The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) is a leading, independent Pan-African Policy and Advocacy Centre on Child Rights, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ACPF was established with the conviction that putting children first on the public and political agenda and investing in their wellbeing are fundamental for bringing about lasting social and economic progress in Africa and its integration and participation in the world economy. ACPF’s work is rights-based, inspired by universal values and informed by global experiences and knowledge. ACPF aims to provide a platform for dialogue; contribute to improve knowledge of the problems facing children in Africa; identity policy options; and strengthen the capacity of NGOs and governments to develop and implement effective pro-child policies and programmes.
ACPF carries out and commissions a large volume of studies, surveys and publications on child rights and wellbeing and works closely with a large number of child rights organisations in Africa. It engages with African policy and decision-makers to address policy and legal issues and promote action. It also organises conferences, symposiums and various kinds of meetings for policy-makers and child rights activists on topical issues and themes.
ACPF is looking for a dynamic professional to fill the position of Programme Head, for CHILDREN AND THE LAW Programme. The Programme Head of the Children and the Law Unit has a critical leadership and technical role in the organisation in terms of ensuring synergy of this programme area. He/she ensures that work carried out in this specific programme Unit is relevant, innovative, of high technical quality, managed and implemented effectively and in accordance with ACPF’s programme priorities and strategies.
- Position with ACPF Structure and Accountability
The Programme Head reports directly to the Programme Director.
- Key Responsibilities
Programme management and leadership:
• Contributes to overall achievement of programme vision, strategy, conceptual clarity and outcomes;
• Brings coherence, harmonisation, synergy and added value to all phases of the specific programme processes using a results-based management approach;
• Prepares technically sound, coherent and well presented concept notes and programme/project proposals;
• Contributes to organisational strategic planning documents and processes;
• Develops and manages sound monitoring and evaluation frameworks for all aspects of work in the programme area including outputs, outcomes and impact;
• Makes substantive contributions to programme management team deliberations and engages his/her programme Unit staff on the same;
• Inspires and manages staff performance to meet agreed outputs and outcome.
• Contributes to overall achievement of programme vision, strategy, conceptual clarity and outcomes;
• Brings coherence, harmonisation, synergy and added value to all phases of the specific programme processes using a results-based management approach;
• Prepares technically sound, coherent and well presented concept notes and programme/project proposals;
• Contributes to organisational strategic planning documents and processes;
• Develops and manages sound monitoring and evaluation frameworks for all aspects of work in the programme area including outputs, outcomes and impact;
• Makes substantive contributions to programme management team deliberations and engages his/her programme Unit staff on the same;
• Inspires and manages staff performance to meet agreed outputs and outcome.
Oversight of Technical Standards/Quality:
• Keeps abreast of new and emerging developments and best practices in children and the law, through the literature;
• Oversees all aspects of work to ensure that work is of the highest technical quality and meets universal best practices and technical standards.
• Keeps abreast of new and emerging developments and best practices in children and the law, through the literature;
• Oversees all aspects of work to ensure that work is of the highest technical quality and meets universal best practices and technical standards.
Planning and Organization:
• Prepares and manages high quality work plans for the Unit;
• Manages and implements work processes according to clearly defined plans, with key milestones, ensures agreed outputs are delivered in a timely manner, including for multi-agency projects and for consultants.
• Prepares and manages high quality work plans for the Unit;
• Manages and implements work processes according to clearly defined plans, with key milestones, ensures agreed outputs are delivered in a timely manner, including for multi-agency projects and for consultants.
Research and Analysis:
• Designs and implements high quality research that meets rigorous academic and ethical standards;
• Ensures that comprehensive literature reviews are undertaken and diverse secondary sources of data and information are used effectively as part of research work;
• Documents and synthesises research findings and presents these through high-quality reports;
• Seeks opportunities to publish research findings in peer reviewed journals and other fora;
• Seeks ways of bridging the gap between policy and practice in all the work of the programme;
• Develops a database of consultants and research institutions relevant to the work of the Programme.
• Designs and implements high quality research that meets rigorous academic and ethical standards;
• Ensures that comprehensive literature reviews are undertaken and diverse secondary sources of data and information are used effectively as part of research work;
• Documents and synthesises research findings and presents these through high-quality reports;
• Seeks opportunities to publish research findings in peer reviewed journals and other fora;
• Seeks ways of bridging the gap between policy and practice in all the work of the programme;
• Develops a database of consultants and research institutions relevant to the work of the Programme.
Policy Development and Systems Strengthening:
• Contributes to the development of relevant policies;
• Analyses and understands research findings in terms of the implications and opportunities for policy development and policy options;
• Seeks to ensure that policy development informs and influences practice;
• Understands and where relevant seeks ways to strengthen the systems, structures and capacities that need to facilitate the implementation of policies.
