Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms - Communications and Knowledge Building Program Coordinator, Association for Women's Rights in Development

Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms - Communications and Knowledge Building Program Coordinator

Posted on: August 28, 2014
Application deadline: September 21, 2014
Posted by: The Association for Women's Rights in Development

OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM

The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international feminist organization working to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women's rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally.

Recognizing that religious fundamentalisms are gaining ground all over the world with particularly negative consequences for women's rights and gender equality, the Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms (CF) thematic area aims to contribute to greater strategic thinking, dialogue and advocacy on religious fundamentalisms by women's rights and other social justice organizations and movements. Launched in 2007, the CF initiative has three main areas of focus:

• Ensuring that women's rights activists and allies have access to high quality and strategic information on emerging trends, developments and analysis to better inform their responses to religious fundamentalisms
• Strengthening the capacity of women's rights activists, groups and allies to understand, analyse and develop more effective strategies to challenge religious fundamentalisms
• Opening up spaces for dialogue and strategizing on the issue of religious fundamentalisms that cut across generations, contexts, regions, issues and religious contexts

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms – Communications and Knowledge BuildingProgram Coordinator is a full-time position reporting to the CF Manager, who will support the strategic objectives of CF with an emphasis on religious fundamentalisms and the international human rights system. The Program Coordinator will be responsible for the following main functions:

• Knowledge-Building and Exchange: Produces well-written and timely analysis of the use of religion, culture and tradition to undermine the universality of rights and violate women's human rights. Conducts research, writes updates, articles, briefs, urgent action statements, develops advocacy tools and produces short publications. Supports capacity building initiatives/activities. Takes a lead in the development an online platform to monitor the impact of religious fundamentalisms in the human rights system.
• Partnerships, Collaborations and Alliance-Building: Participates in efforts to expand and deepen AWID's engagement and collaboration with actors from women's rights, human rights and other social movements working on issues of religious fundamentalisms particularly those engaged in the international and regional human rights processes. Strengthens collaborations and alliance-building through proactive formal and informal communications with external stakeholders and key allies.
• Convening Dialogues and Strategic Conversations: Engages in external dialogues and convenings; facilitates working groups, consultations or caucuses as needed. Contributes to CF strategic convenings by developing presentations and supporting written materials.

• Advocacy and Action: Strengthening advocacy, exchange and action for positive change with regards to women's rights, human rights and religious fundamentalisms in international policy spaces
• Organizational Processes: Contributes to the monitoring and evaluation processes of the program and contributes to funder reports and internal reporting processes.

Work Location of the Position:

• Work location is open
• AWID offices are located in Cape Town, Mexico City and Toronto but applicants may apply to work from home in other locations
• Applicants from the Global South are strongly encouraged to apply

RESPONSIBILITIES

Knowledge-building and Exchange

• In collaboration with AWID partners, produce regular monitoring reports on the use of arguments based on religion, culture and tradition to undermine the universality of rights and violate women's human rights in the international human rights system
• Drafts written position statements, briefs, short analytical pieces, reports and papers on issues of religious fundamentalisms, women's rights and human rights. Provides strategic inputs and analysis in reaction to relevant documents produced by others or developments in this area
• Takes a lead in developing a virtual platform to monitor and track the impact of arguments based on religion, culture and tradition to undermine the universality of rights and violate women's human rights in the international human rights system, which will include providing timely analysis, maintaining a repository of materials and other functions
• Support capacity building activities & initiatives as required to disseminate the knowledge generated by the initiative

Partnership, Collaborations & Alliance-Building

• Provides support and works in close collaboration with AWID partners, maintaining regular communication, soliciting input and advancing common objectives
• Participates in efforts to expand and deepen AWID's engagement and collaboration with actors from women's rights, human rights and other social movements working on issues of religious fundamentalisms particularly within the international human rights system
• Participates in relevant meetings, working groups and engages in formal and informal communications with external stakeholders and key allies
• Liaises with stakeholders (partner organizations, consultants, etc.) to discuss collaborative initiatives, provide information or follow-up on commitments and deadlines
• Maintains regular communication with allies and other actors relevant to AWID's advocacy objectives

