Policy and Government Engagement Support

Policy and Government Engagement Support

Evidence Action · Federal Capital Ter, Nigeria · Temporary · Posted 2026-08-20

Workplace: on_site

Department: Programs

Description

About Evidence Action

Evidence Action is a global nonprofit organization with an approach distinctive in international development—we exclusively scale interventions that are backed by strong evidence and can be delivered with exceptional cost-effectiveness. Since our founding in 2013, we have reached over 515 million people globally with our interventions. We deliver high impact for every dollar spent, as recognized by GiveWell, The Life You Can Save, and Charity Navigator.

We do development differently. We take a data-driven approach to identifying, scaling, and continuously improving programs that deliver immense impact, ensuring these solutions measurably improve the lives of millions. Our Deworm the World Program has helped governments in Africa and Asia deliver over 1.8 billion childhood deworming treatments, improving health, education, and incomes. Safe Water Now provides sustained safe water access to over 10 million people in Africa, preventing childhood illness and deaths. 

We drive innovation: Our Accelerator builds the next generation of exceptional programs, taking an approach most similar to a venture capital model. We are ruthless in exiting programs that do not meet our criteria; those that advance deliver outsized impact for millions of people. 

We are global. Across nine countries in Africa and Asia, our 700+ people are united by a tremendous passion for our mission and impact. We are strong because of our diversity of experience, geography, and background—with over 90% of our people in the countries where our impact is focused. 

We have big ambitions. Over the next decade, we’re setting our sights higher: We aim to reach over 600 million people globally to fulfill our vision of a world where hundreds of millions of people in the poorest places have better opportunities and their lives are measurably improved. We believe in bold and urgent action—because poverty doesn’t wait, and neither should we. 

We need great people. Our success to date is due to the collective work of our amazing staff. To achieve our ambitious goals, we are looking for people who share our passion for evidence, cost-effectiveness, and scale. We seek individuals who take an entrepreneurial approach, enjoy tackling hard problems, and have a bias to action and results. If our vision and approach excite you as much as they do us, we invite you to join us.

About the role

The Policy and Government Engagement Support contributes to Evidence Action Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen relationships with government stakeholders and advance evidence-based policy change. The role supports research, stakeholder engagement, and communication activities that facilitate the adoption and scale-up of cost-effective interventions within Nigeria’s public health and development systems. The Temp will conduct policy research and analysis, coordinate and support government engagements, document policy and stakeholder activities, and develop communication materials that translate evidence into actionable insights for policymakers.

• Contract: Six months, fixed term renewable.
• Experience Level: Two years of experience. This is a support role

Who we are looking for

Someone who has spent about two years persuading people face to face, with results to point at. That experience does not have to come from the development sector. We are actively interested in candidates whose background is commercial: sales, business development, account management, relationship management, client servicing, marketing, brand activation, trade development, or protocol and liaison work.

If you have opened a door that was closed, carried a client relationship, or chased a decision through an organisation that was slow to give it, and you can say what changed because of you, we want to hear from you.

Requirements

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Policy Research and Analysis

2. Conduct desktop research on relevant policies, government programs, and legislative developments affecting Evidence Action's programmatic areas

3. Review and synthesize policy documents, white papers, and government reports to identify opportunities for evidence-based advocacy
4. Prepare policy briefs and background notes that summarize key findings and recommendations for internal and external stakeholders
5. Monitor policy trends and emerging governance issues within Nigeria's health and development sectors on an ongoing basis, keep a record of government appointees and stakeholders, and update any changes in leadership of ministries and MDAs.

6. Compile and maintain a database of relevant policy resources and stakeholder contacts

7. Government and Stakeholder Engagement 

8. Secure and coordinate meetings and engagement activities with government officials, ministries, and agencies

9. Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and presentations for stakeholder meetings and policy dialogues
10. Independently coordinate and host meetings with government stakeholders. 
11. Support regular updates of stakeholder mapping exercises to identify key decision-makers and influencers within government structures
12. Draft follow-up correspondence and meeting summaries to maintain effective communication with government partners

13. Takes initiative to identify policy trends, opportunities, and challenges relevant to Evidence Action's work without constant supervision

14. Presentation and Document Preparation

15. Prepare, format, and update presentation templates and briefing materials for government and stakeholder engagements.

16. Ensure all materials are accurate, professional, and aligned with organizational branding and messaging.

17. Stakeholder Engagement Support

18. Build and maintain professional relationships with government contacts, administrative staff, and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate access and cooperation.

