Bernard van Leer Foundation Programme Officer East-Africa

The Bernard van Leer Foundation is a private grant-making Foundation. Our mission is to improve opportunities for children up to age 8 who are growing up in socially and economically difficult circumstances.We see this both as a valuable end in itself and as a long-term means to promoting more cohesive, considerate and creative societies with equal opportunities and rights for all. More information can be found at www.bernardvanleer.org

The Bernard van Leer Foundation uses a robust toolbox to create social change for young children nationally and globally. The toolbox includes research and evaluation, demonstration of services, capacity building, advocacy, behavior change and investments in networks and new technologies. Increasingly, the Foundation uses its own voice and knowledge on early childhood development to compliment grant and social investments. The Foundation is committed to both making young children everybody’s business and enabling children’s voices.

 

We are searching for a Programme Officer for East-Africa to carry out programming in two countries.

 

In Tanzania, we are attempting to create the following social change:

 

·         The development of a national program for quality early learning services for young children

·         A reduction in violence in rural families with young children

 

In Uganda, the Bernard van Leer Foundation through programming is attempting to:

 

·         Reduce childhood mortality and morbidity by focusing on improving children’s living conditions

·         Reduce violence in families with young children in rural areas 

 

As part of the position, the East Africa Program Officer would be expected to play a leadership role in a consortium of private donor agencies to influence flows of investment for children. These could include developing social impact investment opportunities in partnership with private sector companies.

 

The current BvLF country strategies are available at www.bernardvanleer.org. These strategies are still in a nascent testing and research phase, which means that although the goals are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future, there is substantial opportunity to craft the strategic direction of programming in both countries.

 

Job description

The Programme Officer will lead our engagement in Tanzania and Uganda, as well as the East Africa region more broadly. He or she will have a budget of Euro 2 – 3 million per year available for investment in the region which would be expected to leverage investments from other actors. Tasks will include: 

 

·         Placing investments to achieve foundation goals in Uganda and Tanzania;

·         Representing the Foundation in existing and new partnerships that you would create with other funders, governments and companies in the region;

·         Speaking and writing in public platforms on behalf of the foundation regarding its work in East Africa.

·         Building a broad array of partnerships with other donors and grant recipients to realize social change objectives.

·         Taking stock of the existing portfolio, analyzing opportunities and challenges in relation to current strategy and recommending and implementing  changes;

·         Managing existing grants and strategic relationships including ongoing monitoring and evaluation activities;

·         Analyzing large social data emanating from the countries on young children and recommending new research to realize social change objectives.

 

Desired profile

We are seeking an entrepreneurial candidate who is passionate about social change for young children and excited to work in an environment where proactivity, creativity and risk is rewarded. The following skills and competencies are desirable:

 

·         Knowledge of and experience working with government, civil society and the private sector in Tanzania and Uganda;

·         Seven to ten years’ experience in at least one of the following content areas: early childhood development, violence prevention, public and child health, rural development;

·         Expertise in at least one of the following strategic areas: advocacy and communications, programme design, governance, impact investing;

·         Strong analytical capacity; political intuition; public speaking and writing skills

·         Proficiency in English and Swahili

 

Start-date

To be negotiated.

 

Length of contract

12 months with opportunities to extend into a long-term position.

 

Location

Negotiable: Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya or the Hague. Regular travel in the region will be required.

 

Application

If you are interested in this position, please apply before May 15, 2013. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Interested applicants can apply by writing a letter of motivation and including a CV in .pdf or .doc format to hr@bvleerf.nl. Expressions of interest in video format will be reviewed as compliments to the above.  If you have any questions, you can email this address or call Human Resources at the Bernard van Leer Foundation +31 (0)70 3312-227/228.