Senior Officer for Africa Engagement for Girls Not Brides

Deadline: 15 October 2015

Location: London or Dakar (Senegal) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) or Nairobi (Kenya)

Organization: Girls Not Brides

Girls Not Brides is recruiting a Senior Officer for Africa Engagement to expand the capacity of our Africa team. Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child brings together civil society organisations from around the world. The Partnership now counts over 500 members across more than 70 countries, based throughout Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Members are united by a commitment to end child marriage and enable girls to fulfil their potential.

Girls Not Brides works to empower those seeking to end child marriage; to raise awareness of the harmful impact of the practice and the solutions to end it; and to call for urgent action by relevant stakeholders. Girls Not Brides was initiated by The Elders, a group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela to promote peace and human rights worldwide.

The successful candidate could either be based in the Girls Not Brides office in London or Dakar (Senegal) or, preferably, work remotely from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) or Nairobi (Kenya). S/he will report to the Head of Africa Engagement, and play a central role in the development and implementation of strategies to further Girls Not Brides’ objectives in Africa. S/he will also contribute the broader strategic, programmatic and communications work of the Partnership and help achieve its overall objectives.

Main duties and responsibilities

Play a central role in Girls Not Brides’ work to inform, support and influence selected regional processes pertaining to child marriage in Africa:

• Monitor, analyse and document developments pertaining to child marriage and related issues in Africa, as well as developments within selected continental and the sub-regional level processes and initiatives on child marriage, women’s rights and children’s rights in Africa
• Develop and implement advocacy strategies and initiatives aiming at maintaining child marriage on the agenda of relevant regional processes and institutions
• Help develop and strengthen the Girls Not Brides secretariat’s strategic partnerships with key regional institutions and initiatives focusing on child marriage
• Promote and facilitate Girls Not Brides members’ effective and collaborative participation in relevant initiatives and processes on child marriage, including through capacity building initiatives.

Provide critical support to Girls Not Brides’ efforts to understand, stimulate and strengthen policy developments in selected focus countries in Africa:

• Monitor, analyse and document policy developments and opportunities relating to child marriage in selected focus countries across Africa, including through regular liaison with Girls Not Brides members and National Partnerships and occasional trips to focus countries
• Working closely with the Partnership team, provide critical support to strengthening the capacity of Girls Not Brides members, National Partnerships, and partner civil society networks to successfully take part in policy change in their countries
• As relevant and appropriate, provide direct strategic and technical support to governmental and other initiatives on child marriage at the national level.

Contribute to developing Girls Not Brides’ presence in Africa:

• Establish, maintain and strengthen Girls Not Brides’ working relationships with members organisations as well as key regional institutions, organisations, networks and UN agencies working on child marriage and related issues in Africa
• Represent Girls Not Brides at external meetings and events related to child marriage in Africa, and speak on behalf of Girls Not Brides in the media, as required
• Working with other teams within the secretariat, contribute to highlighting the work of Girls Not Brides members in Africa and ensuring that Africa members are able to engage meaningfully in the broader work of the Partnership.

Help inform Girls Not Brides’ strategic, learning and communications initiatives with knowledge of the regional context:

• Coordinate the development and publication of Girls Not Brides’ Africa newsletter, and contribute to the development of other learning and communications resources (e.g. briefings, toolkits, reports, etc.)
• Provide additional support for the development and implementation of global campaigns, advocacy efforts and other learning initiatives, as required.

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications and skills:

• Demonstrated experience of undertaking policy and advocacy work in Africa at the regional and/or national levels, preferably as part of civil society coalitions
• Strong knowledge of international and African standards, institutions and processes relating to human rights, women’s rights and children’s rights
• Sound understanding of the policy and advocacy dynamics around gender and/or development issues in Africa; an understanding of child marriage and of the key players in the women’s and children’s rights fields in Africa is desirable.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, with a keen eye for accuracy and detail
• Experience with providing capacity building and/or technical support to civil society
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills; ability to plan and organise work effectively, to meet tight deadlines and juggle multiple priorities
• Strong interpersonal skills, and ability develop effective working relationships in a multicultural environment
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, but also to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues based abroad
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality
• Excellent written and spoken English is essential; working proficiency in French is highly desirable
• Proficiency in recent versions of Microsoft Office suite and use of databases
• Willingness to travel to/from London and across Africa on a regular basis, and sometimes at short notice.