Advocacy and Action

• Contributes to defining priorities, objectives and strategies to advance advocacy on religious fundamentalisms and women's rights particularly within the international human rights system
• Represents AWID in select international or regional venues identified as relevant for advocacy purposes or alliance building
• Drafts AWID's responses and urgent actions including letters, solidarity messages and statements that support women human rights defenders challenging religious fundamentalisms
• Works with communications team to develop mechanisms for appropriate actions including using social media and other tools to strengthen advocacy

Convening Dialogues and Strategic Conversations

• Engages in venues, in particular those relevant to international human rights processes to effectively advance the strategic goals of the initiative (i.e. knowledge building, advocacy, alliance-building and partnerships)
• Makes public presentations on research results or other CF analysis/resources in strategic venues, represents the initiative in relevant dialogues and /or facilitates small working groups, consultations or caucuses as needed
• Supports convenings of the initiative including preparation of meeting-related documents, background reading, agenda, concept papers, presentations, post-meeting reports etc.

Organizational Processes

• Contributes to work-planning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting processes to effectively advance strategic objectives of the program
• Ensures the timely and effective implementation of deliverables linked to individual work plan, including all activities, reports and evaluations
• Participates and contributes to CF team coordination and planning meetings
• Participates actively in organizational meeting venues (office and staff meetings) and committees

QUALIFICATIONS

4-6 Years Experience:

• Working for a non-profit organization in a related role

• writing and editing a range of high quality products related to women's rights, human rights and/or religious fundamentalisms
• analyzing key issues and themes related to women's rights and human rights
• engaging with international human rights bodies and venues
• alliance building and building collaborative processes and advocating to effect change (in regional and/or global spaces)
• working in a multi-cultural team and/or one located in diverse locations
• working in or with organizations based in the Global South and/or Central and Eastern Europe

Required Knowledge:

• International human rights system and processes particularly in relation to women's rights and human rights
• Complex intersections of issues that relate to religious fundamentalisms, women's rights and human rights globally
• Familiarity with international and regional women's rights organizations and networks working on women's rights, sexual and reproductive rights, LGBTQI rights, human rights, and religious fundamentalisms

Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in related field: social science, political science, international relations, development, gender studies, religious studies, human rights, etc.

Expertise & Skills:

• Excellent written and communication skills in English (e.g. articles, analytical pieces, report writing, position statements)
• Experience conducting advocacy on issues of religious fundamentalisms, women's human rights and gender equality
• Strong public speaking and facilitation skills
• Ability to navigate international policy spaces
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, ability to navigate complex relationships and work with multiple stakeholders in a coalition and partnership
• Innovative, flexible, manages change
• Demonstrated capacity to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a work plan with multiple deliverables and deadlines
• Strategic & forward thinking abilities
• Displays good judgment, sensitivity and attention to communication
• Strong time management, detail orientation and thoroughness of work
• Ability to prioritize, multi task, and manage stress
• Results-oriented, and takes initiative
• Problem solving and decision making abilities
• Superior knowledge of the MS Office Suite (Word, Excel PowerPoint), internet and email
• Knowledge of latest ICT's for raising awareness and advocacy, building online communities, information sharing
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work remotely as part of a virtual team

Other Requirements:

• Able to travel internationally (at least 5 weeks per year)
• Committed to the principles and values of feminism and anti-oppression

Assets:

• Bilingual (written and spoken) in French, Arabic or Spanish
• Graduate degree in related field
• Courses or certificates in Women's/Feminist studies, Political Economy or Human Rights considered an asset
• Proficient in the use of ICTs, web 2.0 and web utilities to effect change
• Trilingual (English and any combination of Spanish-French-Arabic-Russian)

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit in English, a current CV, along with a cover letter (no more than two pages) that addresses how you meet the necessary qualifications to:

• Fax: +416 594 0330
• E-mail: jobs@awid.org (please include "CF – Communications and Knowledge Building Program Coordinator" in the subject line)

In addition please include a response to the following question (no more than 300 words):

"What would you consider are the key challenges in protecting the universality of human rights?"

