Job Description 

JOB TITLE: Associate Program Officer, Legal Equality

REPORTS TO: Senior Legal Advisor, Legal Equality

LOCATION:  Nairobi, Kenya 

CONTRACT TYPE / HOURS: One and a half  years  with possible extension subject to funding 

REMUNERATION: Band 1 position: USD31,435$

ABOUT EQUALITY NOW

Equality Now, whose Africa Office serves as the Secretariat for the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) Coalition, is an international human rights organization working towards creating a society that is equal and just for women and girls all over the world. Equality Now’s work focuses on addressing systemic, multiple, and intersecting forms of discrimination and inequalities that continue to plague women and girls, especially those from vulnerable and marginalized backgrounds. Our campaigns are centered on four program areas: Legal Equality, End Sexual Violence, End Harmful Practices, and End Sexual Exploitation, with a cross-cutting focus on the unique needs of adolescent girls. We are truly global and we have a team of 70+ people located all around the world. We have team members in Benin, Beirut, London, Geneva, San Jose, El Salvador, Argentina, Nairobi, Tbilisi, New York, and Washington DC among others.  We offer a great experience for talented people who are passionate about equality. To work here, you’ll need to share our core values which are: integrity, tenaciousness, perseverance, and inclusivity. For more information, visit equalitynow.org .

The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) Coalition has a membership of over 70 organizations working on women’s rights in over 30 countries in Africa. SOAWR was formed with the principal objective of advocating for the adoption, ratification, domestication, and implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa In Africa (the Maputo Protocol), efforts have been and continue to be made toward ensuring that the rights and protections enshrined in regional and international human rights treaties are accessible to all women and girls. For more information, visit soawr.org. 

POSITION / ROLE SUMMARY

In order to enhance the application and implementation of the Maputo Protocol, the Associate Program Officer (APO) will support Equality Now and SOAWR’s work and advocacy for the full ratification, domestication, implementation, and accountability of the Maputo Protocol. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Working within the Legal Equality Programme at Equality Now, the APO will support the SOAWR Coalition and its Secretariat (Equality Now) on key initiatives related to its advocacy for the full ratification, domestication, and implementation of the Maputo Protocol:

1. Support Equality Now and the SOAWR Coalition Members in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) clusters  in the implementation and monitoring of the UN Women ACT (Advocacy, Coalition Building, and Transformative Feminist Action) Project. 
2. Support in the implementation of the SOAWR Communications Strategy with focus on the SOAWR podcast and Annual Journal.
3. Support Equality Now and the SOAWR ESA clusters in strengthening the capacities of non-traditional actors (traditional leaders, media, influencers, etc.) as Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) advocates, and in the development of Guidelines to support the engagement of civil society organisations with traditional and religious leaders.
4. Support Equality Now and the SOAWR ESA clusters in building the capacity of government representatives in the two regions on reporting to the provisions of the Maputo Protocol on EVAW (particularly focusing on officials in women and gender ministries/departments).
5. Support Equality Now together with the SOAWR ESA clusters in collaborating with strategic media stations in each of the 15 countries where the ESA cluster members are based to provide technical expertise on issues of Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) and women's rights as provided for under the Maputo Protocol.
6. Support Equality Now, together with the SOAWR ESA clusters, in working with local and regional influencers and celebrities to champion EVAW by raising public awareness and educating the public on the issue and using their platforms to put pressure on governments to meet their commitments to end violence against women. 
7. Support Equality Now and the SOAWR ESA clusters to build a regional network of feminist champions (including religious leaders, traditional leaders, media) to collaborate on and push back against backlash and the shrinking civic space, and the claw backs against EVAW and women’s rights in general. 
8. Where necessary, conduct high-quality continental, country-specific, and thematic research that will be used in targeted advocacy across different countries and regions on the Continent.
9. Monitor the human rights and political/ social situation of target countries to inform advocacy strategies for use by the SOAWR Coalition and its Secretariat.
10. Support the convening of events and meetings related to the overall objective outlined above including capacity strengthening activities, trainings, SOAWR members meetings, stakeholder meetings, advocacy missions etc, and other day-to-day support to the work of the Legal Equality (LEQ) team at Equality Now’s Nairobi Office.
11. Closely monitor the activities and updates given by consultants and other key players in the implementation of key research and advocacy initiatives.
12. Support other LEQ Africa campaigns on advancing the Maputo Protocol and women’s rights  when needed. . 
13. Support the convening of events and meetings, and other day to day support to the work of the Legal Equality team at Equality Now’s Nairobi Office.
14. Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time. 

