Year: 2017
Job Vacancy: Capacity Building Specialist
Job Vacancy: Capacity Building Specialist
Background
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a pioneering grantmaking foundation headquartered in Ghana. AWDF was founded by and for African women. Since 2001 we have awarded over 30 million USD in grants to support women’s rights organisations and feminist movements across Africa.
Capacity building is an integral component of AWDF’s grantmaking methodology. From experience we know that it is critical to complement grant awards of financial resources with support for women’s organisations to build systems, sustain healthy organisational cultures and advance feminist leadership and governance.
Women with a demonstrated commitment to women’s rights are encouraged to apply. Please note that the post is based in Ghana and AWDF will not be responsible for any relocation or related costs for potential candidates.
Job Summary
The Capacity Building Specialist’s role is to develop and coordinate the portfolio of the Capacity Building Unit of the AWDF and its work in strengthening the capacities of women’s organisations and advancing methodologies and visions around feminist capacity building in Africa and parts of the Middle East. The work of the unit is conducted in English, with selected initiatives in French.
The Capacity Building Specialist will work with colleagues in the Grants Department and the broader organisation, to sustain a programme of capacity building initiatives (including trainings, coaching, peer learning, grantmaking for capacity building and knowledge production), and to grow the work of the capacity building unit in line with the AWDF strategic direction and with support from senior management. The Capacity Building Specialist will engage also in other cross-departmental activities of AWDF, particularly in relation to human resources, and on request will represent AWDF in external activities.
The post requires experience in organisational capacity building, experience of working with African women’s organisations, a knowledge of African women’s rights issues and concerns, and strong writing skills. Experience of grantmaking is also ideal.
Specific duties are as follows:
- Lead the implementation and growth of AWDF’s Capacity Building Unit activities in line with the AWDF organisational strategy and AWDF’s capacity building methodology/ framework
- Coordinate the organisation, implementation and learning around capacity building activities. This includes capacity assessments, trainings, technical assistance, feminist coaching and providing direct capacity building support to grantees.
- Identify needs and oversee the production of specific capacity building tools for the Unit.
- Support the Grants Department in building and identifying ways to better integrate and grow capacity building approaches within grantmaking
- Liaise with Knowledge Management Unit and other units/departments to produce knowledge products such as documentation of capacity building initiatives by AWDF or grantees/programme participants, technical tools, reports and analysis.
- Contribute to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning around capacity building
- Provide input into donor proposals and reports, including supporting capacity building grantees to document experiences and outcomes for reporting.
- Represent AWDF in external meetings and on external communications and advocacy platforms.
- Manage the Capacity Building Assistant and other CBU staff or interns
- Any other duties assigned in furtherance of AWDF’s strategy.
Knowledge and Experience
- At least 7 years work experience in human rights/ social justice/ rights-based development
- Experience of designing, leading and/or managing capacity building programming for NGOs/ women’s organisations in the African region
- Experience of working in a donor/grantmaking organisation desirable
- In-depth understanding of feminism and demonstrable strong commitment to social justice, women’s rights and social change in Africa
- Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)
- High level of proficiency in MS Office required, experience of working with information management systems / databases preferred
- Excellent planning and programme management skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to work democratically with diverse groups and people.
- Ability to work to work to tight deadlines.
- Ability to travel within Africa/ internationally essential
- Willingness to work flexible working hours, occasionally outside of regular working hours are expected
Qualifications
- Post-graduate degree in Gender, Women’s Rights, Organisational Development or related discipline
- Working knowledge of French will be an advantage.
Qualified candidates should send a cover letter and CV of not more than 3 pages by email to: Human Resources Manager grace@africlub.net/awdf with ‘Application for position of Capacity Building Specialist’ as the subject line.
Applications should reach AWDF no later than 5th June 2017.
To download job description click HERE
Only short listed candidates will be contacted for additional information and interviews.
Vacancy: Knowledge Management Specialist
Vacancy: Knowledge Management Specialist
Background
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a pioneering grantmaking foundation headquartered in Ghana. AWDF was founded by and for African women. Since 2001 we have awarded over 30 million USD in grants to support women’s rights organisations and feminist movements across Africa.