Practicalities

A competitive salary and benefits package will be offered to the successful candidate. We encourage applications from candidates from countries with a high prevalence of child marriage. Please note that in order to work from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Dakar (Senegal) or Nairobi (Kenya) the successful candidate would need to demonstrate that they have the appropriate work permission or visa. The salary range is £35,000 to £42,000.

How to apply:

To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this position to recruitment@GirlsNotBrides.org by 18:00 GMT on 15 October 2015 clearly stating “Senior Officer for Africa Engagement” and your name in the subject line. Kindly indicate in your cover letter your preferred location.

We regret that due to the large number of applications anticipated, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Senior Regional Legal Adviser in Nairobi, Kenya with The Centre for Reproductive Rights

Deadline: Until filled

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Organization: The Center for Reproductive Rights

About the Center

The Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) is the premier global legal organization dedicated to advancing women's reproductive health, self-determination, and dignity. Its mission is straightforward and ambitious: to advance reproductive health and rights as fundamental human rights that all governments around the world are legally obligated to protect, respect, and fulfill. 

Headquartered in New York City, the Center has regional offices in Bogota, Geneva, Kathmandu, Nairobi, and Washington, DC and a staff of more than 130 diverse professionals. Its annual operating budget is approximately $23 million, the result of an extraordinary growth trajectory; the Center is now poised for a new phase of significant expansion through its next Strategic Plan.

The Center’s game-changing litigation and advocacy work, combined with its unparalleled expertise in constitutional, comparative, and international human rights law, have transformed how reproductive rights are understood by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide. It has played a key role in securing landmark legal victories in the U.S., Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe on issues including access to life-saving obstetrics care, contraception, safe abortion services, and comprehensive sexuality information, as well as the prevention of forced sterilization and child marriage. It has brought groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies, led the development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights, and has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 55 countries.

The Center is led by Nancy Northup, President & CEO, who was recruited to the Center in 2003 for her rich mix of experience as a constitutional litigator, federal prosecutor, and women’s rights advocate—as well as her reputation for intelligence, passion, and creativity. She has led the organization’s exceptional growth, tripling its operating budget over the course of a decade, sharpening its strategic focus for even greater impact on ensuring reproductive health and freedom as a fundamental human right, and establishing the Center as an international resource for legal strategy and innovation. She was previously the founding director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law; a prosecutor and Deputy Chief of Appeals in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; and a law clerk to the Honorable Alvin B. Rubin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She has taught human rights and constitutional law as an adjunct professor at NYU Law School and Columbia Law School and appears frequently in leading media.

To learn more about the Center for Reproductive Rights, click here.

The Center seeks a Senior Regional Legal Adviser for Africa who will work closely with the Senior Legal Adviser for Africa, as well as the Legal Fellow for Africa based in New York, to support and build the work of the Africa Regional Program, and will report to the Regional Director for Africa.

Responsibilities:

The Senior Regional Legal Adviser for African’s primary job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support program strategy on litigation, including identifying potential strategic cases at the national, regional and international levels in collaboration with partner organizations; researching and writing pleadings, legal memoranda, amicus curiae, submissions to regional human rights bodies, UN submissions, and case briefs on comparative and international human rights law; and identifying claims for use in national, regional, and/or international fora.
• Monitor compliance with international obligations relating to reproductive rights and jurisprudential developments.
• Design and implement advocacy strategies to support potential or existing litigation.
• Contribute to the development of advocacy materials and other Center publications.
• Support the development and implementation of a capacity-building strategy on initiatives to advance reproductive rights in the region.
• Undertake fact-finding missions to document and expose human rights violations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local and regional NGOs and key stakeholders.
• Cultivate pro bono partnerships and develop projects with law firms, law associations, and law schools in the region to leverage the Center’s work.
• Represent the Center externally on matters related to reproductive rights in the region through public speaking and interaction with the media.
• Assist the Regional Director for Africa with the supervision of interns, volunteers and pro bono lawyers.
• Support other program, management and operational activities as necessary.
• International travel is required.

Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
• Knowledge of international human rights, women’s rights and African human rights system.
• Experience litigating constitutional and human rights cases in Kenyan courts necessary, and before regional or international human rights systems a plus.
• Capable of complex legal analytical work and creative and strategic thinking.
• Advocacy experience, including as part of NGO coalitions.
• Excellent writing, editing, research and oral advocacy skills.
• Very detail-oriented, with strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively, to multi-task, and to work under pressure.
• Degree in law (Juris Doctor or postgraduate) required.
• Minimum 7 years related professional experience.

Compensation: The Center offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits program.

The Center for Reproductive Rights is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates from all groups and communities to apply.

How to apply:

Please click here to apply.

A cover letter, résumé, one writing sample and contact information for three references (email preferred) must be included in your application in order to be considered for this position.

Please include these application materials as attachments. Please mention in your cover letter where you saw this opportunity.

Head of Advocacy Programme with FEMNET In Nairobi, Kenya

Deadline: 15 July 2015
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Organization: The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)

The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), a pan-African women’s rights Organisation, is looking for a suitable candidate to fill the position of Head of Advocacy Programme. This position provides an opportunity to manage and support exciting advocacy initiatives and campaigns on women’s human rights in a stimulating, multicultural and dynamic environment. The position is based in FEMNET Secretariat in Nairobi and involves travel across Africa and other parts of the world.

Main Responsibilities:

• Supporting and facilitating the African women’s movement to develop and use regional and international policy frameworks in advocacy for the full realization of the human rights for African women and girls 
• Initiate and coordinate necessary research to inform policy influencing and programming in Gender Equality and Women’s Human rights focusing on areas of FEMNET Strategic plan Maintain effective networks with FEMNET’s constituencies on advocacy issues that support African women’s development and empowerment, gender equality and the promotion of women’s human rights at national, regional and international levels;
• Liaising with the Capacity Building programme to build advocacy and lobbying skills among African women so as to influence governments and intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) to develop and implement policies that promote the rights of African women and girls
• Managing the advocacy programme’s projects, including Post 2015 Development Agenda, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the African Union (AU) programmes on gender, Solidarity for African Women’s’ Rights (SOAWR), Financing for Development among others
• Coordinating and facilitating the advocacy and lobbying activities at the AU, UN and national Government levels working with FEMNET members, other stakeholders and partners.
• Liaising with the Communication Programme to sustain communication with FEMNET’s constituencies on the developments within the advocacy programme;
• Working closely with the Executive Director and Program Manager to mobilize resources for the Advocacy Programme;
• Facilitating the timely reporting of the implementation of the Advocacy Programming on a quarterly and annual basis, donor reports and as may be otherwise required by the Executive Director or the Program Manager;
• Manage and provide guidance to the staff, volunteers and interns under the Advocacy programme
• Advising the Executive Director as to any needs relating to the Advocacy Programme.
• Represent FEMNET in strategic meetings/forums that provide opportunity to advance FEMNET’s mission. 

Skills and competencies

• Be a masters degree holder in Social Sciences, Gender and Development, Law, or any other relevant degree
• Have at least 5 years of relevant work experience at regional, sub- regional and international level
• Have experience in projects’ management
• Proven experience working in the area of women’s rights and gender equality
• Proven experience in, exposure to, and capability for collaborative work, nurturing of networks and alliances.
• Knowledge of and experience in conducting research and organizing advocacy initiatives at the regional and international levels that promote women’s rights and women’s empowerment in Africa;
• Analytical, creative, strategic and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to simplify, summarize and communicate complex information, including presentation skills in both English and French;
• Good communications, interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to work with a diverse range of people and organisations at the national, regional and international levels;
• Diplomatic and lobbying skills, including knowledge of the differing political contexts within Africa (anglophone, arabophone, francophone and lusophone);
• Pro-activeness and self-motivation with the ability to work very well within a team environment;
• The ability to work within tight deadlines; 
• Capacity to use the media to promote the regional campaigns to advocate for African women’s rights.
• Computer literacy, including electronic networking skills;
• Able to motivate people, build and nurture networks of contacts
• A proven encourager and promoter of an environment of support conducive to cooperation, collegiality, consultation and collaboration
• Be prepared to live in Nairobi and willing and able to travel within the Africa region and beyond.
• Willing to adhere to FEMNET’s beliefs, values and principles that guide its work and programming framework.

