African ICT Policy Advocacy Coordinator Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Main purpose of job:

The successful candidate will join APC’s global communications and information policy (CIPP) team as the African ICT policy advocacy coordinator and will play an important role in building APC’s strategic priorities in the ICT policy field in Africa.

APC is a global network of civil society organizations whose mission is to empower and support organisations, social movements and individuals in and through the use of information and communication technologies to build strategic communities and initiatives for the purpose of making meaningful contributions to equitable human development, social justice, participatory political processes and environmental sustainability.

ICT Policy in Africa

We are looking for someone with extensive experience in the ICT policy field in Africa, strong networking and outreach skills and experience and expertise in advocacy, research, capacity building and strategic communications.

The African ICT policy advocacy coordinator will be responsible for the implementation of a two-year programme entitled ‘Access, rights and innovation: Improving governance and accountability in ICT policy and regulation in Africa’ and building a solid basis for ongoing work in these areas.

Brief background information is attached as Appendix A.

Application deadline: February 17th 2012

Start date: As soon as possible

The African ICT policy advocacy coordinator will report to the APC Communications and Information Policy Programme (CIPP) Manager and will be responsible for:

1. Coordination of implementation of the two year project: ‘Access, rights and innovation: Improving governance and accountability in ICT policy and regulation in Africa’ focussing on two specific issue areas: innovative approaches to spectrum use and management as a means of extending affordable access and securing and defending fundamental human rights on the internet. This will include:

a) coordination of all project activities including research and monitoring; communications outreach; network building and collaboration and capacity building of activists, regulators and policy-makers
b) supervision of contracted project partners
c) supervision of the project team
d) production and submission of project reports in a timely fashion

2. Provide vision and leadership in development of APC’s strategy and policy work in relation to ICT Policy in Africa, working closely with the CIPP team and other APC staff
3. Represent APC and build strategic partnerships in the field. This includes frequent international travel.
4. Participate actively in the APC staff team and engage with APC members .
5. Resource mobilisation

The person we are looking for will have:

At least 3 years experience working in the ICT policy field in Africa
Extensive knowledge of ICT policies with a focus on affordable access, human rights on the internet and internet governance.
Experience in policy advocacy work in those areas
Experience in research and research coordination; capacity building, and strategic communications in those areas
Good networking contacts in the ICT policy field in Africa, enthusiasm for networking and be an inclusive network builder
The ability to plan and think strategically
Experience in project management (at least two years) including people and budget management
Experience and background in civil society networking?
Knowledge and contacts of the ICT policy, human rights and internet governance regional institutions and actors

Other requirements:

Excellent English writing and oral communication skills, including public speaking experience
Ability to communicate in French is a distinct advantage
Good writing skills and experience in writing reports?
Able to work in a team and under pressure
Able to work independently and to manage people mainly via online communications
Willing to travel frequently?
Competent computer and internet skills and experience in working in an online environment
Sound academic qualifications in a related area is a distinct advantage

Remuneration and duration of contract:

This is a full time contract for an initial twelve-month period (renewable depending on performance and availability of funding). Remuneration is based on APC’s salary scale for the position for a senior project coordinator. Short-listed candidates will receive specific information on the salary range on request.??

Location:

The incumbent can work from anywhere in Africa provided they have internet access. APC provides an equipment allowance but require staff to use their own computers. International and regional travel will be required. APC is a truly virtual organisation and does not have a physical headquarters. We do our work online.

How to apply:

Please send a CV and a covering letter in English that illustrates your interest in the position.

You should include the following information:

Your experience with ICT policy with a focus on affordable access, internet governance and human rights on the internet
Your experience in advocacy and capacity building
Your experience in research and research coordination
Your experience in networking and partnership building
Your experience in designing, developing and leading campaigns targeting diverse constituencies
Your background in project management and team coordination, specifically in a regional and/or online context
Your computer skills
Where you live - Languages you speak and write
Other information you think might be of importance to our assessment of your application
Three references: names, relationship, contact details; at least one of these should be related to project or campaign that you have managed.?

Please send this information via email with ‘African ICT policy advocacy coordinator’ in the subject line to: jobs@apc.org by February 17, 2012. Please note that only applications in English will be received and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Appendix 1: Background: Access, rights and innovation: Improving governance and accountability in ICT policy and regulation in Africa

CIPP is one of APC’s three core programmes (along with the women’s rights and strategic technology and network development programmes). In the 2012-2013 period, the programme will focus on advocating for affordable access, particularly through calling for innovative approaches to spectrum use and management, and for the protection of fundamental human rights on the internet.

In Africa, working with APC staff, APC members and partners, and other internet access and rights activists in Africa, we aim to achieve policy and regulation that:

promotes affordable, widely available access to the internet (e.g. spectrum management; barriers to entry for service providers; competition and pricing etc.)

enables innovation, access to knowledge, sharing of information and the creation of local content (intellectual property enforcement and digital rights management; open source and open standards; access to publicly funded information and research, etc.)

promotes and protects fundamental human rights on the internet, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of association (intermediary liability; cybercrime and security; freedom of information; protection of privacy; the right to anonymity; the right to freely associate and organise on the internet; freedom from censorship and surveillance; due process in cases of any government interference or monitoring etc.)

This will be achieved through research, advocacy, networking, outreach and capacity building activities in two areas where we believe our efforts can make a concrete difference in the next two years:

innovative approaches to spectrum use and management as a means of extending affordable access, and, securing and defending fundamental human rights on the internet.

The policy spaces we will target will be a mix of national (e.g. regulators, ministries), regional (e.g. African Telecommunications Union, regional regulatory associations, such as WATRA and CRASA,1 the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights, the African Union etc.) and global forums (e.g. the International Telecommunications Union, the Human Rights Council and the Internet Governance Forum).