, and when needed, INGOs with a longstanding presence in the country and access to hard-to-reach areas. CARE Ukraine deliberately and strategically prioritizes partnerships with local and national Women Led and Women Rights organizations (WLO’s/ WRO’s), further strengthening the Gender in Emergencies (GiE) principle and the Women Lead in Emergencies (WLiE) approach.

In the first few weeks after the escalation of the war, virtually all humanitarian aid inside Ukraine was organized and implemented by local actors. These groups (together with local authorities) remain the principal aid providers but are quickly being exhausted of funds, fuel, and physical energy. Thereby, a considerable proportion of CARE’s resources is dedicated to strengthening and supporting the capacities of local partners. 

As of May 2022, CARE Ukraine has established partnerships with more than 20 national organizations (incl. four WLOs/WROs) and five international NGOs. From more than 45 million € that have been raised for Ukraine thus far, around 70% is allocated to local and national partners. Through the activities that have been implemented so far, CARE Ukraine has been able to reach 759,651 people, including IDPs and affected populations in hard-to-reach areas.

While CARE Ukraine’s country office is currently located in Lviv, we also have a coordination office in Kyiv as well as area offices in Dnipro and Odesa, covering both the East and South of the country. 

General objectives 

The Advocacy Advisor is responsible for leading CARE’s advocacy in Ukraine, and for providing Ukraine CO input into the development of CARE global advocacy relating to Ukraine. The Advocacy Advisor ensures that CARE’s advocacy strategy and our advocacy efforts build on and magnify the impact of our program work, and that our advocacy work facilitates the effective implementation of our programs.

The Advocacy Advisor reports to the Deputy Country Director (Program), and works in close coordination with the CARE Ukraine Program team, CARE Germany’s Advocacy and Humanitarian Affairs team, and CARE’s global advocacy network. S/he ensures that our advocacy messages are evidence-based, aligned with organizational values, and highlight the specific needs and rights of women and girls affected by the war in Ukraine.

Function

Responsibilities

Advocacy Strategy & Policy Engagement

• Monitor political developments, reforms, and government priorities at national and regional levels to anticipate and address their impact on CARE program priorities.
• Lead the design, updating, and implementation of CARE Ukraine’s advocacy strategy in close coordination with colleagues in Program Quality, Program Implementation and Partnerships unit, and with inputs from colleagues at regional and global levels.
• Ensure the advocacy agenda builds on learning from CARE Ukraine programs, and reflects CARE’s focus on gender justice, protection, and humanitarian assistance, with a strong emphasis on women- and girl-centered approaches.
• Identify and pursue pathways to influence national legislation, government policies and practices, both to magnify and systematize approaches demonstrated by CARE Ukraine programs, and to support the effective implementation of CARE Ukraine operations.
• Draft, coordinate, and disseminate position papers, policy briefs, and advocacy products tailored for Ukrainian authorities, donors, UN agencies, media, and the wider humanitarian and development community.

Representation & External Relations

• Represent CARE in NGO advocacy networks, including the Ukraine NGO Advocacy Working Group, and participate in or support other CARE participating in the GIHA, clusters, and relevant inter-agency fora.
• Cultivate networks with government ministries, parliamentarians, regional authorities, and policymakers to strengthen CARE’s visibility and influence.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with civil society organizations, women-led and women’s rights organizations, colleague INGOs, and other advocacy partners.
• Represent CARE Ukraine, or support other staff representing CARE Ukraine, at high-level meetings, donor conferences, UN fora, government coordination meetings, and public events.
• Support CARE’s global advocacy work, including through design and participation in public campaigns, media briefings, and joint NGO initiatives.
• Work closely with the Communication Coordinator to facilitate the integration of advocacy positions in our media communications.

Internal Coordination & Capacity Building

• Host and facilitate the CARE Ukraine Advocacy call, ensuring alignment and information flow across CARE members and country teams.
• Advise the Country Office and program teams on key advocacy opportunities, risks, and messaging.
• Provide input to project proposals and donor reports to ensure advocacy and policy engagement are integrated into programming.
• Support staff and partners to strengthen their capacity in advocacy, policy engagement, and communication with government stakeholders.
• Work with CARE’s communications team to ensure consistent messaging and amplify advocacy outputs.

Collaboration with CARE Network & Partners

• Coordinate closely with CARE Germany’s Advocacy and Humanitarian Affairs team and CARE’s Regional and Global Advocacy colleagues.
• Support global advocacy efforts by providing timely updates, context analysis, and contributions to international campaigns.
• Collaborate with partner organizations to co-develop and disseminate advocacy positions, ensuring that community voices, particularly women’s and marginalized groups, are represented.
• Contribute to regional and global policy discussions by linking Ukraine’s experience to wider humanitarian and development dialogues.

Values, Mission and Principles, and adherence to Safeguarding and Code of Conduct and ethical policies

• Ensure all advocacy initiatives are consistent with CARE’s values and mission, particularly integrity and accountability, and that advocacy messages are accurate, ethical, and aligned with CARE’s principles.
• In all his/ her work, comply with and support the implementation of CARE’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy, Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy, and Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse (PSHEA).

Flexibility & Other Duties

• Monitor changes in the humanitarian and development context, as wel as the Ukrainian and global political context, and adjust advocacy priorities accordingly.
• Support advocacy efforts linked to or in response to any emergency responses carried out by CARE Ukraine, including rapid message development and emergency coordination with CARE members and partners.
• Take on additional tasks as requested by the Country Director in support of CARE Ukraine’s external relations and advocacy goals.

Requirements 

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in international relations, Political Science, Foreign Policy, Development Studies, Public Relations or another related field. 
• A minimum professional experience of 3-5 years supporting advocacy material. 
• Proven analytical and strategic thinking skills and experience leading Governmental Relations’ initiatives in a challenging environment.   
• Evidence of excellent English verbal and written communication skills in a wide range of applications (briefs, press releases, presentations) and for different audiences (donors, policymakers, journalists and ‘general public’). 
• Ukrainian mother tongue or fluent communication skills desirable 
• Ability to work in a diverse team and on short deadlines: the position requires an individual who is flexible, can work overtime when required, learns quickly and displays initiative. 
• Creativity, hands-on attitude and attention to detail. 
• Strong commitment to CARE’s humanitarian mission and our principles of gender justice and equality. 
• Experience with NGO, ideally with Women Led Organization/Women Rights Organization in Ukraine 

The main responsibilities include:

Accountability within CARE:

A commitment to CARE values and CARE’s integrity framework is critical to working with CARE. Any candidate offered a job with CARE will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 

• Comply with CARE’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area. 
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a CARE staff or partner.

Safeguarding:

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with CARE as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that CARE shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates. 

Gender equality:

CARE is committed to meeting the standards of the CARE International Gender Policy (2019). Through this policy, CARE seeks to promote the equal realization of dignity and human rights for girls, women, boys and men in all diversities, and the elimination of poverty and injustice. Specifically, this policy seeks to improve the explicit incorporation of gender in programmatic and organizational practices. 

How to apply:

CARE values equal opportunities and diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

Please send your CV (in pdf format max. 4 pages) and a cover letter in English to Відправити резюме , no later than 31.01.2026.  Please name your documents Surname_CV, Surname_Cover Letter.   Put “Job Title Name” as the subject title of your email: Відправити резюме

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.   References will only be contacted after the interview. 

Please pay attention - this position is open only for national candidates.

People with disabilities are encouraged to apply. War veterans are encouraged to apply.