Advocacy Coordinator, South Africa (Based in Johannesburg)

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), a program of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), provides strategic advocacy assistance on global public health issues to drive policy change campaigns around the globe to improve health. As part of the Obesity Prevention Program (OPP), GHAI works with partners to improve the nutrition policy environment, in countries including Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico and South Africa. The OPP focuses on the passage and implementation of four key policies:

·        Banning advertising of junk food and sugary beverages to children;

·        Implementing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages;

·        Regulating the supply of unhealthy foods and beverages in public sector institutions, particularly schools; and

·        Improving front of package labelling on packaged or processed foods and beverages.

Position Overview

The South Africa Coordinator will have direct oversight of the project on-the-ground in South Africa and will support in-country partners to carry out a coordinated advocacy campaign that ultimately leads to policy change. The Coordinator will report directly to the Associate Director of Advocacy at GHAI in Washington, DC and will work closely with the GHAI obesity prevention team and partners on the ground.

The ideal candidate will have experience in advocacy campaigns for policy change and have in-depth knowledge of the policy-making process in South Africa, proven ability to develop and work in partnership with multiple stakeholders, and experience in dealing with government officers and political leadership. Knowledge of/background in public health and, specifically, obesity prevention and nutrition is desirable. 

This is a full time contract coordinator position based in Johannesburg.The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), a program of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), provides strategic advocacy assistance on global public health issues to drive policy change campaigns around the globe to improve health. As part of the Obesity Prevention Program (OPP), GHAI works with partners to improve the nutrition policy environment, in countries including Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico and South Africa. The OPP focuses on the passage and implementation of four key policies:

·        Banning advertising of junk food and sugary beverages to children;

·        Implementing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages;

·        Regulating the supply of unhealthy foods and beverages in public sector institutions, particularly schools; and

·        Improving front of package labelling on packaged or processed foods and beverages.

Position Overview

The South Africa Coordinator will have direct oversight of the project on-the-ground in South Africa and will support in-country partners to carry out a coordinated advocacy campaign that ultimately leads to policy change. The Coordinator will report directly to the Associate Director of Advocacy at GHAI in Washington, DC and will work closely with the GHAI obesity prevention team and partners on the ground.

The ideal candidate will have experience in advocacy campaigns for policy change and have in-depth knowledge of the policy-making process in South Africa, proven ability to develop and work in partnership with multiple stakeholders, and experience in dealing with government officers and political leadership. Knowledge of/background in public health and, specifically, obesity prevention and nutrition is desirable. 

This is a full time contract coordinator position based in Johannesburg.