Job Opportunity: Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa
THE ORGANIZATION
The Fund for Global Human Rights is a leading supporter of on-the-ground human rights groups around the world. Dedicated to finding and funding the most effective human rights activists in countries from Africa to South Asia to Latin America, the Fund for Global Human Rights offers grants and facilitates technical support to ensure the long-term effectiveness and viability of frontline groups working in challenging conditions with scant resources. The board consists of international human rights experts, core funders, and advisors from the regions where the Fund operates.
Since 2002, the Fund has awarded over $20 million to more than 300 human rights organizations in seventeen countries. Grantees work on a wide range of issues from indigenous land rights in Guatemala, to women’s rights in Morocco, to accountability for war crimes in West Africa, to discrimination against HIV positive people in India.
THE POSITION
The Fund seeks a Program Officer to conduct grant-making programs in West Africa and the African Great Lakes.
The role of the Program Officer is to build and strengthen the grant-making program of the Fund for Global Human Rights. In collaboration with other program staff, the Program Officer evaluates, develops, and implements regional grant-making strategies, operations, budget and partnerships. The Program Officer’s primary responsibility is the management of a grants portfolio totaling approximately $900,000 that will be comprised of over 50 organizations in 5 countries (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo). The Program Officer also coordinates with field contacts, evaluators, and other key partner organizations in these African regions. Applicants for this position will report to the Director of Programs and may be based in Washington, DC, London, or other location depending on work authorization.
The responsibilities of the Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa include the following:
Grant-making
• Keep abreast of issues, trends and activities in human rights in West Africa and the Great Lakes and maintain contact with organizations working in the field;
• Identify human rights organizations in West Africa and the Great Lakes that meet the Fund’s grant-making criteria;
• Conduct and maintain due diligence in selecting, evaluating, and maintaining relationships with existing and potential grantees;
• Undertake site visits to current and potential grantees;
• Develop country/regional strategies and recommendations for funding, including preparing semi-annual grants dockets;
• Work with the Grants Administrator to facilitate administrative tasks related to all West Africa and Great Lakes grants (e.g., wire disbursements, report tracking, grant files);
• Explore the potential to set up grant-making programs in other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Capacity-building
• Work with grantees to identify needs and facilitate technical assistance on strategic planning, organizational strengthening, and fundraising.
Knowledge Sharing and Networks
• Facilitate grantee networking and knowledge exchange;
• Contribute to design and oversight of program evaluation;
• Network with individuals, NGOs and other organizations based in Sub-Saharan Africa working on human rights issues.
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates should demonstrate the following range of skills, experience and qualities:
• Masters degree in related field with minimum 6 years of relevant professional experience preferred; OR Bachelors degree in related field with a minimum of 8 years relevant professional experience;
• Minimum 4 years of experience either working in Africa or on human rights issues in Africa with significant field experience;
• Substantial knowledge of human rights norms and practices and grassroots social movement building;
• Familiarity with national, regional and global level civil society actors and issues in the West African and the Great Lakes regions;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment;
• Excellent writing, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills;
• Critical thinking skills, including the abilities to identify emerging human rights trends, analyze issues from multiple perspectives, assess a human rights organization's potential for impact, and conceptualize a mix of strategies, issues and organizations in each country that maximize potential to effect change;
• Ability to travel independently in developing countries (2-3 international trips per year); occasional overnight domestic travel;
• Fluency in French and English required;
• Sense of initiative and humor.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Salary is commensurate with experience. Generous benefits package.
Please send a resume, cover letter, 2-4 page writing sample on a human rights issue and a list of references (names, position titles, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers) to: jobs@globalhumanrights.org No phone calls please.
No applications will be accepted after Monday, May 24, 2010.
The Fund for Global Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer.
