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.

About RFSL and our international work

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.

Your role with us

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.

Key responsibilities

You will contribute to and coordinate international advocacy work related to Ukraine, including:

• 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.

Who are you?

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.

To succeed in this role, you need:

• 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.

• At least three years of relevant experience in advocacy, civil society support, development cooperation or related work.

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

• Experience working with partnership support, knowledge exchange, organisational development and capacity strengthening.

• 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.

• Solid IT skills, including good knowledge of Google Workspace.

• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written.

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

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally several times per year.

• Ability to work from Stockholm, Sweden.

Desirable qualifications

• 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.

• Knowledge of Swedish, or the ability and willingness to learn it to communicate effectively with colleagues at RFSL.

Employment terms

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

• Location: RFSL office in Stockholm, with some hybrid work possible. International travel several times per year is expected.

• Start date: As agreed

• Contract terms: Covered by the Collective Agreement for Nonprofit Organizations

Our offer

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.

How to apply

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.

For inquiries about the position or the recruitment process, please contact HR Partner Tobias Jensen at [email protected].

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.