ADVOCACY OFFICER
The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) focuses primarily on advocacy around regional and international policies relevant to the development, equality and the human rights of African women.
FEMNET is looking for a suitable candidate to fill the position of Advocacy Officer. This position will offer the position holder an opportunity to work on very exciting advocacy initiatives and campaigns in a very stimulating, multicultural and dynamic environment.
The position will.involve considerable travel within Africa and other parts of the world. The position holder will report to the Executive Director.
Responsibilities will include:
- Enabling the African women's movement to develop and use regional and international law and policy in advocacy for the development, equality and other human rights of African women;
- Raising awareness about and maintain effective communications 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;
- Enhancing the African women's movement's capacity to influence governments and inter-governmental organisations (IGOs) to develop and implement policies that promote the rights of African women as provided for in national, regional and international human rights instruments.
- Undertaking and/or commissioning research on the mainstreaming of the African women's movement's concerns in regional and international law and policy;
- Coordinating and facilitating the advocacy and lobbying activities on behalf of FEMNET's constituencies at the regional and international levels;
- Conceptualising new projects and mobilize for resources for the advocacy programme in consultation with the Executive Director and Program Manager;
- Coordinating the planning and implementation of the Advocacy Programme's training activities organized at regional or sub-regional levels;
- Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the Advocacy Programme and its projects on a quarterly basis and as may be otherwise required by the Executive Director or the Executive Board;
- A degree in social sciences and a masters degree in a relevant field will be an added advantage;
- Knowledge of and experience in conducting research and organizing advocacy initiatives at the regional and international levels that promotes women's rights and women's empowerment in Africa;
- Analytical, creative, strategic and problem-solving skills;
- Ability to simplify, summarise 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, lobbying and political 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;
- Good time management skills, including the ability to work towards deadlines;
- Excellent proposal writing skills and fundraising skills.
- Programme/project development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation and report-writing skills.
- Capacity to use the media to promote the regional campaigns spearheaded by FEMNET
- Computer literacy, including electronic networking skills;
- Programme/project development, fundraising, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and report-writing skills.
FEMNET is also looking for a suitable candidate to fill the position of Programmes Manager. This position offers possibility of gaining experience working for a leading Africa women's Regional organisations in a very stimulating, multicultural and dynamic environment. The position will involve considerable travel within Africa and other parts of the world.
The Programme Manager is responsible for ensuring the coordination of the programmes and projects FEMNET and ensuring that the staff members take advantage of the synergies that enhance the effectiveness of the Network's Programmes.
The Programme Manager will contribute to the conceptualisation of the initiatives and projects to be undertaken under the two main program areas - Communication and Advocacy. The PM will oversee their implementation according to FEMNET's contractual obligations and internal policies and ensure that all reporting is done in a timely manner meeting the set standards of the Regional Network.
The position is also responsible to consult with the Executive Director on matters of staff and Executive Board development and ensure the implementation of the agreed plan and monitor progress. The Programme Manager will work closely with the Executive Director and Financial Administrator to ensure that FEMNET has the resources required to meet the institutional and Programmes' related obligations. The position holder will report to the Executive Director.
Responsibilities relating to the Executive Board and Board of Trustees
- Assist the Executive Director and Financial Administrator with the preparation of half-yearly and annual narrative reports and quarterly financial reports for the Executive Board;
- Ensure the preparation of programme and all documentation for meetings of the Executive Board and those of the Board of Trustees;
- Assist the Executive Director with the process of resource mobilisation and implementation of the FEMNET Building Project and coordinate all follow up to decisions agreed upon by the Building Project Task Force and the Executive Board and/ or Board of Directors.
- Assist the Executive Director as may otherwise be required in implementing the strategic directions received from the Executive Board and Board of Trustees.
- Assist the Executive Director with the preparation of new programme/project proposals, including their budgetary aspects in collaboration with the Finance Administrator;
- Assist the Executive Director with resource mobilisation for new programmes/projects as may be required;
- Work with the Executive Director and Programs Staff to develop the annual work plan and the periodical strategic documents for the Network.
- Ensure forward planning and management of projects.
- Ensure that all Program staff members prepare their quarterly reports and then prepare a combined narrative report which enables the team to track progress and areas for improvement.
- Liaise with the Executive Director to organise regular staff meetings and the annual staff retreat and thereafter assist with the follow up of implementation of agreed plans.
- Supervise staff members responsible for on-going programme/project implementation to ensure that programmes/projects are executed in accordance with FEMNET's contractual obligations and internal policies;
- Ensure the timely preparation of narrative and financial reports for on-going programmes/projects according to FEMNET's contractual obligations in collaboration with the staff members responsible for on-going programmes/projects and the Finance Administrator;
- Assist the Executive Director with administrative functions as may be required;
- Support the development and maintenance of strategic linkages with key contacts with women's rights organisations in Kenya.
- Deputise and represent the Executive Director in her absence/stead as may be required,
- Represent FEMNET in different for a as may be agreed upon with the Executive Director
- Demonstrated interest and experience in gender and development and/or women's human rights in Africa;
- A degree in a relevant social science and a masters degree will be an added advantage;
- Demonstrated training and/or experience in programme/project management, including programme/project conceptualisation, development, resource mobilisation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
- Demonstrated training and/or experience in human resource and financial management;
- Knowledge of grant-making around gender and development and/or women's human rights in Africa;
- Demonstrated ability to fundraise for gender and development and/or women's human rights in Africa;
- Demonstrated capacity to communicate and work in both English and French.
- Demonstrated analytical and strategic thinking skills
- Demonstrated ability to work very well in teams
Interested candidates should send their application by Email or Post to the address below by 4: 00 pm on the 30th of November 2008.
The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)
P. 0. Box 54562, 02002, Nairobi, Kenya
Email admin @ femnet.or.ke
No applications sent by Fax will be accepted.
