Education Advocacy Fellow, International Education Funders Group
Fellowship period: 9 months from February 2026
Hours: 2 days a week, flexible (dedicated days, or hours spread over 5 days)
Location: Remote (with travel to up to two key events as required)
Reporting to: IEFG ED
Host organisation: Global Dialogue (IEFG fiscal host)
Job Summary:
This nine-month IEFG Advocacy Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to shape the collective voice of education philanthropy at a pivotal moment for international development. With the 2030 SDG deadline approaching, IEFG members are seeking to act differently: moving beyond 'fill-anthropy' to strategic, coordinated advocacy that drives meaningful systemic change. The Fellow will support the development and initial implementation of IEFG's advocacy strategy, preparing briefings, messaging, and content, and helping coordinate building a library of stories that 'education works', all under the mentorship of IEFG-member advocacy leads and global education advocacy specialists. We are looking for an early-career professional with strong research and communication skills, a strategic mindset, and a keen interest in global education policy and multi-stakeholder collaboration, offering a hands-on opportunity to influence how philanthropy engages in shaping the future of education.
Background
The International Education Funders' Group (IEFG) is the largest global network of philanthropic actors funding education in low- and middle-income countries. IEFG supports its 100+ current members in learning (from the latest evidence and from each other) and in making strategic connections to advance their education grantmaking. We enable collaboration to drive the amplified impact of education philanthropy on education outcomes.
Education philanthropy's collective voice as committed to education is needed and appreciated, as highlighted by the IEFG community's statement at this year's Financing for Development conference. Concern is growing that the case for investing in education hasn't been fully won. IEFG members have an incredible portfolio of partners demonstrating that education investments work. Now the challenge is to make this case where it's needed, embedding education into the reflexes of decision-makers and showing that education underpins all other global goals: economic, climate, and political. This will also require elevating the sub-sector advocacy messages into an aligned case for education. As discussions for the post-2030 agenda advance, IEFG wants to bring a coherent, strategic philanthropic voice to the table across our network of over 100 funders. You will bring expertise and energy to help crystallise and amplify this collective philanthropic voice. You will gain experience in shaping collective messages and influencing the future of education.
You will work within the small IEFG team, currently spread across five countries, and report directly to our Executive Director, while also working closely with other Core Team staff. Your work will be steered by the IEFG's Professional Peer Group of IEFG advocacy and policy leads. We also offer mentorship by a global education advocacy specialist. We have an excellent team working culture and work flexible hours to ensure a healthy work-life balance, appreciating our different time zones. IEFG is currently housed at Global Dialogue, registered as a charity (1122052) and a limited company (05775827) in England and Wales.
Job Summary
You will be responsible for the following tasks:
1. Mapping out our members' advocacy intentions, abilities, and key advocacy moments
Not all IEFG members actively engage in advocacy, but there is potential for strength in collective voice through the IEFG. The successful candidate will therefore conduct an initial assessment of who amongst our members actively participates in advocacy and how and where they see their strategic priorities. As Fellow, you will be responsible for the following:
- Initial Assessment & Data Collection o Design and implement a series of conversations to assess member advocacy endeavours, capturing: ▪ Current advocacy activities ▪ Existing government relationships and policy influence channels ▪ Previous advocacy wins and lessons learned o Create a skills and assets inventory documenting: ▪ Members with direct access to key decision-makers (ministerial level, UN agencies, regional bodies) ▪ In-house or contracted capabilities (policy research, media relations, comms/advertising) ▪ Members willing to provide advocacy training or mentorship to others ▪ Available advocacy tools and resources that could be shared
- Key Moments Calendar & Opportunity Mapping o Build on IEFG's event map to develop a shared IEFG dynamic 18-month advocacy calendar featuring global moments (UNGA, G7/G20, World Bank/IMF meetings, COP summits), regional opportunities (AU Summit, ASEAN meetings, European Development Days), education-specific events (Education World Forum, GPE replenishment, UNESCO conferences), member-specific moments (board meetings, strategy reviews, anniversary celebrations), national policy windows (elections, budget cycles, education plan reviews) o Create opportunity assessment scorecards for each moment evaluating: ▪ Potential for education to be on the agenda (high/medium/low) ▪ Number of IEFG members with access or influence ▪ Media attention and public engagement potential
2. Strengthen education philanthropy's collective presence and collective voice at key global events
The Fellow will work closely on this task with the IEFG Senior Lead for Philanthropic Coalitions, and with IEFG-member advocacy and policy leads, supporting coordination across the network while helping to ensure messaging is consistent, compelling, and capable of driving sector-wide alignment and shared mission. This role requires initiative, creativity, and bold ideas, and is about shaping a more strategic, aligned, and influential presence for education philanthropy. You will lead the organisation of IEFG's participation at two key moments in 2026 identified as valuable for education philanthropy to bring a joint voice (e.g. the Education World Forum 2026, UNGA 2026), ensuring education philanthropy's voice is coherent, visible, and impactful. Building on the IEFG Core Team's experience of supporting philanthropic presence at key events, you will be responsible for the following:
