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Advocacy & Outreach Officer, Child Health

PATH is an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. PATH's mission is to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors.

PATH’s Vaccine Development program aims to improve the health of people, especially infants and children living in low-income countries, by accelerating the development of vaccines that will be effective and affordable in the countries that most urgently need them. Our program is working on vaccines against pneumococcal disease, diarrheal disease, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), meningitis, and polio.

PATH's Advocacy and Public Policy (APP) team works to improve global health by increasing awareness and support of global health priorities by working with policymakers, coalitions, and other influential individuals and groups. We leverage our unique expertise as a provider of field, technology, and program solutions that are innovative, field-driven, scalable, affordable, and based on best practices to influence and inform public policy decisions.

The Advocacy and Outreach Officer will play a key role in PATH’s policy advocacy to improve political support, financing, and policies to combat diarrhea and pneumonia—the two leading causes of child death worldwide—in developing countries. The Advocacy & Outreach Officer works within the Vaccine Development program and in close collaboration with the Advocacy and Public Policy department to coordinate, support, and guide activities with partners in the US, globally, and in low-income countries.

Responsibilities:

  • Identify relevant public policy and government financing goals; develop and implement strategies and activities that increase political support for key issues in global child health, particularly diarrheal disease and pneumonia.
  • Support coalition- and consensus-building among advocacy and implementing partners within the vaccine, water and sanitation, and nutrition communities to improve policies and resources for diarrheal disease and pneumonia; engage new partners to achieve strategic goals; coordinate collective efforts.
  • Work with internal and external partners to engage US and global policymakers and other stakeholders more fully in critical child health policies and issues.
  • Support PATH country programs and other in-country allies in raising visibility of pneumonia and diarrheal disease among national stakeholders, including supporting policy change, improved communications, and advocacy.
  • Work with in-country partners to document and showcase country successes and challenges in addressing pneumonia and diarrheal disease for global audiences.
Required Skills
  • Understanding of health policy issues and mechanisms in low-income countries (preferably in Africa and/or SE Asia)
  • Knowledge of child health issues in low-income countries.
  • Knowledge of, and experience with, international development agencies and funding mechanisms; global health experience preferred.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop advocacy strategies to achieve policy change, and motivate and engage stakeholders
  • Ability to build partnerships and coalition and cultivate relationships and advocate for policy change with decision makers.
  • Strong verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to analyze and draft policy.
  • Collaborative working style
Required Experience

Bachelor’s degree in public health, public policy, or related field, plus a minimum of 10 years of experience working in global health advocacy, including time working in developing countries; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Direct experience working with non-governmental organizations, multilateral institutions (such as the UN and WHO) and/or government partners in low-income countries, preferably in Africa or Southeast Asia regions. Advanced degree in public health or related field preferred.

Job Location
Washington, DC, US.

Advocacy & Outreach Officer, Child Health