About the organisation

ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice.

Our strategy is to build international momentum for social, economic and environmental justice, driven by people living in poverty and exclusion.

In practice, this means working closely with people living in poverty and exclusion, civil society organisations, social movements and supporters. Together, we deliver grassroots programmes, provide emergency relief and campaign for things such as women’s economic rights, tax justice and climate justice.

Our work falls into four broad areas: women, politics and economics, land and climate, and emergencies. We have a particular focus on women’s rights; it’s a thread that runs through all our work.

ActionAid was founded as a charity in the UK in 1972, and soon grew its presence in countries around the world. In the 1990s, we adopted our human rights-based approach to development. ActionAid International was formed in 2003 to provide the global secretariat for the ActionAid federation of country offices. Our head office is in Johannesburg, South Africa, and we also have hubs in Asia, Europe and the Americas. 

This is our international website, where we share inspiring stories from around the federation, bold thought-leadership and practical tools that catalyse change. You can visit any of our websites to find out more about the work of ActionAid offices around the world, and how you can get involved. We also have a Global Leadership Team, comprising some staff from ActionAid International, and a number of country directors from around the world.

We believe in the power in people. If we can support people to know, claim and defend their rights, the world will be a fairer place.

About the role

The role of EU Advocacy Advisor is an exciting opportunity to join ActionAid and advance its work on Women Rights and Migration, to achieve a feminist just transition in the EU and the 45 countries where ActionAid works.  

The EU Advocacy Advisor role anchors ActionAid’s influence with EU institutions and Brussels-based civil society networks and allies, leading policy analysis and strategy on the issues of women rights and migration in relevant EU spaces.    

Coordinates with European ActionAid (AA) country offices, providing support for collaborative initiatives at the regional level. Assists ActionAid country offices across the federation to advance their objectives when EU/ EC institutions are targets or potential allies.   Collaborates with colleagues in the ActionAid Global Secretariat (GS) and federation to support advocacy, campaigns and research, joining the dots between issues in the Global North and South, amplifying impact and advancing ActionAid’s strategic priorities.  

Who we’re looking for

A passionate activist with a cool policy head, excited to advance the interconnected issues of women rights and migration (development/humanitarian policies) alongside NGO allies and social movements. You should have significant experience of EU policy spaces, NGOs, networks and strategies. Policy experience in one or more of the following gender, migration, development, humanitarian will be an advantage. You should have a strong knowledge of European migration and women rights policies and debates, political processes, reforms and policy positions within the different political parties and Member States.   

You should have a strong commitment to ActionAid’s values and ethos, including ActionAid’s feminist leadership principles with a deep understanding of intersectional struggles at global and European level, and a recognition of Europe’s impact and responsibilities in the wider world. You should have a strong understanding of and passion for ActionAid’s theory of change, recognising that injustice can only be overcome by strengthening the individual agency and collective power of oppressed groups to achieve system change.   

We are looking for a strong team player who is able to work closely with others (often from a distance) to meet tight deadlines and multiple priorities with proven ability to think strategically and analytically. Proven initiative, flexibility, and enthusiasm in managing complex activities in an organizationally complex and changing environment. Proven ability to work and deliver high-quality work on own initiative with minimal supervision, ability to work to deadlines under pressure.