Programme Officer-Advocacy at African Gender and Media Initiative Trust

GEM seeks to recruit a Programme Officer-Advocacy who shall be an advocate of girls and women’s rights, with extensive experience working with girls and young women in areas of advocacy and capacity strengthening, under the She Leads Programme. Working under the Programme Manager, the Programme Officer -Advocacy will oversee implementation of the project´s mandate on national level advocacy.

About She Leads.

She Leads is a 5-year lobby and advocacy programme jointly implemented by Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children - ECPAT the Netherlands (DCI-ECPAT), The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), and Terre des Hommes the Netherlands (TdH-NL) in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, under the Power of Voices Framework, and Equal Measures 2030 as a technical partner. The strategic objective of the She Leads programme is to increase the sustained influence of Girls and Young Women (GYW) on decision-making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions. This will be achieved through the attainment of three main outcomes:
1. Enhanced collective action and activism by GYW in a gender-responsive civil society.
2. Increased acceptance of positive social gender norms.
3. Political institutions at all levels enable meaningful participation of GYW in decision-making.
She Leads programme is about advocacy and capacity strengthening of girl and young women-led organisations and other civil society organisations; with GYW in the lead and setting their own (advocacy) agenda. The programme is implemented in 9 countries: East Africa (Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya), West Africa (Ghana, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia) and the Middle East (Lebanon, Jordan), as well as having Africa regional, Middle East regional and international programme components.
GEM, an implementing Partner of Terre des Hommes Netherlands, implements She Leads Project at national level, with specific focus on national Level advocacy.

Reports to: Programme Manager

Job Location: Nairobi with visits to project site

Key Measurables

1. Development of She Leads project national level advocacy strategy and lead on delivery of agreed advocacy objectives.
2. Conduct advocacy and campaigning activities of She Leads project at national level
3. Creating and managing strategic partnerships that will aid the advocacy work

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Advocacy
   1. Support the project manager with the process of developing and agreeing the organisation’s advocacy strategy.
   2. Develop and implement strategic plans and activities for agreed advocacy objectives.
   3. Responsible for monitoring the implementation of individual strategic objectives
   4. Use knowledge and insight into the political and legal environment to inform the project´s advocacy actions.
2. Project Implementation and management
   1. Support in effective and efficient implementation of She Leads project activities at national level
   2. Lead implementation of She Leads project activities.
   3. Working in collaboration with the Programme Manager, ensure quality and timely documentation and reporting of project activities
   4. Preparation of quarterly/yearly project progress reports in line with Terre des Hommes Netherlands reporting guidelines.
   5. Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with Key decision makers, policy makers, civil society entities and the relevant government ministries and departments at the national level
   6. Support formation or growth and strengthening of GYW-led social movements for girls´ rights and gender equality through capacity strengthening, resourcing, funding, technical support at national level
   7. Develop and monitor implementation of work plans for the She Leads Programme
   8. Spear head GEM Trust’s publicity activities related to She leads project work
   9. Initiate and maintain partnerships and networks with national and county stakeholders for coordination and implementation of project activities.
   10. Develop and implement a strategy for periodic program reviews based on project
   11. Produce and disseminate project learning documents/success stories
   12. Represent GEM Trust in donor and partner meetings
   13. Ensures effective utilization of project resources (both financial and materials)
   14. Support monitoring, evaluation and operational research at GEM Trust
   15. Support the Programme Manager in project administration
   16. Supporting the Program Manager in proposal writing and managing donor reporting
   17. Contribute and support the Program Manager in programmed development (technical as well as financial) including in fundraising
   18.  Any other task as assigned by the Executive Director.
3. Project planning, monitoring and knowledge management
   1. Development of project work plans to facilitate timely implementation
   2. Provide regular/routine project implementation updates
   3. Oversee risk mitigation through an up-to-date risk register throughout the project cycle to help in effective management and mitigation of risks
   4. Consolidate, package and disseminate project best practices, success stories, case studies
   5. Monitoring and safeguarding meaningful engagement of girl advocates in the implementation and management of the project i.e. development of advocacy plans, and communication materials including involvement of GYWs at National level.

Knowledge

1. Good Knowledge of the links between gender equality, girls/children’s rights, and advocacy-based programming.
2. Demonstrated understanding of gender equality and girls’ rights issues in development programmes
3. Experience in implementing advocacy projects with demonstrated impact on improving gender equality or girls and young women empowerment.

Skills

1. Advocacy and campaigning skills especially on gender equality, girls/children rights
2. Strong verbal and written communication skills
3. Confidence to engage in and communicate on complex concepts around gender equality and empowerment clearly and concisely at county and National Level
4. Elaborate project management and coordination skill

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

1. A minimum of University graduate degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, or any related development field.
2. Three years of relevant working experience in an advocacy project.
3. Proven experience in the field of gender and rights-based approach, advocacy
4. Demonstrable skills and experience in programme design, management and implementation
5. Demonstrated experience of working with a network of local organizations
6. Strong skills in collaborative leadership for effective convening of single or multi-stakeholder groups
7. Experience and interest in working with young people
8. Experience with programme planning models, project management, and monitoring systems;
9. Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English
10. Team player, but also able to work independently
11. Good knowledge of the links between gender equality, girls/children’s rights and advocacy based programming
12. Demonstrated understanding of gender equality and girls’ rights issues in development programmes
13. Experience in implementing advocacy projects with demonstrated impact on improving gender equality or girls’ and young women empowerment
14. Advocacy and campaigning skills especially on gender equality, girls/children’s rights.
15. Strong verbal and written communication skills
16. Confidence to engage in and communicate on complex concepts around gender equality and empowerment clearly and concisely at county and national level
17. Elaborate project management and coordination skills