Application Deadline: July 12, 2020
The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) is seeking to recruit a committed Senior Program Officer, Human Rights and Public Services, and West Africa Lead.
Under the management of the head of the program on human rights and public services, the Senior Program Officer will assume primary responsibility for planning, developing, and implementing GI-ESCR’s vision and strategic plan in West Africa, and act as a focal point for the organisation for the work in Africa, including in particular the engagement with regional and subregional institutions (ECOWAS, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, African Union, etc.).
The work will focus on the human rights and public services program, in particular on the rights to education and health. The officer will also be in charge of developing the office of GI-ESCR in Dakar, and to increase the organisation’s presence, networks, and support to partners. S/he will be in charge of the management of staff in the local office.
Duties
• Leads the implementation of GI-ESCR’s projects on human rights and public services in West Africa, including planning and reporting to donors, and contributes to the development of new projects, under the management of the head of the program on public services and human rights.
• Coordinates GI-ESCR’s advocacy efforts with the African Union (AU) and West African institutions, and in particular the African and ECOWAS human rights systems, participation in AU meetings and events, coordinating with partners.
• Build relationships with major institutions and organisations covering or operating from West Africa, including ECOWAS and the Francophonie Organisation.
• Prepares advocacy reports, statements and other relevant materials related to the region in coordination with other GI-ESCR staff.
• Coordinates the relationship with partners in West Africa, and develops, cultivates, and supports a strong network of like-minded organisations in the region.
• Provides capacity-building and technical support, in-person and remotely, on economic, social and cultural rights, in particular the rights to education and health, to partners in the region.
• Assigns, coordinates, and participates in research and monitoring activities in West Africa, working with partners to collect data in particular on human rights and public services, at the national or sub-regional level, and provides or contributes to human rights legal analyses.
• Provides analysis on the political dynamics relevant for the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in the West Africa and on the continent.
• Supports the development and the administration of the Dakar office, in consultation with GIESCR’s Senior Management Team, including support with relationships with the local authorities, local legal and fiscal questions, monitoring and reporting program finances and expenses, staff management, and planning and budget.
• Supports work in French across the organisation.
• Trains and supervises staff and interns in the West Africa office.
• Support the fundraising efforts and relationship with donors in West Africa, and leads the preparation and editing of reports to these donors.
• Performs other related duties as required.
Salary
• Salary is between $3,500 USD to $4,500 USD gross per month (including income taxes), depending on level of experience.
Eligibility
• Applicant should have an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, or in related fields (political science, international relations, social sciences, etc.) with strong experience conducting human rights legal analysis. A first-level university degree in combination with 10 additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A very good understanding of human rights law, acquired through studies or professional practice, is required.
• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in human rights work, including substantive experience working on economic, social and cultural rights, and work for civil society organisations in Africa. Experience with another international organisation is highly desirable. Experience working on the rights to education or health will be an asset.
• Experience conducting human rights advocacy and research and monitoring projects on human rights.
• Experience engaging with African and West African human rights and multilateral institutions, and a strong network with civil society organisations working on economic, social and cultural rights in the region, will be a strong asset.
• Fluency in French and English, oral and written, is required. The work for this position will be conducted equally in both languages Additional languages will be an asset. Language skills will be tested during the recruitment process.
• Understanding of project management, including basic accounting and reporting procedures, and managing relationships with donors.
• Experience working with staff from diverse backgrounds and located in various time zones and working remotely will be an asset.
Person Specification
• Passion for social justice, and in particular the defence and promotion of public services to realise human rights.
• Ability to work alone and remotely, and to be self-motivated, without an in-person team or 3 work and with a large amount of desk-based work.
• Rigorous planner and attention to details when producing documents.
• Ability to work well under pressure and to manage multiple priorities while working effectively towards deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within GI-ESCR as well as with external partners.
• Very strong political judgement, ability to identify opportunities and to make assertive and sound decisions consistent with functions.
• Ability to travel of at least 25% of the time.
• Right to work in Senegal or in the ECOWAS region.
Application
Apply by filling-in the application form, and uploading your CV and cover letter.
For more information, visit GI-ESCR Job.
