Advocacy Officer Full Time

Role Brief- Advocacy Officer

Position: Advocacy Officer

Company: Brooke East Africa

Location: Nairobi

Presence: Kenya Office

Sector: Programmes

Website: https://www.thebrooke.org/

Organizational Background

Brooke is an international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules, operating in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, reaching over two million working horses.

Brooke employs over 900 staff worldwide including; vets, animal welfare experts and development specialists.

Brooke works in various ways;

• With animals – Brooke relieves their suffering through treatment and education, and undertake research to improve their welfare.
• With owners – By working with owners Brooke addresses the most common and severe problems to ensure a healthier future.
• With Health Services – Working with local vets and other providers to improve the availability and quality of service of working animals.
• With Governments – Brookes advocates for local, national and international institutions to include the welfare of working equine animals in policy and implementation.

Organizational Values

Values

We are proud to be Brooke. We are resourceful, share new ideas and help each other succeed. Together we make change happen.

Vision

Our vision is of a world in which working horses, donkeys and mules are free from suffering and have a life worth living.

Mission

Our mission is to achieve immediate and lasting positive change to the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules and the communities that depend on them.

Our Beliefs

We believe all animals deserve dignity, respect, and compassion. We understand the relationship and partnerships between working horses, donkeys and mules and the people that depend on them

We believe a kinder, more compassionate world is possible; a world which truly recognizes and values the interdependence between animals, humans, and the environment.

We believe that good animal welfare starts with people. We recognize that in order to achieve change at scale, we need to inspire compassion in others.

We believe that for positive change to be sustainable, people need to have the capability, motivation, and opportunity to realize progress.

We believe that by improving the welfare of working equids, we also contribute towards building resilient and thriving communities and a fairer, more just, world

The Role

Brooke East Africa (BEA) is looking to recruit an Advocacy Officer who will play a key role in advancing BEA’s advocacy and campaign objectives at local, national, and institutional levels. Reporting to the Senior Advocacy Officer, the role will focus on influencing policies, legislation, and resource allocation to improve the welfare of working equines and their owners.

The Advocacy Officer will work closely with BEA partners, advocacy focal points, and strategic stakeholders to promote, lobby, and support the development, domestication, and enforcement of animal welfare policies and legislation. This role requires a proactive individual with strong analytical, communication, and networking skills to drive policy changes and ensure sustainable improvements in donkey welfare.

Additionally, the officer will contribute to the implementation of BEA’s advocacy strategies by conducting research, engaging key decision-makers, organizing awareness campaigns, and supporting policy dialogue initiatives. The role also involves monitoring policy trends, building partnerships, and ensuring alignment with Brooke’s global advocacy priorities.

If you are passionate about policy influence, stakeholder engagement, and making a meaningful impact on the welfare of working animals, we invite you to be part of our mission.

Main duties and responsibilities

1.Lobbying and Influencing Equine-Welfare Friendly Policies and Legislation

• Provide technical support and capacity building to the organization partners to advocate for the development, implementation, and enforcement of equine-friendly policies and legislation at local and national levels.
• Represent the organization as an active and resourceful contributor to policy and legislation reform at national, regional, and institutional levels.
• Identify and analyze policy gaps in existing animal welfare laws and develop advocacy strategies to address them.
• Engage with government institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders to deepen their understanding of donkey welfare issues and encourage the integration of equine welfare considerations into development agendas.

2. Profiling of Equines and Equine Welfare Concerns for Policy Actions

• Identify and document key issues related to donkey welfare, linking them to social, economic, and environmental aspects to gain policy traction.
• Conduct or support research and studies that strengthen the case for policy interventions in equine welfare.
• Identify strategic opportunities, forums, and platforms to present policy-relevant information, including professional presentations, media articles, and research papers.
• Develop and execute targeted advocacy campaigns on critical equine welfare concerns.
• Create advocacy materials and resources to support Brooke’s advocacy goals.
• Collaborate with media, including social media platforms, to raise awareness and stimulate public discourse on equine welfare issues.

3. Promoting and Facilitating Vibrant Networks and Alliances for Animal Welfare

• Actively participate in and strengthen national and local animal welfare networks to drive legislative and policy change.
• Facilitate the formation of networks and alliances that advocate for improved equine welfare policies, services, and investment.
• Build the capacity of partners and other stakeholders in advocacy networking and alliance-building skills.
• Work collaboratively with government institutions and other actors to address emerging equine welfare concerns, including donkey skin trade and other threats.

4. Representation, Networking, and Collaboration

• Identify and engage in conferences and forums aligned with the organization’s advocacy agenda.
• Prepare and submit abstracts or position papers for participation in relevant conferences and policy discussions.
• Represent Brooke in advocacy-related events, presenting well-researched data, policy papers, and materials to influence decision-making.
• Strengthen partnerships with like-minded organizations, government agencies, and stakeholders to enhance collective action for equine welfare.

5. Coordination and Communication with Others

• Foster teamwork by maintaining strong communication and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide input and support to interdependent roles within Brooke to ensure effective advocacy outcomes.
• Share reports, data, and other required information with relevant teams for informed decision-making.
• Actively participate in internal meetings, webinars, and virtual collaborations with the global advocacy team and country programmes.

Knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience

• Educational Background in Law, political science, international relations, public relations, public policy, communications or related area of study; a Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• Must have a minimum of five (5) years’ field-based experience in formulating and implementing effective advocacy strategies, approaches and tools.
• Competencies in advocacy and lobbying.
• Competencies in policy and law reform/development initiatives.
• Collaborative and supportive approach to resolving issues with stakeholders including communities, NGOs, Government ministries.
• Knowledge on information security.
• Must have good representation skills and excellent communication skills in both the written and the spoken word.

This job description is a written statement of the key aspects of the above job. This document details the main responsibilities, tasks and includes a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. A job description is not intended to be an exhaustive account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Tagged as: Kenya, The Brooke Hospital for Animals