Director of Advocacy-Utetezi Director Fahamu

Fahamu seeks Director of Advocacy - Utetezi Director

Leading a dedicated team to accompany the development and implementation of campaign strategies led by progressive African social justice movements, the Utetezi Director will support innovative strategies to amplify grassroots demands and realize people-centred change.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya or Dakar, Senegal.

Deadline for application: May 7, 2012.

To apply, please send the completed application form available at http://www.fahamu.org/node/246 to: infokenya@fahamu.org.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Fahamu works with a diverse cross section of social movements across Africa to articulate and implement people and Africa-centred solutions through diverse, innovative and effective strategies and tactics; to actively participate in local, national, continental and global processes as significant actors for change and to create alternative frameworks and realities for progressive, pro-feminist change. We do not speak for any group but seek to amplify and empower movements in their full array to create the change they are seeking themselves.

Leading a dedicated team to accompany the development and implementation of campaign strategies led by the movements with whom we work, you will manage and coordinate actions to amplify the voices of these movements. This means working across movements to get the full strength of Fahamu, our partners and networks, behind relevant initiatives, be they at the community, national or continental levels.

As well as delivering an integrated, strategic approach to progressive pan-African issues, you will grow our relationships with other NGOs, relevant policy makers in particular at the African Union and its organs, donors and other external partners. Devising high quality on and offline campaigning materials to enhance the advocacy of our partners and support meaningful change, you will be key to ensuring that the demands of vulnerable, grassroots communities are met by a wide array of decision makers.

You will research the most effective campaigning methods and work with our partners to evaluate strategies and plans as well as building and sharing our repository of knowledge of Africa-led grassroots change. You will manage our work with these communities to increase their influence and agenda setting power.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Utetezi Director is both one of the public faces of Fahamu’s Utetezi program and its driver. Specifically, the Director has the following responsibilities:

• Represents the organisation in public forums and in relation to other institutions, including but not limited to the African Union and its organs

• Provides strategic direction and leadership of the advocacy pillar of work at Fahamu

• Facilitates and supports our partners’ advocacy in various forms

• Leads, manages and oversees the implementation of projects related to Fahamu’s core mandate that support people-centered, profeminist African advocacy initiatives

• Coordinates partner input into Fahamu’s contribution to the movement for social justice in relation to Utetezi program work

• Looks to the future and for opportunities for extending the impact of the program’s work

• Supports motivation of programmatic staff, its operations and projects

• Oversees implementation of policies and plans approved by the board in relation to the program

• Oversees management of program human resources, including selection, recruitment and evaluation of staff

• Oversees management of program financial and physical resources

• Oversees fundraising planning and implementation, including identification of resource requirements, research of funding sources, establishment of strategies to approach funders, submission of proposals and administration of fundraising records and documentation

• In relation to the Board, the Director supports the Executive Director in advising the Board on strategies for achieving the organisation’s mission and specifically programmatic mission

• Ensures program staff and Board have sufficient and up-to-date information on program areas

• Recommends yearly programmatic budget for Board approval and prudently manages program resources within those budget guidelines according to current laws and regulations.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will have:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in pan-African advocacy, campaign development and management

• At least 3 years experience of managing staff and multiple projects

• Demonstrable extensive knowledge of political, economic and social context in Africa and in relation to the rest of the world

• Commitment to the mission and values of the organisation

• Experience in management of staff at a distance

• Experience and knowledge of partnership development and working with social movement actors in various sights of struggle

• Knowledge of, skills and experience in working with and conducting advocacy at the African Union and its organs

• Demonstrated commitment to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities

• Ability to provide leadership whilst also being a team player

• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

• Experience in fundraising and donor liaison

• Strong people skills (both in relation to the external partners and in relation to staff)

• Excellent communicator

• Fluency in English and French is required

• Proficiency in other languages including Kiswahili, Arabic, Portuguese a plus

• A dynamic, visionary person with a passion for social justice

Job Email id: infokenya(at)fahamu.org