Africa Hub Director At American Friends Service Committee

Status: Full-Time, 2 Years with possible extension

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Application Deadline: May 16, 2021

For consideration, please attach your Cover Letter and Resume to the online application in addition to answering the Application Questions.

Summary of Principal Responsibilities

In consortium with two other organizations, AFSC as the lead applicant is in the process of establishing the Africa Hub located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The hub aims to mobilize Horn of Africa civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, academia and activists in the peace building sphere by strengthening the advocacy capacity of participants, creating and sustaining networks in order to influence policy through evidence based advocacy. The hub will act as a trusted convenor for civil society and other stakeholders to deliberate on sensitive issues as they impact peace in the region.

The Africa Hub Director (AHD) will be a critical member of the Africa leadership team (ALT) and responsible for the operational success of the Africa hub that includes the Ethiopia country Program, overseeing the successful implementation of the “Transforming Lives in the East and Horn of Africa Region through Evidence-based Advocacy and Campaigning for Peaceful Change”, (hereon after referred to as “Africa Hub”) financed by Bread for the World (BftW). The Africa Hub is a 3 year collaboration between AFSC, All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and Europe External Programs for Africa (EEPA). The AHD is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day activities of the Africa hub work and for keeping a birds-eye view of the HoA operations. This includes ensuring seamless team management, coordination of the consortium, program delivery, and quality control and evaluation. The AHD will coordinate and facilitate the work of the Africa Hub, ensuring the integrated holistic approach in Program implementation among consortium partners in the achievements of Program outcomes. The AHD will play a key role in resource mobilization and will support the Regional Director in fundraising. Together with the Africa Regional Director, the AHD will be the key external representative of the AFSC in the community and in relationship with other stakeholders. The AHD will report to the Africa Regional Director and work with CRs, PEAC and QIAR in Africa region and several AFSC experts at the Central office in Philadelphia.

AFSC, EEPA and AACC formed a consortium with a common interest to engage in peacebuilding and advocacy in the Horn of Africa region. AFSC, as the project holder, will handle all contractual agreements with BftW, and a sub-contract with its implementing partners that mirrors BftW’s cooperation agreement. Besides its active implementation role in advocacy, AFSC is responsible for program and financial management.

The project plans to make significant contributions to equipping CSO and FBO activists in the East and Horn of Africa region with evidence, know-how, research and skills to positively influence conflict situations as well as policy development, thereby becoming peace makers. The project plans to make a long-lasting contribution to advocacy in the East and Horn of Africa region by equipping CSOs and FBOs to engage in advocacy activities on the grassroots and also influence policy making processes at national, regional, and international levels. Threats that arise from complex factors like peace, security, human rights, good governance, and socio-economic development require a policy response that goes beyond reacting to symptoms, which is what this project seeks to advocate and influence. Of equal importance is that this project aims to engage with policymaking institutions such as the African Union, IGAD, and EU among others.

The program will support the emergence of advocacy platforms and alliances for various CSOs and FBOs in peace and security. Besides conducting new researches, it also promotes existing public data utilization to encourage informed dialogue on certain issues.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities: The key responsibilities of the position include the following:

1. Help establish and manage AFSC Ethiopia office, performing administrative tasks, in collaboration with AFSC Africa Regional Finance and Admin Manager based in Nairobi.
2. Manages overall planning and implementation of technical and operational aspects of the Africa hub project, working collaboratively with AFSC Africa Leadership Team and Ethiopia project team.
3. Recruits local technical staff, support staff and consultants, in collaboration with AFSC Africa Regional Finance and Admin Manager and Africa Regional Director, and in accordance with AFSC policies.
4. Supervises and evaluates in-country project staff in accordance with AFSC HR policies.
5. Provides day-to-day leadership of AFSC activities, management and technical direction for activities, while ensuring compliance with local and donor requirements.
6. Works with Finance Manager and AFSC Africa Leadership to monitor and mitigate risks.
7. Maintains a working knowledge of project budgets and expenditure and assists the Finance Manager to set up and implement appropriate systems for project financials.
8. Facilitates knowledge management, communications, and information flow for the project.
9. Ensures that project complies with cross-cutting themes of gender and diversity.
10. Ensures project complies to AFSC policies and procedures and BftW policies, requirements and guidelines.
11. Serves as principal point of contact with local subcontractor representatives. Collaborate with partners, donor and stakeholder representatives, building and maintaining productive relationships.
12. Ensure that the Africa Hub annual plan (both narrative and budget) is developed and executed in consultation with the consortium partners.
13. Manage the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.
14. Responsible for further development and successful implementation of the AFSC Ethiopia program in close dialogue with the Africa Regional Director, consortium partners, relevant ministries, and other partners including local and international.
15. Ensure that both internal and external program evaluations are conducted on time and based on donor and AFSC requirements.
16. Manage sub-grants offered to local implementing partners and consortium partners according to donor and AFSC requirements.
17. Participate actively in sharing knowledge and lessons learnt.
18. Liaison between AFSC and the African Union in Addis Ababa
19. Represent AFSC and the consortium in advocacy networks in the Horn of Africa, AU, IGAD and other regional instruments.
20. In consultation with the Africa Regional Director, act as spokesperson and liaison to media, government, and other actors, take a lead in organizing media outreach.
21. Provide talking points and other materials as needed for Africa Regional Director and senior leadership team in Philadelphia as required.