The application closing date is Sunday, September 21, 2014.

We thank all those who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please. AWID encourages, promotes and supports diversity in all aspects of its work. To learn more about AWID and our programs, please visit our website at www.awid.org

Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms - Human Rights Program Coordinator, Association for Women's Rights in Development

Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms - Human Rights Program Coordinator

Posted on: August 28, 2014
Application deadline: September 21, 2014
Posted by: The Association for Women's Rights in Development

OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM

The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international feminist organization working to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women's rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally.

Recognizing that religious fundamentalisms are gaining ground all over the world with particularly negative consequences for women's rights and gender equality, the Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms (CF) thematic area aims to contribute to greater strategic thinking, dialogue and advocacy on religious fundamentalisms by women's rights and other social justice organizations and movements. Launched in 2007, the CF initiative has three main areas of focus:

• Ensuring that women's rights activists and allies have access to high quality and strategic information on emerging trends, developments and analysis to better inform their responses to religious fundamentalisms
• Strengthening the capacity of women's rights activists, groups and allies to understand, analyse and develop more effective strategies to challenge religious fundamentalisms
• Opening up spaces for dialogue and strategizing on the issue of religious fundamentalisms that cut across generations, contexts, regions, issues and religious contexts

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms(CF) – Human Rights Program Coordinator is a full-time position reporting to the CF Manager, who will support the strategic objectives of CF with an emphasis in the area of knowledge building and communications. The CF Program Coordinator will be responsible for the following main functions:

• Knowledge-building and communications: Produces well written and timely analysis of CF issues, conducting research, writing updates, articles and statements, developing advocacy tools, producing newsletters and publications, updating the website, developing social media, expanding the online constituency of the initiative and developing online platforms to support the strategic objectives of CF to monitor the impact of religious fundamentalisms in the human rights system.
• Capacity building: Develops high quality capacity building materials and learning tools for the CF program. Identifies engagement opportunities for delivery, contributes to implementation, facilitation and follow up activities. Partnerships, collaborations and alliance-building: Participates in efforts to expand and deepen AWID's engagement and collaboration with actors from women's and other social movements working on issues of religious fundamentalism. Strengths collaborations and alliance-building through proactive formal and informal communications with external stakeholders and key allies. Supports advocacy action and initiatives for CF as needed.
• Convening dialogues and strategic conversations: Contributes to CF strategic convening's by developing presentations and supporting written materials. Represents the initiative in relevant dialogues and /or facilitates small working groups, consultations or caucuses as needed
• Organizational processes: Tracks the impact of the initiative by maintaining and updating the monitoring and evaluation processes for the team, and contributing to funder reports and internal reporting processes

Work Location of the Position:

• Work location is open
• AWID offices are located in Cape Town, Mexico City and Toronto but applicants may apply to work from home in other locations
• Applicants from the Global South are strongly encouraged to apply

RESPONSIBILITIES

Knowledge-building and communication

• Writes high quality analysis on critical issues and developments in CF issues for AWID's communications and other key platforms
• Drafts position statements, policy briefs, urgent actions and solidarity messages and letters
• Works with communications team to develop new mechanisms to ensure that CF communications are strengthened, including with the use of social media and other tools
• Enhances the quality of and regularly produces the CF newsletter and/or other communications on a regular basis
• Further develops a multi-lingual constituency (English, French, Spanish) for CF communications, and expands the subscribership by active outreach to activists working in this area
• Maintains an accurate and up to date database of CF contacts
• Contributes in advocacy actions to increase effectiveness in select international spaces, in collaboration with partner organizations
• Develops alternative media contacts for greater dissemination of CF analysis
• Collects, organizes and builds an online repository of materials and analysis which can be used to leverage efforts to challenge religious fundamentalisms in the international human rights system
• Contributes to writing, editing and synthesizing reports of impact and influence of religious fundamentalisms on international human rights system