Other duties as reasonably requested

• Participate in and contribute to Equality Now staff meetings including relevant thematic groups’ discussions.
• Collaborate with Equality Now’s media and communications teams to provide content emerging from our  work in Africa. 

Supervision 

• Supervise interns as required. 

Team membership

• Member of the Legal Equality team.

Key Stakeholders

• The APO will work with and interface with various stakeholders including the SOAWR members, CSOs, African Union organs and other inter-governmental agencies, governments, embassies, donors, lawyers, allies, and students. 

Key Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to prioritize work and be well organized in the execution and presentation of tasks; maintain good quality of work and consistency in this regard; exemplify a high degree of accountability for actions taken and not taken; work with minimum supervision; show commitment to the role and willingness to do more than what is expected; be courteous and willing to learn at every opportunity presented; seek clarity when unsure about instructions given; ability to remain motivated; results-oriented and with the ability to work independently and take initiative.

Research, Analysis, and Writing: Knowledge and understanding of human rights law, especially as it relates to women and girls; a firm knowledge of the content and application of the Maputo Protocol is highly desirable; ability to conduct high-quality legal research and apply efficient research strategies; ability to analyze and evaluate large amounts of information and draw justified conclusions; excellent writing and referencing skills.

Communication: Fluency in spoken and written English (required) and French (desirable); clarity in written and oral presentations; exercise of active listening; demonstration of openness in sharing information; communicating when necessary, for example when experiencing challenges in meeting deadlines.

Interpersonal skills: Ability to resolve conflict; ability to take up additional tasks when required to do so; ability to work in a team and collaborate with other colleagues for execution of specific tasks.

Organizational skills: Strong planning and organization skills and proven ability to steer and monitor progress against plans in order to deliver on set goals and results. Previous experience working within coalitions and consortia of organizations working on human rights and/or the rights of women and girls in Africa is desirable.

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in law, human rights, international relations, gender studies, social sciences or a related field is required.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ work experience in the non-profit, NGO, community development sectors or related field.
• A strong grasp of the African human rights system, women and girls’ rights issues in Africa, continental dynamics and their effects on the implementation of key treaties underpinning the rights of women and girls in Africa.
• Proven track record of knowledge and commitment – exhibited by coursework, writing, or work experience – to the rights of women and girls in Africa.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage concurrent deadlines.
• Fluency in English (required) and French(desirable).
• Prior experience working with coalitions, networks or consortia would be an added advantage.
• A deep profound understanding of and commitment to gender equality in the  law.
• Excellent writing, research, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication, excellent interpersonal, and networking skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace  and strong technical literacy.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently with a focus on achieving results. 
• Strong teamwork – working within and across program and geographical boundaries

HOW TO APPLY

Please visit: https://equalitynow.applytojob.com/ and submit a resume/CV (including the names and contact information of three professional referees), a cover letter (1 page), and a Sample of original writing on a topic related to the rights of women and girls in Africa (maximum of three pages).

The deadline for applications is Friday 18th October 2024 at 1700 HRS East AfricaTime.

Due to the volume of applicants anticipated for this role, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Equality Now is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Equality Now offers a competitive compensation package, including base salary, savings, health, and vacation benefits, and is an Equal Opportunity employer. Equality Now employees are selected on the basis of ability without regard to race, colour, religious beliefs, sex, gender identity and expression, language, political or other opinions, nationality, ethnic or social origin, disability, pregnancy, mental status, HIV status, age, marital status, or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Candidates are selected on the basis of ability, in accordance with all country and location-specific laws.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Friday 18th October 2024 at 1700 HRS East Africa Time 

Please fill in all required fields in the application form. If your application requires a written statement, writing example, or presentation, please attach it to the same document with your CV/resume or paste it into the same place where you write your cover letter. There is no other functionality to attach additional documents.

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