- Pre-event coordination: o Create a shared event preparation toolkit with templates for speaking points, elevator pitches, and Q&A responses o Develop a pre-event poll template to map which members are attending and their specific advocacy priorities o Organise virtual prep sessions/session templates (2-3 weeks before events) to align messaging and practice key talking points o Create visual one-pagers/infographics summarising education philanthropy's impact for quick distribution
- During events: o Create a plan for real-time coordination hubs (WhatsApp group or Teams channel) for event-attending members o Document key conversations and commitments in a shared tracker o Coordinate social media amplification with pre-drafted tweets and LinkedIn posts
- Post-event follow-up: o Compile a comprehensive event report template with key takeaways and action items o Track and coordinate follow-up communications with new contacts made at events o Create a lessons learned document to improve future event participation
3. Build a bank of 'Education Works' stories
Collect, research, and synthesise a compendium of compelling examples of effective education progress that philanthropy funds. These cases will provide evidence and inspiration for advocacy, helping funders, media, and policymakers understand what works, why it matters, and how strategic investment in education drives real-world impact. You will help transform these examples into a shared resource on the IEFG website for briefings, campaigns, and external communication, reinforcing coherent messaging and a unified voice for education philanthropy. In detail, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Content creation: o Develop 20-30 standardised case study templates (1 page each) following a consistent format o Create short video testimonials (2-3 minutes) featuring beneficiaries from funded programmes
- Organisation and accessibility: o Develop a quick reference guide matching stories to specific policy arguments o Design social media asset packages for each story (graphics, captions, hashtags)
The IEFG Fellowship Offer
IEFG will tailor a structured learning offer to your specific interests and needs, to which you will dedicate 20% of your time in addition to the professional learning that the tasks above will bring. We will ensure that you have the support and resources necessary for your growth and development in the field of education philanthropy. Your professional development journey with IEFG will be drawn from options below:
Building relationships across education philanthropy industry experts: you will regularly interact with industry experts and thought leaders in the field of education philanthropy, particularly those working on advocacy and policy. These connections can provide valuable insights, knowledge and connections for your future career.
Training and Workshops: IEFG is connected to a wide range of partners who deliver workshops and webinars on philanthropy and international development cooperation. We will support you to develop a bespoke learning journey across these, drawing out the lens of education philanthropy.
Mentorship Program: We can potentially pair you with a mentor from within IEFG membership, as an experienced professional in the field. Mentors will provide guidance, support, and advice, helping you navigate your career path and develop your skills.
Professional Conference: You will have the opportunity to attend IEFG Together 2026 in Jordan, the annual convening of education philanthropy. You may have further opportunities to attend education-related summits or conferences within your role of enabling collective advocacy by funders. These events offer exposure to the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in the sector, as well as networking opportunities.
Access to Resources and Reports: We will provide you access to a wide range of resources, reports, case studies, and publications related to education philanthropy. This access will deepen your understanding of the sector and support your research and knowledge-building efforts.
Skills and experience required:
- Early-career professional with a strong interest in ideally all three of global education, international development, and advocacy.
- Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesise complex data from multiple sources into clear, actionable insights.
- Strong writing and communication skills, including the ability to craft concise, persuasive messaging for diverse audiences (funders, policymakers, media).
- Experience or demonstrated interest in policy, advocacy, or strategic communications; familiarity with global education policy debates is a plus. Experience with philanthropy is not necessary: we'll provide this!
- Ability to take initiative, work independently, and bring bold ideas to shape strategy and influence outcomes.
- Comfortable collaborating remotely across multiple time zones and coordinating input from a range of stakeholders.
- Comfortable working in dynamic, sometimes ambiguous contexts, where tasks, priorities, and buy-in may not always be fully defined, and able to push initiatives forward proactively.
- Organisational skills to manage multiple tasks, events, and deliverables on tight timelines.
- Interest in storytelling and evidence-based advocacy, including translating research, data, and case studies into compelling presentations and communication materials.
- Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with peer networks, philanthropic members, and external experts.
- Proactive learner, open to mentorship from senior advocacy leads and global education specialists.
Duration and compensation:
Work schedule: Two days a week (flexible: you can either nominate these days or work a few hours per day across 4-5 days).
Pro rata salary: £30,000
Structured learning opportunity to build knowledge and relationships across education philanthropy.
Note: IEFG is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Application Process:
To apply for this Fellowship, please submit your CV, a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in the role, and contact information for two professional references, which will only be contacted with your permission after the interview process, which will comprise an interview with members of the Secretariat and a separate task, both of which can be undertaken online. Applications should be sent to info@iefg.org with 'IEFG Advocacy Fellow' in the subject line.
This position was originally posted by IEFG and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
