About the team
You will be part of the Addis Ababa and North Mecha team to advance evidence bases advocacy, research and influencing within the Country Program and be part of the broader organization dedicated to advancing WaterAid’s mission—to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to clean water and safe sanitation.
The Advocacy and Research Officer will lead the implementation of evidence-based advocacy, research, and influencing initiatives under the Tap to Policy Project and the CLIMB Project, with the overall objective of strengthening national and sub-national policies, increasing prioritization and financing of WASH and climate-resilient services, and promoting systems-strengthening approaches for sustainable and inclusive position will also ensure that programme learning, research findings, innovations, and evidence from both projects are effectively documented, communicated, and leveraged to influence decision-makers and amplify impact at national, regional, and global levelswater resource management.
The post holder will generate, synthesize, and translate evidence into actionable policy messages, facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement, and support strategic advocacy efforts targeting government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, private sector actors, and other key influencers. The role will contribute to shaping policy and financing decisions related to climate-resilient WASH, water security, post-construction management, private sector engagement, and the integration of WASH and water resource management within national climate and development frameworks, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
Under the CLIMB Project, the position will support advocacy and evidence-generation efforts that advance climate-resilient and inclusive water governance, strengthen partnerships, and promote policies and investments that enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities to climate-related water risks.
Policy Advocacy and Influencing
Lead and coordinate evidence-based advocacy initiatives to influence WASH financing, policy reforms, and system strengthening at national and sub-national levels.
Design and implement advocacy strategies to promote:
Dedicated financing for post-construction operation and maintenance (O&M) under the OWNP
Integration of WASH in climate policies, including NDC and National Adaptation Plan (NAP)
Climate-resilient WASH (CR-WASH) approaches and system-wide service delivery
Facilitate policy dialogue, advocacy workshops, and high-level forums with government institutions, CSOs, and development partners.
Strengthen and actively engage in national platforms and partnerships related to CR-WASH, NDC/NAP, and water sector development.
Support policy review processes, including assessment and revision of NDC and NAP in collaboration with relevant ministries.
Advocate for strengthened climate-resilient water governance and increased investment in climate adaptation measures that enhance water security for vulnerable communities.
Support policy dialogue and influencing efforts related to integrated water resources management, climate adaptation, and resilience-building at national and sub-national levels.
Research, Evidence Generation, and Analysis
Lead the generation of high-quality evidence to inform advocacy, including research, case studies, and policy briefs.
Conduct climate and WASH financing analysis and budget tracking to support advocacy for increased and more effective investments.
Generate evidence on:
Post-construction service delivery and water scheme sustainability
Gender-responsive and youth-inclusive service models
Private sector engagement in water supply systems
Assess private sector participation opportunities in water scheme management, spare parts supply, and support service delivery, and contribute to legal and regulatory framework improvements.
Ensure all research applies participatory, inclusive, and ethical methodologies.
Campaigns, Communication, and Knowledge Management
Design and implement advocacy campaigns to raise awareness on WASH financing, climate integration, and sustainable water management.
Develop high-quality knowledge products (policy briefs, reports, fact sheets, communication materials) based on project evidence and learning.
Translate technical findings into clear, compelling advocacy messages for policymakers, media, and the public.
Amplify project results and lessons learned at regional and global platforms to influence broader policy and funding decisions.
Advocacy, Learning, and Knowledge Management
Contribute to sanitation and hygiene advocacy initiatives, campaigns, and evidence generation efforts.
Support research, studies, and documentation to inform policy dialogue and sector influencing.
Facilitate knowledge management by capturing, synthesizing, and sharing programme learning and best practices.
Strengthen internal and external learning platforms and promote uptake of innovative approaches.
Stakeholder Engagement and Networking
Build and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders across government institutions, civil society, private sector, development partners, and research institutions to support evidence-based advocacy and policy influencing.
Engage with relevant national and sub-national government bodies, including key ministries and sector institutions on WASH financing, climate policy integration (NDC/NAP), and system strengthening initiatives.
Facilitate and participate in multi-stakeholder platforms, coordination forums, and policy dialogue spaces to promote collaboration, alignment, and shared learning.
Identify and leverage strategic partnerships and alliances to amplify advocacy messages and influence policy and investment decisions.
Represent WaterAid in relevant advocacy, policy, and technical forums at local, national, and regional levels, as assigned.
Strengthening linkages between communities, civil society, and decision-makers to ensure inclusive participation and amplification of community voices in policy processes.
Learning, Capacity Building, and Programme Support
Facilitate learning and reflection processes to strengthen advocacy effectiveness and programme quality.
Support capacity building of staff, partners, and stakeholders on evidence-based advocacy, policy engagement, and communication.
Ensure continuous documentation and sharing of lessons, innovations, and best practices from project implementation
Equity and Inclusion
Ensure advocacy and research efforts are inclusive and promote the voices of women, youth, and marginalized groups.
Integrate gender equality and social inclusion into all advocacy messages and evidence generation processes.
Safeguarding, Safety, and Security
Comply with WaterAid’s safeguarding, child protection, and code of conduct policies.
Follow safety and security procedures during fieldwork and operations.
Report any incidents or risks in line with organizational procedures.
Support the integration of safeguarding principles into project activities and assist in monitoring compliance
Adherent to ethical research standards, and organizational policies
Other
Perform any other duties as assigned by the line Manager.
Participate in relevant internal processes, meetings, and task forces as required.
