Programme Specialist - Agency and Resilience

Job Vacancy

We are hiring to fill a vacancy for the position of Programme Specialist - Agency and Resilience. To fill this position, we are looking for a highly motivated Programme Management Specialist who is passionate about reimagining the future of feminist capacity strengthening.  We are keen to work with an individual who is passionate about women’s rights and feminist movements in Africa, is excited about African feminisms, embraces African women’s diversity and is innovative.

Do you have experience in conceptualising and leading technical capacity strengthening  for movement partners using a transformative and de-colonial  approaches? Are you passionate about co-creating tools and processes that afford   feminist and women’s rights activists, organisations and collectives in Africa the ownership, confidence, self-determination and space to make transformative choices and impact their communities across the continent?  

Are you ready to work in close collaboration with colleagues in the “Nurturing” cluster, to unlock the agency of African women’s rights and feminist activists, leaders, organisations, collectives and movements so they flourish and are impactful? 

• Programme Specialist - Agency and Resilience

Background 

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is an African feminist philanthropic organisation that supports local, national and regional women’s organisations working towards the promotion and realisation of African women’s rights. Specialising in grantmaking, technical assistance and other focused, tailored movement building programmes, the AWDF works to strengthen and support the work of African Women’s organisations and feminist movements. Through amplifying and celebrating African Women’s Voices and achievements. AWDF supports efforts that combat harmful stereotypes and promote African Women as active agents of change. AWDF is not an endowed foundation, and as such raises all the funds for its operational and programmatic work.

Job Summary 

As part of our new strategy, AWDF is building on our approach of technical capacity strengthening of grantees to a more transformative and de-colonised approach which gives feminist and women’s rights activists, organisations and collectives in Africa the ownership and space to make transformative choices and impact their communities across the continent. The A and R Specialist will work in close collaboration with colleagues in the “Nurturing” cluster, the role will focus on unlocking the agency of African women’s rights and feminist activists, leaders, organisations, collectives and movements so they flourish and are impactful.

The role will be responsible for leading the re-imagining and implementation of AWDF’s new strategy work with African women’s rights and feminist organisations, collectives and movements working for gender justice in Africa including drive our thinking forward on four critical pillars:

• Co-creation/ownership with the movement
• Movements have access to quality support & change processes e.g. accompaniment as well as training
• Ensuring change processes are adequately resourced (change takes time)
• AWDF monitoring and evaluation informs our approaches and learning facilitates adaptation.

Specific Duties 

Strategy implementation

• Participate and lead in the re-imagining and implementation of the A&R strategy in alignment with the   AWDF 2023 -2033 Strategic Framework and good practice in the sector; 
• Develop a programme with African women-led activist organisations that is inclusive, feminist, trust-based, collaborative and responsive and includes longer-term support e.g. accompaniment and peer support as well as training
• Lead the change management strategies and implementation activities, ensuring that processes are adequately resources
• Contribute to sector-wide thought leadership on programme resourcing in our sector.

Leadership and people development and management

• Provide oversight, management and supervision of the A and R team; 
• Participate in recruitment, selection, retention and succession planning of the A and R team ensuring adherence to AWDF policies
• Develop a team culture that values collaboration internally, cross functionally, a team of independent thinkers that feel empowered, a team that reflects the feminist principles and values of AWDF.

Programme Management

• Coordinate collaborative team learning and cross pollination across programmes resourcing
• Convene small group discussions to deepen and re-define AWDF’s approaches
• Provide oversight and management of Leadership and Governance coaching programme

Budget management

• Work out what resources are needed to deliver the A and R strategy, with the Nurturing Cluster Manager
• Develop and provide oversight on the Agency & Resilience budget, approving expenses, ensuring deliverables are within allocated budget and follow organisational financial policies

Relationship management

• Coordinate the growth AWDF’s pool of feminist coaches, experts and OS advisors across the continent; in line with the AWDF organisational strategy
• Establish and nurture relationships with colleagues as an integral element of communication and relationship management
• Provide feedback to all relevant stakeholders on Agency and Resilience strategies and activities to increase project and collective learnings and outcomes

Programme monitoring and applying learning

• Plan and evaluate an on-going programme of Flagship retreats (e.g. Communications and Advocacy, Financial Management, MEL, Project Design and Proposal Development, Leadership and Governance, etc
• Provide input into donor proposals and reports, including supporting   partners who have been part of the capacity strengthening initiatives to document experiences and outcomes for reporting
• Coordinate and deliver on internal and external reporting requirements (board, donor, accountability, project reports etc.)

Essential Knowledge and Experience 

• Ability to demonstrate feminist values and principles  and social and gender justice rights -based development and organising in Africa
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, the ability to motivate and build an effective team and experience of managing remote teams
• Strong interpersonal skills, high levels of personal integrity and professional credibility and experience of building strong and credible relationships with diverse stakeholders including colleagues, donors, consultants, coaches and partners
• Confidence in communicating the impact of programme results to a wide and expert audience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and English and /or French
• Ability to work and lead with minimum supervision
• Curiosity and creativity
• Appreciation of and commitment to continuous improvement and learning

Qualifications 

• A degree in Gender, Women’s Rights, organisational development or related discipline or at least 8 years in a similar role. 

• Excellent written and spoken English. Working knowledge of French will be an advantage.

Job Location 

AWDF House, Accra – Ghana or work remotely from any African country where you have the legal right to work from.

Organisational Competencies: 

All staff members must demonstrate AWDF Core values in all their professional relationships and any interactions that may reflect on AWDF: 

Accountability & Integrity 

Solidarity & Collective care 

Intersectionality & Meaningful Inclusion 

                Learning & Adaptability

                Courage & Joy

              Creativity & Curiosity

AWDF has a Zero Tolerance Approach to all forms of corruption which is an offence for which immediate dismissal without benefits will result. 

Salary Details

Midpoint: USD 55, 073 (annually) + benefits. In practice, AWDF only make offers between the entry point and the midpoint of our salary scale

How to Apply: 

Qualified and interested persons should send:

A cover letter of not more than 2 pages addressed to the Human Resources Manager, explaining their interest and excitement in applying for the position to work for AWDF; and highlighting their experience and competencies as they relate to the specific areas of duties indicated in the vacancy to demonstrate a good fit for the role.

A CV of not more than 3 pages outlining their educational qualifications and employment records with key achievements on relevant positions held.

Applications for the vacancy should reach AWDF no later than Wednesday 31st July 2024. Due to our limited capacity, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for additional information and interviews. 

In line with AWDF’s Mission, qualified African women and gender expansive persons are encouraged to apply.