International Advocacy Advisor

RFSL is seeking an International Advocacy Advisor to advance international advocacy for LGBTQI rights in Ukraine. You will play a

key role in working in close partnership with Ukrainian LGBTQI organisations and activists to identify priorities, develop

advocacy strategies and create opportunities for locally led influence, while contributing RFSL’s resources, networks and

international advocacy experience where these add value.

RFSL (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Rights), founded in 1950, is one of the

world’s oldest non-profit organisations working to advance LGBTQI rights.

RFSL’s international work supports LGBTQI movements in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa through regranting, partnerships, knowledge

exchange, organisational support and advocacy. We work closely with local partners to support locally led movements, strengthen

their agency and influence, and contribute to enabling environments for LGBTQI rights at national, regional and global levels.

Russia’s war against Ukraine, including the 2022 full-scale invasion continues to threaten lives and rights of Ukrainians,

disproportionately affecting LGBTQI persons. But the country’s broader political and social developments, as well as EU accession,

have new opportunities for LGBTQI civil society. Against this backdrop, RFSL works with LGBTQI organisations and activists in

Ukraine to make sure that international advocacy on Ukraine and LGBTQI rights is defined and led by Ukrainian voices, supporting

their priorities and strengthening their influence at national and international levels. RFSL contributes resources, networks and

international advocacy experience where these add value, while supporting partner autonomy and locally led advocacy.

As an International Advocacy Advisor, you will work closely with LGBTQI partner organisations and activists, primarily in Ukraine.

The role focuses on international advocacy, with partnership support, knowledge exchange and programme support contributing to

this work.

You will work with partners to identify advocacy priorities, develop strategies and engage with relevant decision-makers,

institutions and human rights mechanisms. You will draw on RFSL’s international networks and experience where relevant, while

ensuring that partners’ priorities and expertise remain central. You will also coordinate and strengthen advocacy efforts in

Sweden related to Ukraine, working closely with relevant colleagues and partners. Internally, you will coordinate with RFSL’s

communications colleagues to ensure that advocacy and communications efforts are aligned and mutually reinforcing.

You will contribute to advocacy towards institutions such as the EU, UN, OSCE, Council of Europe and other relevant actors,

supporting Ukrainian partners to participate in and influence these spaces where appropriate. You will also monitor political,

legal and security developments together with partners, using this analysis to identify advocacy opportunities and adapt

approaches as needed.

Capacity strengthening of partners to engage in advocacy is an important part of the role, including managing scholarship grants,

organising training, workshops, peer-learning processes and gatherings, and handling the related planning, administration,

documentation, follow-up and reporting.

Building trusted, long-term partnerships is central to the role. The role also includes operational programme support, including

planning, documentation, data management and reporting.

You will work closely with the Head of Program, International Program Managers, other Advocacy Advisors and colleagues across

RFSL’s international work and will be based in Stockholm.

• Strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian LGBTQI organizations to impactfully engage in international advocacy by facilitating

access to international advocacy spaces, sharing knowledge, building connections and networks, training.

• Working alongside Ukrainian LGBTQI organisations and activists to identify advocacy priorities, develop strategies, map

stakeholders, develop messaging and engage with relevant decision-makers and institutions.

• Identifying and co-creating opportunities for Ukrainian LGBTQI civil society to influence national, regional and international

policy processes, including through relevant advocacy forums and networks.

• Representing RFSL, where relevant, in international and regional forums, including the EU, OSCE, Council of Europe, UN and

other relevant human rights mechanisms, while supporting Ukrainian partners to represent their own priorities, perspectives and

expertise directly where possible and desired.

• Together with partners, monitoring and analysing political, legal and social developments in Ukraine and assessing their

implications for LGBTQI rights and civil society, using locally rooted knowledge and analysis as an important basis for

identifying advocacy opportunities.

• Supporting partners to access and develop the resources, relationships, knowledge and skills they identify as relevant to their

advocacy priorities, including through peer exchange, mentoring, networking and other jointly agreed forms of support.