As a learning organisation, the generation of knowledge, its management and dissemination is critical to the work of AWDF. Knowledge produced in various forms within AWDF is important to the organisation’s mandate to raise the profile and visibility of the organisation and the work of African feminist and women’s rights organisations, movements and activists. AWDF disseminates knowledge to showcase the work of its grantees, facilitate information to strengthen that work, raise awareness of the issues they seek to address, to influence decision-making and donor priorities, and to mobilise greater public support for women’s rights in Africa.
Women with a demonstrated commitment to women’s rights are encouraged to apply. Please note that the post is based in Ghana and AWDF will not be responsible for any relocation or related costs for potential candidates.
Job Summary
The Knowledge Management Specialist’s role is to lead and coordinate the work of the AWDF Knowledge Management Unit- producing analysis, generating new knowledge around women’s rights in Africa, and collaborating to communicate the impact of AWDF’s work and the work of its grantees, advocacy and movement building partners. The unit coordinates also the documentation of organizational learning and knowledge generation within AWDF.The work of the unit is conducted in English, with selected initiatives in French.
To do this the Knowledge Management Specialist will work with colleagues to sustain a programme of knowledge generation and management initiatives (including documentation, archiving, building knowledge resources, co-developing and managing knowledge production by staff and external actors), and to grow the work of the Knowledge Management unit in line with the AWDF strategic framework and direction and with support from Senior Management. As a member of the AWDF staff team, the Knowledge Management Specialist will also engage in other cross-departmental activities of AWDF and on request will represent AWDF in external events.
The post requires experience in knowledge production around women’s organising, experience of working with African women’s organisations, an in-depth knowledge of African women’s rights issues and concerns, strong analytical, writing and editing skills. Experience of overseeing design and production of knowledge in different mediums and forms (written, audio, film, visual) is ideal.
Specific duties are as follows:
- Support the implementation and growth of AWDF’s Knowledge Management Unit activities in line with the AWDF organisational strategy
- Coordinate commissioning, repackaging and dissemination of knowledge materials around AWDF’s key areas of work for a range of audiences; and plan for dissemination in collaboration with the Communications Department
- Support AWDF’s internal knowledge management strategies, including building staff capacity for using AWDF’s knowledge tools, circulating information on issues of relevance to AWDF’s work and contributing to office learning activities.
- Liaise with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Unit and other departments to document, produce knowledge and disseminate learnings around AWDF’s work and impact, and that of its grantees.
- Liaise with the Director of Programmes and other departments to expand knowledge production activities including AWDF’s work on Futures research and other knowledge areas as identified by AWDF’s strategy and emerging needs.
- Sustain quality standards for external knowledge products by ensuring compliance with AWDF’s publications guidelines, and keeping guidelines updated in line with good practice in feminist knowledge production.
- Produce annual end of year report and activities report in collaboration with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Unit, senior management and all departments.
- Manage AWDF’s physical Resource Centre and online resource library, keeping them updated and encouraging use of materials by AWDF staff and external users through outreach activities.
- Work across departments to support implementation of a new information management system
- Further develop and support ongoing work to sustain and grow AWDF’s network of African women knowledge producers in different domains (NGO, donor, academia, policy, design and creative sectors)
- Manage staff, consultants and interns involved directly in Knowledge Management Unit activities.
- Represent AWDF in external meetings and on external communications and advocacy platforms.
- Any other duties assigned in furtherance of AWDF’s strategy.
Knowledge and Experience
- At least 7 years work experience in human rights/ social justice/ rights-based development involving knowledge management and production.
- Expertise in producing knowledge on women’s rights concerns for NGOs/activist, policy and/or donor audiences. Experience of developing or managing information systems (for example, virtual or physical libraries or archives) and in using multiple communication and knowledge production formats (film, audio, visual/graphics) desirable
- Experience of working in African women’s rights, social justice or policy organisations
- In-depth understanding of feminism and strong commitment to social justice, women’s rights and social change in Africa essential
- Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and strong editing skills
- Demonstrated capacity for analysis and for synthesizing complex information for different audiences.
- High level of proficiency in MS Office required. Experience of working with information management systems / databases and with WordPress and social media platforms preferred
- Excellent planning and programme management skills
- Ability to work independently and part of a team
- Ability to work democratically with diverse groups and people and commitment to AWDF’s feminist values
- Ability to work to work to tight deadlines.
