Job Opportunities at Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA)

The Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) seeks to recruit a Program Officer who will report to the Program Manager – Democratic Governance and Rule of Law Program.

Overall job purpose

The Program Officer’s core duties will entail provision of technical support in the identification and fostering of effective grant making relations in a dynamic, creative and committed manner with a focus on OSIEA’s democratic governance and rule of law programming in the Eastern Africa region. The program officer will particularly focus on advancing civic engagement, the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs), defending civic space and advancing accountable governance through both legal and non-legal approaches at national, regional, and international levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a bold vision for innovative work that will add value to the existing efforts in the region by identifying grant-making, operational, and advocacy strategies to advance democratic governance and the rule of in Eastern Africa, particularly in relation to civic engagement, the protection of human rights defenders, defending civic space and advancing accountable governance in Eastern Africa.
• Collaborate within and beyond the program team, including building partnerships beyond Open Society Foundations Network, to develop knowledge, identify emerging trends and conduct strong field assessments employing a rights-based lens.
• Conduct relevant legal and policy analysis in the region for internal and external audiences.
• Support identification of capacity and institutional development opportunities in partner organizations (grantees).
• Support network/coalition/alliance building for joint advocacy with grantees and constituents targeting governments, donor agencies, service providers and the general public.
• Oversee administrative duties within the program and supervision of consultants.
• Reporting and budget management (portfolio reviews, monitoring programme budget and expenditure etc.).

Person specifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Substantive knowledge on and proven commitment to human rights, democratic governance, and rule of law in the Eastern Africa context particularly in relation to advancing civic engagement, the protection of human rights defenders, defending civic space and the advancement of accountable governance in the Eastern Africa region.
• Demonstrated experience working on democratic governance and rule of law programming particularly advancing civic engagement, the protection of human rights defenders, defending civic space and the advancement of accountable governance using different approaches and working with different actors and stakeholders.
• Eight (8) years of relevant work experience in a similar organization with two (2) at supervisory level.
• Experience in grant making.
• Excellent verbal and writing skills.
• Ability to provide specialized advice and professional guidance to external contacts.
• Capacity for increased initiative, independent action and program level responsibility.
• Extraordinary initiative and creativity and capacity to think strategically.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a diverse array of people.
• Ability to manage several simultaneous projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills and close attention to detail.
• Integrity, teamwork, diplomacy and professionalism will be essential.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

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The Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) seeks to recruit a Program Manager who will report to the Deputy Director.

Overall job purpose

The jobholder will be responsible for the execution and advancement of the economic governance program and will directly manage a specific portfolio of work within the program. He/she will provide leadership in grant making in this program as well as build relationships with strategic partners and ensure adherence to policies and procedures. The job holder will oversee the development and implementation of the program’s strategies and work plans as well as the budget. He/she will be responsible for overseeing and managing staff within the program and will ensure integration and synergies within and across OSIEA’s other themes and program areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a bold vision for innovative work that will add value by identifying grant-making, operational, and advocacy strategies to promote economic governance in Eastern Africa in alignment with the OSIEA strategic plan.
• Coordinate and serve as the key focal point on economic governance programing within OSIEA.
• Conduct relevant legal and policy analysis for internal and external audiences.
• Write, edit or commission reports and advocacy documents on the key economic governance issues.
• Engage with civil society actors, attend meetings, solicit and evaluate grant proposals, follow-up with grantees and potential grantees. Conduct site visits as necessary.
• Coordinate meetings, conferences, partnerships.
• Conduct advocacy in collaboration with grantees and constituents targeting governments, donor agencies, service providers, and the general public.
• Scan the external environment to ensure programme relevance.
• Represent OSIEA at key functions and meetings related to the economic governance program.
• Develop partnerships with the rest of the program staff in the identification and evaluation of emerging and key development trends and priorities in a particular region.