Capacity-building

• Contributes to the development of the capacity building priorities to respond to the objectives of the CF program
• Adapts the CF research, knowledge and other strategic information to create accessible materials, presentations, advocacy tools, etc.
• Drafts material and coordinates the editing, design, translations and dissemination phases
• Identifies engagement opportunities for the face to face and virtual delivery of materials including those in collaboration with regional and international partners
• Participates in the facilitation and delivery of the materials as needed
• Implements follow-up activities, including evaluations for capacity building processes as appropriate.

Partnership, Collaboration & Alliance-Building

• Participates in efforts to expand and deepen AWID's engagement and collaboration with actors from women's and other social movements working on issues of religious fundamentalism through proactive formal and informal communications
• Maintains regular communication with allies and other actors relevant to AWID's advocacy objectives
• Strengthening collaborations and alliance-building through proactive formal and informal communications with external stakeholders and key allies
• Supports advocacy & action initiatives/work to advance advocacy on religious fundamentalisms and women's rights within international human rights system , as needed

Convening Dialogue and Strategic Conversation

• Supports' convening's of the initiative including with preparation of meeting-related documents, background reading, agenda, concept papers, presentations, post-meeting reports etc.
• Assists with preparation of presentations, representing initiatives in relevant dialogues etc…as needed

Organizational Processes

• Maintains and updates the monitoring and evaluation system/tools/documents for evaluation and helps draft information for reporting processes
• Ensures the timely and effective implementation of deliverables linked to individual work plan, including all activities, reports and evaluations
• Participates and contributes to CF team coordination and planning meetings
• Participates actively in organizational meeting venues (office and staff meetings) and committees

QUALIFICATIONS

4-6 Years Experience:

• Working for a non-profit organization in a related role:

• writing and editing a range of products related to women's rights and/or religious fundamentalisms
• analyzing key issues and themes related to religious fundamentalisms, women's rights and human rights (including sexual and reproductive rights, LGBTQI rights, minority rights etc.)
• using new media, social networking, cutting edge community tools and techniques, and social media management/monitoring and analytical tools
• developing and implementing a range of high quality capacity building tools and materials as well as coordinating and facilitating related activities preferably related to women's rights issues
• alliance-building, and building constituencies both face to face as well as virtually across different and diverse constituencies
• working in a multi-cultural team and/or one located in diverse locations
• working in or with organizations based in the Global South and/or Central and Eastern Europe

Other Knowledge:

• International human rights system and processes particularly in relationship to women's rights
• Complex issues as they relate to religious fundamentalisms, women's rights, human rights, economic justice and development issues in particular regions and on a global level
• Familiarity with regional and international women's rights organizations and networks working on women's rights, sexual and reproductive rights, LGBTQI rights, human rights, and religious fundamentalisms

Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in related field: social science, political science, international relations, development, gender studies, religious studies, human rights, etc.

Expertise & Skills:

• Excellent written communication and editing skills in English (e.g. articles, analytical pieces, report writing, position statements)
• Expansive knowledge & ability to implement latest ICT's and social media for raising awareness and effecting change, building online communities and information sharing
• Innovative, flexible, manages change
• Superior analytical and diagnostic information gathering abilities (specifically regarding analysis of information across a range of disciplines and ability to extract relevant information/themes or solve problems)
• Demonstrated capacity to establish focus (assist with the development of work plan), navigate complex relationships and work with multiple stakeholders in coalition and partnership
• Displays good judgment, sensitivity and attention in diverse forms of communications
• Superior knowledge of the MS Office Suite (Word, Excel PowerPoint), internet and email
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Strategic & forward thinking abilities
• Strong time management, detail orientation and thoroughness of work
• Ability to prioritize, multi task, and manage stress
• Results-oriented, and takes initiative
• Problem solving and decision making abilities
• Strong project management experience: ability to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a work plan with multiple projects, multiple deliverables and deadlines
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work remotely as part of a virtual team

