Capacity Building Officer at African Women’s Development and Communication Network

Functionally Reports to: Programme Manager

Overall Purpose of the Job: FEMNET is seeking to recruit a suitable person to be in charge of her Capacity Building Programme.

The Capacity Building Officer will work closely with the Management team to strengthen the capacity of the Secretariat as well as grow and strengthen the partnership and empower members to effectively contribute to FEMNET’s vision of “an African society where gender equality is achieved and women and girls enjoy all their rights and live in dignity”.

In particular, the Capacity Building Officer will focus on building the capacity of FEMNET members, and secretariat on digital and creative strategies aimed at amplifying African women and girls’ voices in FEMNET strategic priorities.

The Capacity Building Officer will also be responsible for leading and developing best practices across the membership, including guidance on structures and systems, governance and leadership, training and a culture of respect, achievement, accountability and learning.

Responsibilities

• Through consultation with the management and colleagues, and key stakeholders design, and develop a Capacity Building Program for the Network;
• Initiate and implement capacity development initiatives, and these could be organized at the regional, sub- regional or national level;
• Take the lead in mobilizing resources required to implement the Capacity Building Program activities;
• Identify key partners, resource persons and experts in different fields to support the implementation of the Capacity Building Program of FEMNET;
• Develop tools and training materials for FEMNET members on various issues around women’s rights;
• Advise FEMNET on capacity issues and gaps within the FEMNET membership outlined in the Capacity Needs Assessment (2017) and come up with strategies to address the gaps;
• Design and provide skills-building on how to generate and communicate new knowledge on women’s rights, advocacy work from their own experiences;
• Organize capacity building sessions both inner-facing and outer-facing on effective use of social media tools and on building strategic media relations;
• Support the Communications team to design and re-package a variety of communication and knowledge products including website, social media infographs, publications (journal, annual reports, policy briefs, newsletters, e-bulletin, project related reports etc) so as to enhance FEMNET’s corporate communications, visual brand and identity;
• Compile on quarterly basis FEMNET’s media reach and coverage (of both online and offline articles, sound bites and clips);
• Undertake research and contribute to knowledge generation in key thematic focus areas on gender equality and women’s rights;
• Work in partnership with other Programmes to identify training needs for staff through a capacity assessment, develop a capacity building plan and coordinate its delivery for FEMNET staff collective, and for individual FEMNET staff;
• Represent FEMNET at various platforms and lead partnerships such as the Fight Against Inequality Alliance;
• Put in place a monitoring mechanism to assess the extent to which the capacity building program activities are contributing to improved organizing around women’s rights in Africa and to ensure progress towards the organizational strategic goals;
• Ensure that the narrative and financial reports for the Capacity Building Programme are compiled and submitted in a timely manner to keep all stake holders informed;
• Liaise with other staff to document best practices and prepare communications for different audiences, including the general public;
• Any other duties that may be assigned to the office holder.

Required knowledge and skills

• Driven with genuine passion and commitment to work for the advancement of gender equality, women and girls’ rights and feminist principles.
• Dynamic and creative person with skills in digital design, branding and can quickly turn around policy briefs, and program information into captivating infographs that are succinct and relevant for the audience.
• Highly motivated, result oriented and self-driven person able to adopt FEMNET’s policies, rules and regulations with understanding of due process, financial transparency and accountability.
• Very good communication skills both written and spoken including expertise in social and new media and giving presentations to a variety of audiences.
• Knowledgeable of training methodologies and developing easy to use materials and tools such as handbooks and toolkits.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and experience working with multi- cultural teams.
• A team player who promotes of an environment of support conducive to cooperation, collegiality, consultation and collaboration in all engagements.
• Willing and able to travel mainly in the Africa region.
• Willing to adhere to FEMNET’s beliefs, values and principles that guide its work and programming framework.

Qualifications

• Have a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or any other relevant discipline from a recognized university.
• Master’s degree with additional relevant trainings will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years relevant work experience at international, regional or sub- regional level preferably at a Not-for-Profit organization.
• Experience in organizing and providing/ supporting training and experience sharing events
• Proven experience in, exposure to, and capability for collaborative work, nurturing of networks and alliances and motivate people.
• Experience in at least two of FEMNET strategic priorities that include women’s economic justice and rights, sexual reproductive health and rights, women’s transformational leadership and governance and ending violence against women including harmful traditional practices, early and forced child marriage and female genital mutilation.
• Sound knowledge on gender and its mainstreaming strategies, leadership development and generally women’s rights issues in Africa.
• Knowledge of strategies for women’s movement building and feminist leadership including key regional and global women’s rights policy frameworks.
• Experience in overseeing and implementing digital campaigns and strategies including global calls to action and experiential activation and content.
• Proven skills in digital and creative design, creating creative briefs and using various branding software and is highly desirable.
• Strong English and French writing skills for report and proposal development.

Remuneration: will be in line with the organization’s set scales, which consider qualifications, experience, and delivery by a candidate.