Regional Policy and Advocacy Advisor for PlayMatters

About the role

The International Rescue Committee is seeking a senior Regional Policy and Advocacy Advisor to support the PlayMatters education initiative across Uganda. You will work from our Kamwokya office in Kampala, leading efforts to integrate Learning through Play into national and local education systems.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement advocacy strategies that promote PlayMatters’ learning‑through‑play approach within government, NGOs, and private‑sector partners.
• Coordinate with regional teams to align policy work with programmatic objectives in health, protection, economic recovery and education.
• Monitor and analyze policy developments, produce briefs, and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Represent IRC in stakeholder meetings, forums, and public events to raise visibility of PlayMatters outcomes.
• Support capacity‑building activities for local authorities and community organisations on play‑based pedagogy.

Required profile

• Minimum five years of experience in policy analysis, advocacy or program management within humanitarian or education contexts.
• Proven track record of influencing policy at regional or national level.
• Strong understanding of education systems, especially in crisis‑affected settings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Required skills

• Policy research and analysis
• Advocacy strategy development
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership building
• Report writing and briefing preparation

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape education policy for vulnerable children in a leading global humanitarian organization.
• Collaborative, mission‑driven work environment.
• Professional development and training opportunities.