Person specifications

• Demonstrable belief and commitment to human rights and economic justice for all persons.
• Advanced degree.
• Ten years work experience, with an understanding of the principles and practices involved in the effective management of a complex institution.
• At least five years of program management experience.
• Substantive knowledge of key economic governance issues in the Eastern Africa region.
• Experience in grant making.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Ability to provide specialized advice and professional guidance to external contacts.
• Capacity for increased initiative, independent action and program level responsibility.
• Extraordinary initiative, creativity and capacity to think strategically.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a diverse array of people.
• Ability to manage several simultaneous projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills and close attention to detail.
• Integrity, teamwork, diplomacy and professionalism will be essential.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

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AfRO is part of the OSF, a global network of national and regional foundations as well as thematic network programs committed to advancing local knowledge, expertise and agency in support of open society values. OSF operates in more than one hundred countries. Serving as the liaison for its Africa foundations, AfRO leads OSF’s work in the Africa region and seeks to inform and influence policy actors at the pan-African and international levels who have the power to advance or obstruct progress towards open society values in Africa.

Brief description of role

AfRO seeks a Finance Manager. Reporting to AfRO’s Resources Division Director, with matrix management within OSF’s overall finance team, the Finance Manager will ensure the day-to-day financial operations of the office. They will ensure the preparation of all budgetary and financial materials, including expenditure tracking and reporting, in line with all of OSF’s relevant policies. They will provide financial analysis and advice for AfRO. They will work independently under direct and matrix supervision. The ideal candidate will be driven and proactive, with strong budget and finance accounting knowledge and must be comfortable working under strict deadlines and able to work on multiple assignments at the same time.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all of AfRO’s financial operations in line with all relevant OSF policies, including forecasting, budgeting, accounting, audit preparations, banking relationships, cash management, payroll management in line with all statutory requirements and risk management activities.
• In collaboration with AfRO’s Resources Division Director, oversee internal finances, including annual budget processes, and monitor expenditure over the course of the year.
• Ensure annual budget preparation, justification and presentation.
• Review and monitor AfRO’s annual budget, including through the creation of internal processes to monitor spending and adjustments to keep AfRO’s management team updated on spending on a monthly basis.
• Track administrative and program spending.
• Train staff as necessary on OSF’s financial policies, processes and systems.
• Work closely with staff to ensure that their financial (spending) information is accurate and up to date.
• Produce financial reports on a monthly basis for the staff.
• Review and analyse grantees’ financial reports for accuracy, collate financial reporting materials for all grantees and oversee all grants accounting.
• Coordinate tasks associated with year-end closing process.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors and deliver on any recommendations from the same.
• Supervise processing of the payroll and ensure timely filing of all statutory returns.
• Oversee office and project contracts in relation to payments (services, travel, consultants, etc.
• Research vendor accounts and answer vendor inquiries.
• Implement a robust procurement and contracts management reporting system in line with OSF’s policies, systems and procedures and verify expenses and fees in line with relevant OSF guidelines, ensure contract billing and payment schedules are adhered and verify financial reports are consistent with contracts.
• Resolve any account discrepancies by investigating documentation.
• Process invoices and receipts and enter the same into OSF’s financial systems.
• Review invoices for proper General Ledger coding, classification and application to proper accounting periods.
• Oversee financial record keeping and filing of AfRO’s financial documents.
• Organize travel and assist in the preparation of conferences, meetings, seminars and special events.
• Prioritise continuous learning through attending trainings within and without AfRO and OSF to ensure consistent standards of excellence.
• Promote communication and teamwork within AfRO as well as with OSF’s budget and finance teams.
• Liaise regularly with OSF’s budget and finance team as well as the African foundations’ budget and finance teams and mediate any challenges as necessary.
• Undertake any other duties that may be assigned.
• Travel as needed.

AfRO may from time to time add, change or remove any of these responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Relevant bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university and seven to ten years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Registration as a Certified Public Accountant.
• Training/experience in a non-profit and/or philanthropic accounting and finance department preferred.
• Proven ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, follow projects through to completion, consistently on schedule, without loss of attention to detail and budget.

Skills required

• Demonstrable commitment to open society values.
• Demonstrable commitment to ethics.
• Excellent verbal, written, analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent computer skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adaptive Planning, Foundation Connect, Concur, Contract Access and NetSuite.
• Excellent listening and communication skills with sensitivity to cultural communication.
• The ability to handle confidential issues and discretion.
• High self-motivation and ease working independently.
• Poise and ability to work well under pressure and while remaining attentive to detail.
• Flexibility, willingness/ability to work simultaneously on a wide range of tasks and ability to prioritise tasks.
• Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with senior management, co-workers and the general public.