- Ability to travel within Africa/ internationally essential
- Willingness to work flexible working hours, occasionally outside of regular working hours are expected
Qualifications
- Post-graduate degree in Gender, Women’s Rights, Knowledge Management or related discipline, ideally with a research component
- Working knowledge of French will be an advantage.
Qualified candidates should send a cover letter and CV of not more than 3 pages by email to: Human Resources Manager grace@africlub.net/awdf with ‘Application for position of Knowledge Management Specialist’ as the subject line.
Applications should reach AWDF no later than 5th June 2017.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted for additional information and interviews.
To download job description click HERE
RAPPORT DE PROGRAMMATION AXÉ SUR LES RÉSULTATS EN FRANÇAIS – ATELIER TOGO
RAPPORT DE PROGRAMMATION AXÉ SUR LES RÉSULTATS EN FRANÇAIS – ATELIER TOGO
Les femmes africaines rencontrent souvent des difficultés à changer les causes de leurs privations parce qu’elles n’ont pas de capacités adéquates pour entreprendre des actions axées sur les résultats. En 2003, le Fonds de Développement pour la Femme Africaine (AWDF) a créé une Unité de Renforcement des Capacités (CBU) en vue de répondre aux besoins en matière de capacités des organisations de défense des droits des femmes et leur permettre de mettre en œuvre efficacement des programmes dans cinq domaines thématiques prioritaires pour les femmes africaines. Depuis sa création, l’Unité a organisé une série de formations dans les domaines suivants : le leadership, la gestion financière, la communication, la mise en réseau, la mobilisation des ressources et la gestion axée sur les résultats à l’intention des bénéficiaires des subventions de l’AWDF afin d’assurer un impact durable.
Les organisations de Introduction à l’atelier de Programmation Axée sur les Résultats (PAR) défense des droits des femmes des pays francophones africains sont limitées dans leurs capacités d’accès aux subventions de l’AWDF principalement en raison de leurs faibles compétences en matière de préparation des propositions de financement efficaces. Souvent, leurs propositions ne font pas ressortir clairement les raisons pour lesquelles elles existent, ce qu’elles veulent réaliser avec les subventions, qui sont leurs partenaires et comment ces partenaires mesurent-ils leurs réalisations.
C’est en effet dans cette perspective que l’AWDF a organisé au Togo, du 26 au 28 novembre 2015, un atelier destiné aux cadres dirigeants de 16 organisations bénéficiaires (voir liste des participantes en annexe 1) afin de renforcer leurs capacités en matière de programmation axée sur les résultats.
Results Based Programing Report in French -Togo Report (dragged)
Rapport de programmation axé sur les résultats en français – Atelier BURKINA Faso
Rapport de programmation axé sur les résultats en français – Atelier BURKINA Faso
L ’objectif de l’atelier de trois (3) jours sur la Programmation axée sur les résultats (RBP) est d’apporter un appui aux bénéficiaires du Fonds de Développement pour la Femme Africaine (AWDF) dans les domaines de l’application du RBP dans leurs organisations et de la conception de leurs programmes. Au total, 17 participantes ont pris part à l’atelier, deux membres de l’équipe de l’AWDF, un interprète et une animatrice. La liste des participantes et le programme figurent en annexe. Le présent rapport est structuré comme suit: 1) Résumé du contenu de l’atelier; 2) Observations et commentaires du formateur sur l’atelier; et 3) Recommandations et suggestions aux fins du suivi.
Results Based Programming Report in French -Burkina Faso Workshop
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR AWDF FEMINIST LEADERS & GOVERNANCE COACHING PROJECT, 2017 (3rd COHORT)
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR AWDF FEMINIST LEADERS & GOVERNANCE COACHING PROJECT, 2017 (3rd COHORT)
Background
In 2014, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) launched a feminist coaching project on leadership for women leaders of its grantee organisations. In 2015, the project was expanded to include strengthening governance frameworks within participating organisations. The project is based on our knowledge of the persistent challenges of African women’s organisations with issues related to resource mobilisation, communications, governance, leadership transition, safety and wellbeing. Given these constraints and the external context women’s organisations work in, they tend to focus on narrow short-term advocacy or urgent service-delivery projects, with little capacity to expand alliances, envision innovative strategies and be forward thinking.