Other Requirements:

• Able to travel internationally (at least 5-6 weeks per year)
• Committed to the principles and values of feminism and anti-oppression

Assets:

• Graduate degree in related field
• Bilingual, Trilingual or Quad Lingual (written and spoken) in English and French, Spanish, Arabic
• Courses or certificates in Women's/Feminist studies, Political Economy or Human Rights

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit in English a current CV, along with a cover letter (no more than two pages) that addresses how you meet the necessary qualifications to:

• Fax: +416 594 0330
• E-mail: jobs@awid.org (please include "CF – Human Rights Program Coordinator" in the subject line)

In addition please include a response to the following question (no more than 450 words):

Looking forward, what in your opinion will be key challenges in the area of women's rights, gender equality and religious fundamentalisms? What would you consider are the key opportunities to strengthen advocacy in the context of religious

The application closing date is Sunday, September 21^th, 2014.

We thank all those who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please. AWID encourages, promotes and supports diversity in all aspects of its work.

To learn more about AWID and our programs, please visit our website at www.awid.org

Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms Advocacy Associate, The Association for Women's Rights in Development

Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms Advocacy Associate

Posted on: July 23, 2013

Application deadline: August 9, 2013

Posted by: The Association for Women's Rights in Development

OVERVIEW

The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international feminist organization working to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women's rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally.

Recognizing that religious fundamentalisms are gaining ground all over the world with particularly negative consequences for women's rights, the Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms (CF) initiative aims to contribute to greater strategic thinking, dialogue and advocacy on religious fundamentalisms by women's rights and other progressive social justice organizations and movements.

OVERVIEW

The Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms (CF) –Advocacy Associate is a full-time position, reporting to the CF Manager, who will be responsible for:

-Conducting research, writing and analysis linked to CF strategic knowledge building and advocacy objectives -Alliance-building through participation in relevant meetings, and formal and informal communications with external stakeholders and key allies -Advocating for positive change with regards to women's rights and religious fundamentalisms -Actively participating in team - and organization - learning and development processes

We are looking for an individual who is committed to the principles and values of feminism, anti-discrimination, and anti-racism. The ideal candidate will have strong analysis and familiarity with themes related to religious fundamentalisms and women's rights, relevant experience with advocacy and alliance building, both virtually and in person, excellent writing and editing skills, strong ability to analyze information and a proven capacity to think strategically and analytically. She will also be able to work independently with minimal supervision, enjoy working virtually and with a diverse staff. If you fit this description we would love to hear from you!

QUALIFICATIONS

4-6 years Experience:

Working for a non-profit organization in a related role:

- producing writing and analysis related to women's rights and/or religious fundamentalisms - advocating to effect change (in national, regional or global spaces) - alliance-building, both face to face as well as virtually - working in a multi-cultural team and/or one located in diverse locations • Strong analysis of key issues and themes related to religious fundamentalisms, women's rights and human rights (including sexual and reproductive rights, LGBTQI rights, minority rights etc.) •Working in organizations based in the Global South and/or Central and Eastern Europe

Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in related field: social science, political science, international relations, development, gender studies, religious studies, human rights, etc.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically and analytically, displays good judgment • Demonstrated experience with complex issues as they relate to religious fundamentalisms and women's rights, both in particular regions as well as on a global level • Knowledge and experience with the international human rights system and processes particularly in relationship to women's rights • Effective advocate, with experience advocating on issues of religious fundamentalisms, women's human rights and gender equality • Excellent writing skills, particularly for policy briefs and position statements, ability to analyze information across a range of disciplines and able to extract relevant analyses • Experience with alliance building across different and diverse constituencies • Effective public speaking and presentation skills • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, as well as in one of the following: Spanish, French or Arabic • Keen attention to detail and quality control • Ability to plan and organize multiple projects with multiple deliverables and deadlines • Strong computer skills, including word processing, Excel, presentation packages (Power Point), Internet, and e-mail • Experience and interest in using online communications for awareness raising and advocacy • Strong interpersonal skills and able to manage conflict effectively • Ability to work virtually, using communication technologies • Works effectively and collaboratively in a small team • Proactive, takes initiative and proposes constructive ideas • Able to work under pressure and to produce results quickly • Familiarity with international and regional women's rights organizations and networks working on women's rights, sexual reproductive rights, LGBTQI, human rights, and/or religious fundamentalisms • Able to travel internationally • Committed to the principles and values of feminism and anti-oppression

ASSETS

• Graduate degree in related field • Proficient in the use of ICTs, web 2.0 and web utilities to effect change • Trilingual (English and any combination of Spanish-French-Arabic-Russian)

RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy

• Contributes to definition of advocacy priorities, objectives and strategies to advance advocacy on religious fundamentalisms and women's rights particularly at the international level • Implements advocacy objectives and strategies with international actors (both governmental and non), in coordination with the CF Manager • Drafts position statements and policy briefs on relevant issues and provides strategic inputs and analysis in reacting to relevant documents produced by others. • Participates in advocacy actions when needed to influence select international spaces, in collaboration with partner organizations • Represents AWID in select international or regional venues identified as relevant for advocacy purposes or alliance building • Makes public presentations of research results or other CF analysis and resources, and /or facilitates small working groups, consultations or caucuses as needed • Maintains regular communication with allies and other actors relevant to AWID's advocacy objectives

Knowledge-building

• Contributes to further conceptualizing the research and knowledge-building components of the CF workplan • Conducts research related to advocacy priorities and drafts updates, statements, analytical pieces including spotlight pieces, AWID Friday Files and other informational resources as required. • Contributes to analysis of research findings • Helps translate CF knowledge into materials that are accessible including providing support to short papers, manuals etc.

Alliance-Building

• Participates in outreach efforts to expand and deepen AWID's engagement and collaboration with actors from women's and other social movements working on issues of religious fundamentalism • Liaises with stakeholders (partner organizations, consultants, etc.) to discuss collaborative initiatives, provide information or follow-up on commitments and deadlines • Drafts AWID's responses and urgent actions including letters, solidarity messages and statements (comment: I see this as more central to the role rather than occasionally required) • Works with Communications Team to develop new mechanisms for appropriate actions including social media and other tools

Strategic Convenings

• Assists with preparation of meeting-related documents including background reading, agenda, concept papers, presentations etc. • Contributes to note-taking of meeting proceedings and documentation for post event • Participates in organizing CF sessions to present research and analysis produced by the initiative and/or strategize

Organizational Processes

• Contributes to workplanning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting processes to effectively advance strategic objectives of the program • Ensures the timely and effective implementation of deliverables linked to individual workplan, including all activities, reports and evaluations • Participates and contributes to CF team coordination and planning meetings • Participates actively in organizational meeting venues (office and staff meetings) and committees • Maintain professional conduct, confidentiality and ethical standards at all times

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit in English, a current CV, along with a cover letter (no more than two pages) that addresses how you meet the necessary qualifications to:

Fax: +416 594 0330

E-mail: jobs@awid.org (please include "CF Advocacy Associate" in the subject line)

In addition please include a response to the following question (no more than 300 words)

"What would you consider are the key challenges in advocating for women's rights in the context of religious fundamentalisms?"

The application closing date is Friday, August 9, 2013

We thank all those who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please. AWID encourages, promotes and supports diversity in all aspects of its work.

To learn more about AWID and our programs, please visit our website at www.awid.org.