Minority Rights Group Gender Programme Coordinator

A : Purpose of the job The purpose of the job is to help Minority Rights Group (MRG) achieve its aims and objectives through the implemention of a programme of working supporting and building the capacity of women from minority communities in Somalia/Somaliland. The work will involve sensitive and careful work with women and men as well as a variety of NGOs in a complex and insecure environment. The post holder will also contribute to the mainstreaming of gender in all of MRG’s work, and help develop new programmes focusing on gender and minorities in Africa or around the world.

B : Main duties and responsibilities 1. Staff

Potentiallly responsible for interns and volunteers working on relevant issues, and for trainers, consultants and authors contributing to Somalia gender programme work.

1. Planning

Plans programmes of work on gender for MRG within the objectives set by the Deputy Director/Director of Programmes. Contributes to the planning of all programmes by supporting staff to mainstream gender in programme design. Contributes to the development of new programmes, and writing funding proposals on gender and minorities.

1. Programme Activity
2. Responsible for delivery of funded work with MRG’s gender programme, currently the Somalia gender programme, including: • Design and running of training events • drafting research and publication proposals • supporting partners to carry out advocacy nationally and internationally, and produce materials and do research to educate and inform and challenge prejudice • investigating and implementing new ways to build organisational capacity of partners • carrying out advocacy in person and in writing about gender and minority rights issues. • sourcing new opportunities for funding. • Supporting partners and programme participants if they are threatened as a result of their cooperation with the programme.
3. Develops and maintains good working relationships with partners to meet programme objectives.
4. Builds and maintains networks with international and local NGOs and other stakeholders working in fields relevant to gender and minorities/indigenous peoples.
5. Develops and establishes ways to disseminate the results of programme work, currently the Somalia Gender Programme, as well as MRG research and experience on minorities and gender generally, including the development and maintenance of a database of relevant contacts
6. Monitors the delivery of all activities under the Somalia programme or other funded gender work, ensuring they are on schedule, of good quality and content as described in funding applications, and within budget.
7. Evaluates the outcomes and impacts of programmes.
8. Liaises with programme donors, involves and nurtures them, drafts narrative reports and reports on any changes to the programme and the regional and in-country networks.
9. Advises other staff on gender mainstreaming and gender aspects of programme design, and on gender in publications and films.
10. Assesses and monitors the priorities for work on gender for MRG within the focus set by the Council.
11. Financial
12. Responsible for drawing up gender project budgets and monitoring spending and resolving any variances or budget issues.
13. A role in fundraising for gender programme and project activities including: • maintaining positive relations and dialogue with donors and partners • reporting to donors in line with their requirements
14. Provides advice to and liaises with
15. All MRG staff on the mainstreaming of gender in all of our work.
16. Consultants, authors and interns working on contract on gender issues.
17. Minorities, affiliates and partners.
18. Donors and funding agencies
19. General

Undertakes such other tasks as may reasonably be requested by the Head of Programmes/ Deputy Director from time to time. Attends staff and departmental meetings. Contributes to the evaluation of MRG activities and publications. Covers for absent staff on related work as necessary. The geographical region and or thematic area covered by the job holder may need to be varied from time to time.

1. Confidential information

Responsible for maintaining confidentiality as the job holder will be entitled to a very high level of access to confidential information pertaining to MRG's strategies, detailed financial information, and also access to sensitive external information which may impact on MRG's activities.

1. Degree of supervision

The job holder will be expected to report to the Deputy Director/ Director of Programmes any variation from agreed plans and schedules, and to report regularly on the programme and projects’ progress.

1. Working conditions

The job holder will be based either in Somalia/Somaliland or in Kenya (probably Nairobi) although travel in the region(s) covered by this post will be essential for approximately 6-8 weeks per year, where the management team deem it safe to do so. Travel within the UK, USA or Western Europe to carry out advocacy, visit donors, to give or receive training may also be necessary. The job holder is required to maintain the pace of work which may at times be high, and will need to manage several tasks simultaneously.

Although the primary purpose of this post is to coordinate and implement currently funded gender programmes, the post holder may be required to work partly or wholly on other areas of MRG’s work. This is to allow MRG to move staff away from work which is unfunded or underfunded or is no longer a priority for the organisation, to work on areas which have more funding, are growing or which are understaffed. This will normally involve the post holder in carrying out tasks similar or identical to those listed in this job description but applied to different programmes or projects.

PERSON SPECIFICATION Title Somalia Gender Programme Coordinator

A. Education and Knowledge

Essential

• Detailed knowledge of women’s rights and gender within the field of human rights and/ or development. • Good working knowledge of international human rights and minority rights • A detailed knowledge of the context in Somalia/Somaliland including situation and needs of minority communities in general and minority women in particular.

Desirable • Detailed knowledge of international human rights and minority rights law including race discrimination, economic and social rights, collective and individual rights, standards relating to minority communities and indigenous peoples.

B. Experience

Essential • At least 1 years’ experience working on women’s human rights or gender and development issues. • At least 1 years experience of working on minority or indigenous peoples issues, or with minority or indigenous communities • At least 1 year’s experience each of at least two out of the following four programme areas: - Designing and running training events - Action research projects (to generate advocacy materials) - International advocacy - Capacity building of partner organizations

• At least one year’s experience successfully managing international projects including drawing up and managing budgets, monitoring, scheduling,and evaluation. • One year’s experience of programme design and /or liaison with donors. • At least one year’s experience of working within complex security settings.

C. Abilities and Skills

Essential • Good communication skills including good written and spoken English. • Excellent organisational abilities • Computer literate and knowledge of Word for Windows, spreadsheets, databases, the Internet and email packages. • Good writing and numeracy skills. • Ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines. • Ability to work as a team but also use own initiative • Ability to stay calm under pressure and to assess and absorb information quickly. • Ability to maintain confidentiality. • Ability to gain the confidence of members of minority communities and diplomats. • Ability and willingness to travel as required.

Desirable • A working knowledge of Somali.

D. Personality

Essential • Commitment to the aims and objectives of MRG • Commitment to gender equity • Enthusiastic about working in a multicultural environment and committed to equal opportunities.

Reports to Deputy Director/ Director of Programmes (TBC)

Salary: Grade C, €17,500 per annum for two years, possibility of renewal but at reduced amount of time and salary thereafter.

Location: Somalia/Somaliland (with occasional international travel) or Kenya (probably Nairobi) with some travel (security permitting) to Somalia/Somaliland as well as possibly some international travel.

Initially four days per week (for two years).

How to apply:

To apply, please complete the application form and equal opportunities form and return to hr@mrgmail.org by 4 February.