Job title: Regional Advocacy & Campaign Lead – Jubilee ‘Turn Debt into Hope’ campaign[1]
Reports to: Senior Officer for Global Advocacy Campaigns with close coordination with the Regional Secretariat of Caritas Africa
Location: Based in Africa (flexible within the region), with remote work possible and occasional travel to the General Secretariat of Caritas Internationalis, as required
Contract length: One year, with the possibility of extension depending on funding
Start date: As soon as possible
Remuneration: This role is offered on a consultancy agreement basis, with compensation aligned to the current market rate, taking into account the national context and local labour laws.
Working arrangement: The post-holder will be expected to work a 35-hour week. However, the demands of the role will be, by their very nature, unpredictable and changeable. It is envisaged that the post-holder will be flexible, sometimes working outside office hours. They may also be required to attend meetings overseas and organise events in other parts of the region.
About Caritas Internationalis
Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of over 160 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in nearly every country worldwide. With a mission rooted in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, Caritas strives to promote human dignity, social justice and solidarity with the most vulnerable.
As the official humanitarian and development arm of the Catholic Church, Caritas Internationalis works in close collaboration with its member organisations to address pressing global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change and humanitarian crises. Our initiatives focus on sustainable development, disaster response, peacebuilding and advocacy and campaigning for systemic change to create a more just and compassionate world.
Headquartered in Vatican City, within Rome, Caritas Internationalis serves as a hub for coordination, capacity sharing and advocacy, amplifying the voices of those often unheard and championing the rights of the poor and marginalised. Inspired by Pope Francis’ call to foster a culture of encounter and care, we work with communities, governments and partner organisations to work towards a safe space for everyone to thrive, where no one is left behind.
For more information about Caritas Internationalis, please visit: https://www.caritas.org/
Context and purpose of the job
Based in Africa, the post-holder will coordinate a flagship initiative supporting the confederation’s Jubilee “Turn Debt into Hope” campaign. This global campaign, rooted in Caritas’ mission of promoting social justice and human dignity, seeks to raise awareness and mobilise action for debt justice and systemic change in alignment with the Jubilee year of 2025.
The post-holder will oversee the delivery of a comprehensive programme aimed at building the capacity of Caritas member organisations and their partners to implement the campaign’s strategic objectives. Working closely with the Senior Officer for Global Advocacy Campaigns and the Regional Secretariat of Caritas Africa, the post-holder will ensure that, by the end of the campaign in early 2026, participating organisations are equipped with the tools and resources necessary to sustain their advocacy and campaigning efforts independently.
Collaboration through informal coalitions will be key, and the post-holder will work in partnership with colleagues across Caritas’ seven regions, as well as with external stakeholders, including faith-based and civil society organisations. Through coordinated advocacy and campaigning, the post-holder will ensure that the voices and experiences of vulnerable communities affected by debt are amplified in key policy debates and decision-making processes specifically around the G20 2025.
Role summary
The Regional Campaign Lead on the 2025 Jubilee ‘Turn Debt into Hope’ campaign for Africa will coordinate regional Caritas’ advocacy and campaign initiatives in the region, aligning with work in other regions of the Caritas confederation, with a political focus on the G20 Summit in South Africa. The role involves mobilising regional Caritas members and partner organisations, coordinating advocacy and campaign initiatives, and ensuring that African voices are represented in global discussions on debt justice and sustainable development.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the implementation of Caritas Internationalis’ global campaign framework within the African context, ensuring alignment with regional priorities and realities.
- Coordinate with national Caritas organisations in the region to amplify campaign messages and actions, enhancing their impact and ensuring these strategies support and complement the regional strategy for the G20.
- Build partnerships with civil society organisations, faith-based groups and other stakeholders.
- Represent Caritas at national, regional and global forums and events where debt justice is discussed, as needed.
- Produce context-specific advocacy materials, including policy briefs, position papers and campaign updates.
- Monitor campaign developments and policy debates related to debt justice and development in Africa and provide timely analysis.
- Support capacity-building initiatives for Caritas members on advocacy and campaigning and track progress made against pre-set indicators of impact.
Experience
- Experience in advocacy, campaigning and project coordination, preferably in an international context.
- Experience of engaging with a range of national, regional and community organisations and working with them on campaign activations or any other related advocacy projects.
- Experience of developing excellent working relationships with a range of diverse stakeholders.
- Experience of devising and delivering context-specific engagement strategies in support of Caritas Africa’s political and policy advocacy priorities.
- Experience of developing and delivering complex project plans, and ensuring that others involved working on the project complete the tasks allocated to them.
- Experience of developing and maintaining effective systems for collecting, collating and reporting progress made.
- Experience of writing advocacy and campaign tools, which communicate complex information in clear, culturally sensitive and engaging ways.
- Experience of organising and delivering successful events for people from diverse backgrounds.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Development Studies, social sciences or related field; equivalent work experience counts towards meeting this requirement.
- Proven experience in advocacy and campaign coordination in the African context.
- Familiarity with G20 processes and international, inter-regional advocacy.
- Strong networking and partnership-building skills.
- Excellent communication skills in English and/or French; knowledge of Portuguese is a strong asset.
- A good understanding of how structural/systemic change happens;
- Strong coordination skills for developing and managing campaign-related projects;
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office package, especially Word, Excel and Outlook;
- Willingness and ability to conduct some international travel, ensuring safety and security precautions;
- Prior work in relevant positions within the Caritas network is an asset;
- Knowledge of Caritas, the Catholic Church and Catholic Social Teaching;
- A demonstrable empathy and interest in the work of Caritas and the Catholic Church.
- Advocates for strong equity, synodal (participative and co-responsible) and pro-poor lens in influencing priorities.
This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.
Come and join us and help make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest communities.
Caritas Internationalis is committed to safeguarding people from exploitation and abuse in its work and has specific policies on this commitment which outline the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff. We follow safe recruitment practices according to our Safeguarding Policies.
Any candidate offered a job at Caritas Internationalis is expected to sign a Code of Ethics and a Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with its provisions.
Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and motivation for the position to HR@caritas.va by 9th March 2025.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
[1] For more information about the campaign, please visit: https://turndebtintohope.caritas.org/