• Plan, implement, and follow up on capacity-strengthening initiatives, including training, workshops, peer-learning processes

and professional development support.

• Assess and manage requests for scholarships and capacity-strengthening support, including preparing agreements, decision memos,

and disbursements in accordance with internal and donor-specific requirements.

• Organise and implement capacity-strengthening activities such as online and in-person workshops, training, courses, and

gatherings

• Contributing to RFSL’s policy, advocacy and communications work on Ukraine and LGBTQI rights internationally, including by

bringing partner perspectives and locally developed knowledge into RFSL’s wider advocacy and organisational learning.

• Collaborating with International Program Managers to integrate advocacy with broader programme and partner support, including

planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning (PMEL) and documenting impact and change.

• Contributing to programme applications, funding proposals, donor reporting and other documentation related to advocacy

activities, and coordinating with relevant funders and donors in the region in ways that support transparency, accountability

and partner ownership.

• Contributing to relevant internal and external meetings, unit-wide and cross-organisational processes, and RFSL’s

federation-wide activities and events.

You are a structured, solution-oriented and collaborative professional with a strong commitment to LGBTQI rights, international

advocacy and locally led movement strengthening in Ukraine. You understand that effective advocacy depends on strong

relationships, partner-led priorities and attention to security, safeguarding and organisational needs.

You are comfortable working with activists, grassroots groups and established civil society organisations, adapting your approach

to different partners and contexts. You separate between your personal views and relationships from your professional duties. You

recognize the leadership of partner organizations in defining work and priorities. You work effectively in complex and politically

sensitive environments, providing safe, accountable and flexible support while respecting partners’ knowledge, priorities and

autonomy.

You understand the situation in Ukraine, region, its political and social context. You are aware of power dynamics in

international partnerships and approach collaboration with humility, recognising that international organisations cannot replace

local leadership or expertise. You combine strong organisational and administrative skills with the ability to build trusted

relationships, manage practical implementation and contribute to advocacy strategies developed together with partners.

You are politically aware, analytical and a strong communicator, able to represent RFSL professionally with civil society

organisations, government representatives and international institutions.

You are proactive, reflective and accountable, collaborate effectively across teams and cultures, and share RFSL’s values of

anti-racism, feminism, accessibility and intersectionality.

• A strong commitment to advancing LGBTQI rights through strategic advocacy, capacity strengthening, policy influence and

international human rights work, with a particular focus on Ukraine.

• Strong knowledge of the human rights situation and civil society landscape in the region, including experience working in

partnership with LGBTQI movements and organisations.

• Experience working with international or regional advocacy processes and human rights mechanisms, such as the EU, UN or Council

of Europe.

• Understanding of security and safeguarding considerations when working with LGBTQI activists and civil society in challenging

contexts.

• Strong analytical and administrative skills, including experience working with organisational capacity and strengths, budgets,

programme documentation and risks.

• Ability to communicate in Ukrainian or the proven ability and willingness to learn it to communicate effectively with Ukrainian

partners.

• A Bachelor’s degree in political science, international development, human rights, public administration or a related field, or

equivalent professional experience.

• Experience working in politically sensitive, repressive or shrinking civic spaces, including conflict- or war-affected

contexts.

• Strong security awareness and experience adapting partnership, information-sharing and communication practices to changing

security and political contexts, including when working with partners in conflict-affected, repressive or high-risk

environments.

• Employment type: This is a permanent position, starting with a six-month probationary period. The position is subject to

continued funding.

RFSL offers a dynamic and inclusive workplace that values professionalism, learning, and social impact. We provide competitive

conditions, including occupational pensions and parental benefits, and an opportunity to work closely with committed colleagues

and partners in a value-driven organisation.

Applications should be submitted by September 20th, 2026. We use anonymous, competency-based recruitment and require a background

check and a work-related assignment as part of the recruitment process. This recruitment process will be conducted in English.

As a feminist and anti-racist organisation, RFSL strives to be an inclusive workplace for everyone, regardless of sexual

orientation, gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, religion, race, ethnicity, country of origin, disability status,

age, or other grounds of discrimination. Candidates with diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.