How to apply:

Remuneration will be in line with the set procedures of the organizations and the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Interested candidates are requested to submit a Curriculum Vitae with 3 references, salary expectations with a 1 page motivational letter explaining why you are a good candidate for the position by email to: recruitment@femnet.or.ke. Please use “Head of Advocacy” as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed.
Deadline for submission of applications is Wednesday 15 July 2015 by COB.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

Program Development Director - Business Development, International Rescue Committee, Nairobi, Kenya

Program Development Director - Business Development

Posted on: December 7, 2013
Application deadline: February 6, 2014
Posted by: International Rescue Committee

DESCRIPTION

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

BACKGROUND
 
The IRC is one of the leading providers of high quality programming in both conflict and post-conflict settings. In order to advance its mission of serving communities impacted by conflict and displacement, the IRC is committed to developing innovative, context-specific programs in response to strategic funding opportunities with a range of government and multilateral donors. This business development is led by the IRC's Business Development Unit (BDU) in close collaboration with Regional and Country management structures, the IRC's Technical Units and a range of headquarter specialists based in the USA and Europe.

SCOPE OF WORK
 
The Program Development Director-Africa, working in close coordination with the Senior Director-Business Development, Regional Units, Country Offices and senior staff in IRC's headquarter offices, will be responsible for building relationships with key donors and monitoring, managing and coordinating IRC's response to strategic funding opportunities with such government and multilateral bodies such as the World Bank, USAID, and UN agencies in key IRC country programs throughout Africa. The incumbent will be responsible for influencing donor strategies and raising awareness of IRC as a key post-conflict actor.

While the post's geographic remit is the ensemble of IRC's programs in Africa, the Program Development Director-Africa will focus attention and effort on a subset of key strategic countries. This list will be reviewed and adjusted periodically. In relation to this shortlist of priority countries, the incumbent will work closely with country and regional management to design and implement appropriate, tailored business development strategies, including deployment to the countries in question to lead responses to specific business opportunities.

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the Program Development Director-Africa will report to the Senior Director- Business Development in New York.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
 
General Business Development

• Support the development and implementation of the IRC's business development objectives;
• Raise awareness of IRC as an effective and innovative post-conflict agency with key funding partners;
• Represent IRC and liaise with donor agencies and partners, in relevant countries and at their headquarters, for intelligence gathering purposes and to influence funding policies;
• Work with the BDU's Program Manager to maintain proposal development information;
• Interview prospective team leader/proposal writer consultants for relevant rosters;
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Director- Business Development.

Country-Specific Program Development

• Strategy
• Support country offices in developing business plans which support their overall program strategies (Country Program Strategic Plans and Country Sector Strategies);
• Assist country offices to improve donor mapping and enhance intelligence gathering efforts to support strategic planning and program design;
• Program Development
• Assist country and regional teams to design innovative program approaches to implement their country strategies;
• Manage responses to strategic funding opportunities, including serving (depending on the context) as proposal team leader, writer, primary negotiator with prospective partner agencies, coordinator with technical, regional and headquarter support teams, etc;
• Review competitive proposals for adherence to all solicitation requirements;
• Facilitate post-submission processes up to and including award negotiations;
• Facilitate institutional learning around both successful and failed funding submissions;
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Director- Business Development.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelors Degree plus advanced degree in international development, political science, or other related field;
• Minimum 7 years progressive experience with a special focus on proposal development and donor negotiation;
• Previous experience with public funding;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including superior writing skills;
• Proven management skills and ability to negotiate effectively with donors and partner agencies;
• Solid organizational skills: the ability to work productively and accurately while under pressure in a fast-paced, demanding environment;
• Ability to work in a team environment and independently;
• Ability to meet unexpected demands and remain flexible;
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively;
• Ability to travel, at times with minimum notice and for prolonged periods of time.

HOW TO APPLY

Please follow this link to apply:
http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2ltbC43Mzg2OS40MzU4QGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20