Open Position: Senior Programme Officer
Aidspan, a Kenya-based international think tank and independent observer of the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria has a global mandate. Aidspan seeks to recruit a Senior Programme Officer to join Aidspan's innovative Outreach Unit, a pioneer of activities and strategies to help watchdogs monitor the effectiveness of Global Fund grants and systems in their countries. This is an international search to fill a challenging and unique position in this lean, flexible and highly specialised organisation.
1. Aidspan
Aidspan (www.aidspan.org) is an international NGO whose mission is to reinforce the effectiveness of the Global Fund by serving as an independent watchdog of the Global Fund and of its grant implementers. Aidspan does this by providing information, analysis and advice; facilitating critical debate; and promoting greater transparency, accountability, effectiveness and impact.
Aidspan’s vision is that the Global Fund will raise and disburse adequate money to fight AIDS, TB and malaria worldwide, with the Fund and the implementers of its grants being fully transparent, fully accountable, and achieving the greatest possible impact.
Aidspan was originally based in New York, but in 2007 it moved its base to Nairobi. Most staff are Kenyan. Aidspan's mandate relates to Global Fund activities and impact worldwide, not just in Kenya. The organisation is completely autonomous from the Fund and receives no funding from it.
2. Aidspan’s Outreach Department
The Outreach team focuses on how to improve the Fund’s policies and procedures and how to increase the impact of Global Fund grants. Its activities facilitate Aidspan’s key role as watchdog and critical friend of the Global Fund by linking Aidspan’s broader work to discussions, debates and action on the ground.
The key strategy is to target various organisations and individuals at the country level. Together with these organisations, the unit explores various processes or actions that can be implemented and be driven by country stakeholders to promote accountability, transparency and effectiveness of Global Fund grants.
The unit’s work enhances knowledge about Global Fund processes at the county level and builds the capacity of local organisations to understand accountability, and how to do watchdog work.
3. Required qualifications and experience
a. A university degree in one of the social sciences or a related field.
b. At least five years’ experience in health-related programmes or in governance, accountability, human rights or other related programmes. A focus on HIV, TB and malaria is advantageous.
c. In-depth extensive understanding of the Global Fund is required, and knowledge of the data it publishes at www.theglobalfund.org is desired.
d. Training experience in various fields, with strong skills in facilitation, mentoring and coaching.
e. Strong experience in the use of health-related data (both financial and programmatic).
f. Strong written and oral communication skills.
g. Well organised self-starter, with attention to detail.
h. Good team player, with excellent inter-personal skills.
i. French language desirable.
4. Responsibilities
The Senior Programme Officer will report to the Unit's Manager, who reports to the Executive Director.
The responsibilities highlighted below reflect the entire Unit’s scope of work. These tasks are therefore shared among team members.
Tasks:
a. Mentor and partner with "Global Fund watchdogs" in various countries. In some cases encouraging and assisting them in also becoming GFO Correspondents: [Aidspan mentors other organisations who wish to monitor Global Fund-related activities within their own countries. The project is focused on 30 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, and will scale up to other regions after 2015.]
b. Organize and run in-country workshops and round tables:
i. Country workshops improve the understanding of Global Fund policies, procedures and expectations, and help build the capacity of local organisations to understand key elements of accountability, and how to do watchdog work. Also involves giving advice and technical support pre and post training.
ii. Round Tables provide an opportunity for global leaders in a chosen field to conduct private high-level discussion of the analysis presented in ‘White Papers’, and to propose additional or improved recommendations. Done in consultation with other staff, organise one Round Table every one to two years.
c. Promote discussion and information sharing:
i. Explore creative ways of increasing discussion among all Global Fund stakeholders regarding how to improve the Fund’s policies and procedures and how to increase the impact of Global Fund grants. [These innovative ideas include use of e-forums, web comments, online hubs, blogs, videos, online competitions and other forms of technology.]
ii. Promote Aidspan’s template-based CCM website to as many countries as possible, and monitor the how CCMs use the technology provided. [Aidspan has created a free and easy-to-use web template for CCMs to set up and manage country-specific websites, open to people interested in the activities of that CCM and of the relevant PR(s).]
d. Enhance Aidspan’s network of organisations that will work to support our mentoring project and enhance in-country accountability: [Identify and work with partner organisations on ways to improve accountability of Global Fund grants in their countries. These collaborators may be in the form of organisations willing to fund activities identified under the mentoring project; or organisations willing to provide a different sort of assistance e.g. technical.]
e. Research and write various articles for publication by the Editorial department.
f. Assist the Executive Director and Research Unit in doing various tasks as required.
5. Job location
This position is based at Aidspan’s office in Nairobi, Kenya. Applicants do not have to be citizens/residents of Kenya, as this is an international search. However, preference will be given to those who are either citizens of Kenya, or who have documented proof that they are permitted by the government to work in the country.
6. Salary and benefits
Aidspan staff are given two-year contracts and salaries are paid in Kenya shillings. A generous salary and benefits package is discussed during and after the final interviews. The salary package will be commensurate with the candidates experience and qualifications.
7. Equal Opportunity
Aidspan is committed to encouraging diversity and eliminating discrimination. There will be no discrimination on any grounds and we encourage all qualified applicants to apply.
8. Next steps
If you are interested in this position, please do as follows:
(a) Study the information provided in this document and some of the key documents on Aidspan’s website (for example Annual Report 2012; Annual Plan 2013, Unified Proposal 2013).
(b) Prepare a cover letter of up to 2 pages (addressed to Ms. Wambui Munene, Finance and Admin Director, Aidspan) which explains (a) why you are interested in the position; (b) how your qualifications and experience match the job description; and (c) why you believe you are be a strong candidate. The letter should give your salary history (in your last three positions) and should specify your salary expectations.
(c) Ensure that your CV has 3 references, who are aware of this application.
(d) Prepare a zipped folder with three publications as sample writing pieces.
Application deadline is: 25th October 2013. The selected candidate should be available to start work latest by 7th January 2014. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted, and they should expect to hear from Aidspan by mid-November 2013.
Senior Programme Officer AT Aidspan , Nairobi, Kenya
![Senior Programme Officer AT Aidspan , Nairobi, Kenya]()
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