We have started recruiting for a Program Officer, Southern Africa. This will be a new position in the Africa Program for FY2009. Please circulate the attached job description or website link
(http://iwhc. org/jobs. cfm#programoffic ersouthernafrica) to your contact lists.
The International Women’s Health Coalition works to promote and protect the health and rights of girls and women worldwide. Visit our website at www.iwhc.org for more information.
Program Officer, Southern Africa
International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC)
Accounts to: Program Officer, Africa
Based in: New York, New York
The International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC) is making every woman’s right to a just and healthy life a global reality. IWHC shapes international policy and builds local capacity for women’s health and human rights in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We leverage our work in these two very different, but critically linked worlds – to change thinking, redirect funding and motivate action by people and institutions that can secure rights and health for women. This requires a strategy in which:
- We advocate and motivate social, political and corporate leaders to enact policies and provide funding for women’s rights and health;
- We provide grants and forge professional partnerships with local leaders as they build organizations to secure women’s rights and health, primarily in Africa, Asia and Latin America;
- We mobilize women and young people, enabling them to take action to secure their rights, health and well-being; and
- We analyze and communicate facts and path-breaking ideas for policy improvement to powerbrokers, health professionals, influentials and other advocates.
Click here to access IWHC’s 2007 Annual Report.
IWHC’s Africa Program has worked for two decades with NGOs, public institutions and international agencies to advance policies, programs and activities that will advance youth health and rights, promote and protect sexual and reproductive rights and health (SRRH), and increase access to safe abortion. The program has supported work in Cameroun and Nigeria, as well as region-wide initiatives and networks. Many of IWHC’s partners work on youth health and rights, but the program is increasingly emphasizing SRRH policy advocacy, including in the area of HIV/AIDS, sexual rights and safe abortion. In 2007 IWHC decided to increase programming in the Southern Africa sub-region, and will do the same in Francophone countries in FY 2009.
We are seeking a Program Officer to lead IWHC’s work in Southern Africa. The Program Officer, Southern Africa will take primary responsibility for shaping and implementing IWHC’s strategy in the sub-region, design a portfolio of grants to NGO partners in Southern Africa. Even more importantly, the Program Officer will provide them with strategic professional assistance and linkages as they seek to affect national and international policy and program development. S/he will draw on and coordinate with IWHC’s own Communications and International Policy expertise, as well as external resources.
PRIMARY PURPOSE & FUNCTION
Ø In consultation with the Program Officer, Africa and the Vice President, International Policy and Regional Programs, design and implement a sub-regional program of grants and professional and advocacy assistance to local non-governmental organization (NGO) partners in Southern Africa (currently Botswana, South Africa, and Swaziland).
Ø Identify opportunities for further engagement in the sub-region consistent with IWHC’s mission, goals and objectives with particular focus on policy advocacy for women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive rights and health (SRRH) such as HIV/AIDS, violence against women, and access to safe abortion.
Ø Contribute expertise, perspective and input to IWHC’s overall program, strategy, and organizational development.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Ø Conceptualize, implement and monitor IWHC’s work in Southern Africa:
§ Manage IWHC grants in Southern Africa: solicit, review, and help develop proposals from partners; administer grants; monitor progress; assess impact and quality; and plan for sustainability.
§ In collaboration with the International Policy Senior Program Officers and the Communications Program, facilitate participation of Southern Africa NGO partners in IWHC’s international policy and communications work.
§ Actively support IWHC’s current NGO partners in Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland with particular focus on developing sub-regional advocacy strategies; linking partners to the broader Africa region; and building their capacity, especially to advocate for women’s and girls’ SRRH.
§ Respond to partners’ requests for and initiate the provision of information and technical assistance on strategic planning, scientific and policy developments in HIV/AIDS (e.g., adult male circumcision), and human rights policy advocacy, among others.
§ Continually assess emerging opportunities for policy improvement and reform and program development for the SRRH of women and young people in Southern Africa, including through working relationships with governments, donors, etc.
§ Identify potential new local NGO partners in Southern Africa and maintain relationships with a wide range of individuals and organizations that can contribute to policy reform and program development through advocacy, public education, and action research.
§ Develop and monitor the Southern Africa work plan and program budget, and write progress reports.
§ Contribute to the overall Africa Program and support the Program Officer, Africa in region-wide work particularly with regard to HIV/AIDS policy, safe abortion, and LGBTQI initiatives.
Ø Contribute to IWHC’s mission to promote and advance SRRH, and the overall development and strengthening of the organization:
§ Participate in IWHC’s strategic thinking and program planning.
§ Take leadership on substantive themes relevant to southern Africa region and IWHC: write, publish, convene meetings, and collaborate with national (including government), regional, and international organizations and UN institutions.
§ Represent IWHC and serve as a resource on African women’s SRRH in various professional fora and publications.
§ Serve on cross-functional IWHC teams, ensuring harmonization of goals and priorities, and effective collaboration across regions and departments.
§ Work with IWHC development staff, maintain relations with donors, contribute to proposals, and support fundraising efforts as needed.
§ Contribute to the preparation of institutional documents and publications as needed.
Ø Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Ø Passion for IWHC’s mission and work required.
Ø Five or more years of work experience in women’s sexual and reproductive rights and health, gender and development, and/or HIV/AIDS policy, including at least three years working in or with organizations based in Southern Africa.
Ø Demonstrated success in conceptualizing, developing and managing health and/or human rights programs, preferably with experience in making and monitoring grants, and policy advocacy.
Ø Strong analytic and strategic thinking ability, political judgment and diplomacy.
Ø Experience in assisting organizations in institutional strengthening (e.g., strategic planning and advocacy).
Ø Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with colleagues from diverse disciplines and perspectives, and demonstrated effectiveness at interaction in various settings and fora.
Ø Experience hiring and working with consultants.
Ø Demonstrated enthusiasm for working and thinking as part of a team.
Ø Skills in one or more technical areas (e.g. organizational development and capacity-building; advocacy; HIV/AIDS or SRRH).
Ø Proven ability to manage multiple and competing priorities in a challenging environment, and to balance programmatic and organizational needs.
Ø Proven ability to develop and manage budgets and financial reports.
Ø Knowledge of donors and experience with fundraising.
Ø Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, knowledge of Portuguese a plus.
Ø Masters degree in relevant field strongly preferred.
Ø Able to travel to and within Africa up to 30 percent of time.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Ø Staff supervision: none
Ø Budgetary responsibility: Together with Program Officer, Africa and Assistant Program Officer, Francophone Africa, design and recommend budget and expenditures to the Vice President, International Policy and Regional Programs, including management and oversight of annual grants program of approximately $1 million for the subcontinent, $178,000 for Southern Africa.
COMPENSATION: Highly competitive salary and excellent benefits (based on a Spring 2007 market survey), including generous vacation time, a professional development stipend, and no contribution for employee-only medical and dental coverage, among others.
DESIRED START DATE: As soon as possible.
TO APPLY: Send cover letter (including ref. #POSA0808IN and salary requirements) and resume to: Liisa Sweet-Korpivaara @ fax 212-979-9009, or via email (in MS Word) to: recruitment@iwhc.org
An equal opportunity employer, we cannot respond to all inquiries-only candidates for consideration will be contacted. Regrettably we will not accept phone calls.
IWHC is an equal opportunity employer. IWHC strictly prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, HIV status or disability. This policy applies to all IWHC activities including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, assignment, training, promotion, discipline and discharge. We are committed to seeking qualified candidates who contribute to the diversity of the working environment.