This coaching project seeks to develop the individual leadership skills and values of participating CEOs/EDs as well as those in second level management. It is also aimed at strengthening the institutional and governance structures of participating organisations and providing an enabling framework fortheirrelevance and sustainability. At AWDF, we believe that a well-grounded leader in feminist values, ideology and clarity of purpose can accelerate the process of social justice and development effectively. Therefore, investment in both individual leaders and governance frameworks of African women’s rights organisations is vital.
By September this year, the third batch of 10 AWDF grantee organisations and 20 women leaders will be completing the coaching project. So far, these grantees are reporting improvements in leadership and communication styles, effective staff management and active engagement of their board members. Leaders have improved their visibility and fundraising abilities through written articles and their media appearances.
3 rd Coaching Cohort: Project Duration & Methodology
This is a 9-month coaching project on leadership and governance from November 2017– July 2018. The project is targeted at CEO/EDs/Programme Managers/Coordinators and those in second level management of AWDF grantee organisations within the age bracket of 18 – 40 years.
The coaching project will entail the following:
1. Attending the 7 th Chief Executive Officer (CEO) forum. This is a 3 day event for orientation, skills sharing, strategy development and networking for participating leaders, coaches and AWDF. This event will be held in October 2017. (Venue and dates will be communicated later)
2. Engaging in one-on-one coaching via phone calls, email, Skype conversations and occasional inperson meetings with their personal coaches from November 2017 – July 2018
3. Governance strengthening activities for boards of participating organisations, twice within the 9 months.
4. Writing of opinion pieces or articles by leaders about their work and development.
5. Participating in at least one AWDF skill building training/workshop where necessary.
Who Should Apply?
Interested organisations should fulfil the following criteria in order to be considered for this project:
✓ Be an AWDF grantee and should have received grants from AWDF in the last 3-5 years
✓ The organisation should have an existing board which will be available for the governance strengthening trainings.
✓ The organisation should have a minimum of 3 full-time staff
✓ The organisation should have access to reliable internet and be able to use Skype and email.
✓ The organisation should have functioning office space with basic office infrastructure.
✓ The organisation should work on any of these themes: Body and Health Rights (focus on ending Violence against Women, and Reproductive Rights) and Economic Security and Justice (focus on Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods) with women, especially young women.
✓ Two staff members from an organisation’s leadership. That is one CEO/ED/programme Manager/Coordinators and one staff from the next level in management.
✓ Applying leaders should be within the ages of 18 – 40 years.
✓ Leaders should be able to communicate in either English or French.
✓ Leaders should be able to communicate via internet, Skype, telephone and email.
✓ Leaders who have demonstrated the potential to develop. To be considered forthe project, your organisation isrequired to send your application to the AWDF Capacity Building Unit at; Nafi@awfd.org and Ayesha@africlub.net/awdf; justifying why you and your organisation should be selected for the project.
All applications MUST be received by 12th June 2017.
Please include the following in your application:
❖ Names and positions of 2 staff from your organisation who will be participating in the project
❖ Why your organisation should be considered (highlighting on leadership & governance issues).
❖ Your last grant from AWDF, the year and for what project.
❖ Which level(s) your organisation typically engages in i.e. community, national or regional
❖ Challenges you hope to overcome in the process
❖ How the project will enable you achieve your individual and organisational objectives.
❖ Include a written recommendation from your board endorsing you and your participation in the project
❖ Any other information to strengthen your application is welcome. Participation in this project is by application only. As only a specific number of grantee organisations will be chosen to participate in the project, there are no promises of automatic qualification for applying organisations. This is a non-paying project and participants are required to commit at least 10% of their total work time to the process. Please note that the individual leadership coaching project is reserved for ONLY WOMEN LEADERS. Deadline for Submission is 12th June 2017. The full application should be sent to Nafi Chinery, Capacity Building Programme Specialist at Nafi@africlub.net/awdf and cc: Ayesha@africlub.net/awdf Thank you.
To download the call for applications click the link below:
Announcement for Women Leadership and Governance Coaching Project 2017