19. Follow up persistently and diplomatically on pending appointments, approvals, or responses from government offices.

20. Represent the organization professionally in all interactions with external stakeholders.

21. Monitoring, Documentation, and Reporting

22. Track and document all policy engagement activities, meetings, and communications in the organizational database or tracking system

23. Support the collection and analysis of data related to policy influence and government collaboration outcomes
24. Maintain an up-to-date calendar of relevant policy events, changes in government officials, government deadlines, and advocacy opportunities

25. Assist in developing case studies that demonstrate the impact of Evidence Action's policy engagement efforts.

26. Learning and Development

27. Complete 3 courses that will facilitate their growth in the role. 

28. Collaborate with program, research, and communications teams to ensure alignment between policy engagement and programmatic activities
29. Support other team members with administrative tasks and ad hoc projects that advance the organization's policy objectives
30. Engage in capacity-building opportunities, including training sessions, webinars, and learning exchanges to develop professional skills
31. Provide general administrative support to the Policy and Government Engagement team as required

Benefits

Key Performance Indicators

• Meeting Securement—Secure at least 6 requested meetings by December 2026.
• Meeting Execution – Host 4 meetings by December 2026 with minimal challenges. Share meeting reports within 2 working days of the conclusion of each meeting with minimal errors and corrections.
• Presentation Quality & Turnaround—Presentation templates and materials delivered accurately within 48 hours of being assigned, with minimal revisions needed.
• Stakeholder Responsiveness – 24-hour follow-up and resolution rate on pending stakeholder requests/appointments
• Stakeholder Relationship Quality—Qualitative feedback from senior associates and stakeholders on professionalism and rapport-building 
• Proactive Learning & Development – Complete 2 learning initiatives in the first 3 months and maintain current stakeholder/government official contact lists.

Qualifications

Educational Background

• Bachelor's  in Marketing, Business Development, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, International Development, Public Health, Development Studies, Communications, or related fields

Experience

• Two years in a role where you had to persuade, sell, secure, negotiate or hold a relationship face to face. Any sector.
• PowerPoint and Word, including the ability to take an existing deck and adapt it correctly for a new audience.
• Excel and Google Workspace for trackers and schedules.
• Confidence dealing with people considerably more senior than you.
• Real persistence. Government offices are slow and you will be told no, or nothing at all, repeatedly.
• Care with detail. Material goes out under Evidence Action’s name.
• Strong written English, enough to draft correspondence and a short summary without heavy editing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills—a genuine "people person" able to build rapport quickly across different levels of seniority.
• Tenacity and persistence in following up and securing appointments, even in slow-moving or challenging government/bureaucratic environments.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple schedules and priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Canva, etc. (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides)—particularly comfort in developing and formatting professional presentations.
• Discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while keeping supervisors informed.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
• Skilled in preparing, formatting, and updating presentation templates and briefing materials
• Familiarity with Canva or other design tools for creating polished, professional materials
• Basic research skills, with the ability to gather and organize information on stakeholders, government processes, and meeting outcomes
• Comfortable maintaining trackers/logs (e.g., contact databases, meeting schedules, follow-up status)

Communication Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; understanding and speaking Hausa is an advantage but not a requirement
• Confident and articulate when engaging government officials, administrative staff, and other stakeholders in person, by phone, or in writing
• Ability to draft clear, professional correspondence, meeting invitations, and follow-up communications
• Experience preparing or contributing to presentations, briefing notes, or stakeholder updates for diverse audiences
• Able to take good-quality photos and short videos during meetings and events for documentation purposes
• Strong interpersonal skills—a natural "people person" able to build rapport quickly and maintain positive working relationships across all levels of seniority
• Diplomatic and persistent in following up on pending appointments or responses, particularly in slow-moving or challenging government environments

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated with strong organizational and time-management skills, able to manage multiple schedules and priorities
• Tenacious and resourceful—does not give up easily when securing appointments or navigating bureaucratic delays
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, particularly in scheduling and presentation materials
• Comfortable working with minimal supervision while keeping the Senior Associate informed of progress
• Professional demeanor and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability when working across diverse government and institutional environments
• Positive, can-do attitude with the confidence to represent the organization professionally in external-facing situations

Additional Requirements

• Nigerian citizenship or valid work authorization
• Commitment to Evidence Action's values and mission

Working conditions

This role involves engaging with diverse government officials, requiring thorough research and preparation. Candidates must be flexible to accommodate stakeholder schedules, which may include impromptu meetings and occasional late hours. 

Physical Requirements

"While the role is not physically demanding, external meetings may take place in locations without elevator access, requiring the ability to navigate stairs."

Apply

Apply at Evidence Action

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