• Contributes to the development of relevant policies;
• Analyses and understands research findings in terms of the implications and opportunities for policy development and policy options;
• Seeks to ensure that policy development informs and influences practice;
• Understands and where relevant seeks ways to strengthen the systems, structures and capacities that need to facilitate the implementation of policies.
Advocacy and Communication:
• In collaboration with the Advocacy and Communications Unit, identifies opportunities for multi-faceted advocacy and contributes to effective advocacy to influence change;
• Ensures advocacy is based on high-quality and a sound evidence-base;
• Provides support to the Advocacy and Communications Unit as may be required.
• In collaboration with the Advocacy and Communications Unit, identifies opportunities for multi-faceted advocacy and contributes to effective advocacy to influence change;
• Ensures advocacy is based on high-quality and a sound evidence-base;
• Provides support to the Advocacy and Communications Unit as may be required.
Representation:
• Represents the organisation in appropriate external settings and makes high-quality contributions.
• Represents the organisation in appropriate external settings and makes high-quality contributions.
Partnerships and Networking:
• Promotes, builds and maintains partnerships and alliances primarily within Africa and globally, particular in the sector of child law reform and legal protection of children;
• Identifies and maintains strategic partnerships in this sector;
• Develops and maintains positive relations with the AU and other entities, particularly the Department of Social Affairs, the ACERWC, the Regional Economic Commissions, donors, official authorities, academia, other CSOs and other agencies.
• Promotes, builds and maintains partnerships and alliances primarily within Africa and globally, particular in the sector of child law reform and legal protection of children;
• Identifies and maintains strategic partnerships in this sector;
• Develops and maintains positive relations with the AU and other entities, particularly the Department of Social Affairs, the ACERWC, the Regional Economic Commissions, donors, official authorities, academia, other CSOs and other agencies.
Child Participation:
• Develops innovative, best practice and feasible methods of meaningfully integrating children’s perspectives at all levels of work, including in research, policy development and advocacy, and ensures their implementation.
• Develops innovative, best practice and feasible methods of meaningfully integrating children’s perspectives at all levels of work, including in research, policy development and advocacy, and ensures their implementation.
- Key Qualifications
• Post-graduate university degree in Law, International Law, Human Rights or other relevant field.
Experience:
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in international development work, preferably in Africa;
• Substantial experience and knowledge of research, policy and programme/project management.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in international development work, preferably in Africa;
• Substantial experience and knowledge of research, policy and programme/project management.
Competencies:
Professionalism
• Expert knowledge of the current trends and issues, as well as demonstrated skills and experience in child rights programming in child law and legal protection of children;
• In-depth understanding of development, economic and social issues in Africa at continental, regional and national levels, particularly in relation to children;
• Understanding of the African Union and the UN mechanisms for child rights;
• Shows pride in their work; takes initiative; takes responsibility for their actions, and demonstrates commitment to achieving results.
• Expert knowledge of the current trends and issues, as well as demonstrated skills and experience in child rights programming in child law and legal protection of children;
• In-depth understanding of development, economic and social issues in Africa at continental, regional and national levels, particularly in relation to children;
• Understanding of the African Union and the UN mechanisms for child rights;
• Shows pride in their work; takes initiative; takes responsibility for their actions, and demonstrates commitment to achieving results.
Analytical, research and policy skills
• Demonstrated analytical skills and extensive experience in research, analysis, synthesis and presentation of information;
• Demonstrated ability to link research with policy development and to link policy development with practice;
• Demonstrated skills in managing multi-disciplinary projects and prior experience of leading and managing a team.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and extensive experience in research, analysis, synthesis and presentation of information;
• Demonstrated ability to link research with policy development and to link policy development with practice;
• Demonstrated skills in managing multi-disciplinary projects and prior experience of leading and managing a team.
Communication
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
• Listens well and reflects on different perspectives;
• Presents well and understands how to tailor presentations to different audiences;
• Strong communication skills in English and ideally in French and/or an African language;
• Works well with teams;
• Seeks to resolve conflict and identify solutions.
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
• Listens well and reflects on different perspectives;
• Presents well and understands how to tailor presentations to different audiences;
• Strong communication skills in English and ideally in French and/or an African language;
• Works well with teams;
• Seeks to resolve conflict and identify solutions.
Values
• Commitment to and understanding of mission, vision, values and principles of ACPF;
• Acts with integrity and honesty and embraces diversity.
• Commitment to and understanding of mission, vision, values and principles of ACPF;
• Acts with integrity and honesty and embraces diversity.
How to apply:
ACPF is an equal opportunities employer. This position is open to all nationalities. African nationals and women are especially encouraged to apply.
Applicants can send their letter of application and resume on or before October 18, 2013 tojobs2013@africanchildforum.org . If you have not been contacted two weeks after the deadline, please consider your application unsuccessful.
0 comments:
Post a Comment