Program and Policy Advocacy Director

Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ·

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Contract

Posted

2 months ago

Deadline

2 months ago

Location

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Description

Program and Policy Advocacy Director

Reporting to the National Director & Representative to the African Union, the Program and Policy Advocacy Director provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership for Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia’s (HFHE) integrated program and policy portfolio. The role advances equitable access to adequate, safe, climate-resilient, and affordable housing for low-income and vulnerable communities.

This is a senior strategic leadership role responsible for driving program excellence, policy influence, and systems transformation. The Director ensures that HFHE delivers scalable, sustainable, and high-impact housing solutions while shaping the national agenda on adequate and climate-resilient housing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Program Development

Lead the development and implementation of HFHE’s integrated program and policy strategy, aligned with HFHI Global Strategy.
Drive market systems and policy-led approaches to achieve scalable housing solutions.
Ensure programs intentionally target marginalized populations, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and informal settlement communities.

2. Program Management, Quality & MEAL

Provide oversight of planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting across all portfolios.
Strengthen Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems to ensure evidence-based decision-making.
Lead adaptive management and continuous quality improvement processes.

3. Policy Advocacy & Systems Influence

Position the organization as a leading voice in housing and urban development policy.
Engage government, civil society, and the private sector to influence policy reform and investment priorities.
Represent HFHE in national and regional policy platforms and coordination mechanisms.
Lead the development of evidence-based policy briefs and research products.

4. Housing Finance & Market Systems Development

Strengthen partnerships with financial institutions and cooperatives to expand access to affordable housing finance.
Support the development of housing microfinance products and inclusive market systems.
Promote climate-smart housing supply chains and SME ecosystem development.

5. Construction, Urban Development & Basic Services

Oversee implementation of community housing and tenure security initiatives.
Lead integrated settlement upgrading, including WASH, infrastructure, and public space improvements.
Ensure interventions incorporate climate resilience and disaster risk reduction (DRR) standards.

6. Disaster Risk Reduction, Response & Resilience

Lead the design and execution of housing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery programs.
Strengthen partnerships with humanitarian actors and government agencies.

7. Youth Engagement & Volunteer Mobilization

Strengthen national models for youth engagement and volunteer mobilization.
Build partnerships with universities, youth networks, and faith institutions.

8. Team Leadership & Safeguarding

Provide inclusive leadership to multidisciplinary program and advocacy teams.
Hold teams accountable for delivering safeguarding best practices and mitigating risk.
Promote a "speak up" culture and a safe, respectful work environment.

About You

Education

Master’s degree in Urban Planning/Development, Civil Engineering, or Public Policy.

Experience

Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience, including 7 years in senior leadership roles.
Proven experience in program leadership, policy advocacy, and partnership management.
Preferred: Experience in housing finance, market systems development, social enterprise, or climate resilience.

Core Competencies

Strategic Visioning and Innovation.
Collaboration, Influence, and Representation.
Integrity, Stewardship, and Accountability.
Ability to develop long-term influence strategies based on program evidence.

Duration and Location

Duration: 2 years with possibility of extension.
Duty Station: Addis Ababa.
Salary: Negotiable.
Closing Date: April 10, 2026.

How to Apply

Please send a non-returnable cover letter and CV, quoting “Program and Policy Advocacy Director” in the email subject line. Include contact details for three professional referees and submit to: hfheapplication@habitatethiopia.org.

HFHI Values: Humility, Courage, and Accountability.

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Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia

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Habitat for Humanity International Habitat for Humanity was first imagined at Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia. Founded by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan in 1942, Koinonia Farm was committed to community and racial equity.

In 1973 at Koinonia Farm, Jordan and Millard and Linda Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing,” which emphasized people working side by side to build decent, affordable homes. From that idea, Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976. Today, Habitat affiliates work in more than 1,400 communities and 70 countries.

Twin Cities Habitat was established in 1985 by a Lutheran congregation in South Minneapolis. Since then, more than 1,500 families have partnered with us to achieve affordable homeownership. Twin Cities Habitat is one of the highest-regarded Habitat affiliates worldwide.

Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia is part of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat Ethiopia started work in 1993 with the aim of assisting low-income and vulnerable families to move out of substandard housing. Habitat Ethiopia has been able to diversify its areas of interventions to help families across the country. As a result of the efforts made over 32 years, Habitat Ethiopia helped 170,000 families (851,000 individuals) in 19 communities to move to decent houses, have access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation services. About 82,000 families received hygiene awareness-raising, saving and financial literacy training. The target beneficiaries are people with low income, vulnerable and marginalized groups, women-headed families, and elderly people.

In addition to housing, Habitat Ethiopia expands its work focusing on Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and communal infrastructure such us walk ways and ditches. Habitat Ethiopia also joins the national efforts being made to help people affected by drought through its WASH Resilience Building Project. Currently, Habitat Ethiopia is working in partnership with communities in Addis Ababa, Negele Arsi, Shewa Robit and Debere Berhna towns.

To expand its work in terms of scale and depth and reach more families through housing, water, sanitation, and hygiene, Habitat Ethiopia is developing strategic plan. While the strategic plan development is in progress, we take into account the multidimensional poverty challenges in Ethiopia to diversify our interventions and bring about impact at community, sector and societal levels. The key components of the strategy are programs designed to address urgent needs.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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