Representation and Networking

1. Serve as the primary focal point for the consortium to Bread For the World horn of Africa office and Germany.
2. Coordinate the interaction and flow of internal and external communication between the Africa hub and AFSC Offices as well as coordination with partners and other consortium members.
3. Develop, strengthen, and expand AFSC contacts in Ethiopia. Articulate AFSC’s basic philosophical and faith-based commitments as appropriate, including the organization’s commitment to a nonviolent approach to conflict and long-term strategy for peace building and social justice.
4. Establish and strengthen institutional relationships and partnerships with local institutions, government ministries, international NGOs, coordinating bodies, and UN agency officials.
5. Develop and maintain familiarity with government plans and programs, other international and local civil society organizations relevant to the AFSC’s goals and objectives. Participate in international NGO coordinating meetings as appropriate and relevant.
6. Provide to Africa Regional Director timely information on changes in the national/regional context, program locations, and policies that affect AFSC work.
7. Represent AFSC at key international and national events as appropriate.
8. Coordinate and handle the internal and external communications strategy and plan of the Africa Hub Program. Work with Communication in Philadelphia to ensure that all publications and reports comply with AFSC communication strategy.

Stewardship of Resources

1. Ensure sound fiscal management of supervised programs including oversight of budgeting and accounting procedures defined by AFSC and donor partners; preparation and timely processing of monthly financial reports; oversight of contracts, equipment and materials.
2. With the guidance of the Africa Regional Director, and other support units in the AFSC Philadelphia office, and the Development Department, contribute to the planning and implementation of fundraising and communication strategies including preparation of materials, periodic donor visits and other visits in Ethiopia, in the United States and in Europe.
3. Actively involved in resource mobilization including institutional fundraising (proposal development), private and individual donations.

Staff Safety and Security

1. Develop, in consultation with the Regional Director and the AFSC Central Office security focal person, security policies and procedures for the region.
2. Ensure the local security plans by local security focal persons and that this information is effectively shared with AFSC colleagues or visitors coming to the region.
3. Other duties related to AFSC work in the region, as directed by the Regional Director.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree preferred, with specialization in international development, advocacy or peace and conflict studies, or a Bachelor’s degree with significant relevant experience.

Experience:

• Six years of experience in international positions working in the Africa with increasing responsibility in planning and managing advocacy and development programs.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; demonstrated ability to report orally and in writing; ability to write and edit materials for publication in English.
• Experience working and living in Ethiopia and experience traveling and working outside of one’s own country in the global south.

Other Required Skills and Abilities:

1. Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
2. Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations, of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.
3. Proven ability to work with diverse staff and to reach out collaboratively to individuals, groups and organizations.
4. Track record of managing complex programs, ideally with an emphasis in advocacy. Demonstrated experience in strategic thinking, fundraising, grant writing, program planning and implementation.
5. Ability to work independently in an unstructured setting and program, yet within a framework of long-distance communication, consultation, and decision making.
6. Capacity for coping in situations of high risk and in compliance with security measures, to work under pressure, and to organize time effectively.
7. Demonstrated administrative ability, including experience with staff supervision, financial management, narrative and financial reporting, and budgeting
8. Understanding of macroeconomic and political developments in the world and the ability to interpret their impact within the context of regional issues and concerns.
9. Experience with peace-building, conflict transformation, livelihoods, trauma healing, and nonviolent approaches to problem solving highly desirable.
10. Ability to travel regularly, nationally and internationally, and to attend frequent evening and weekend meetings, working overtime as needed.
11. Excellent computer skills.

Compensation: Salary begins at $66,519 with minimal flexibility based on experience – Exempt – AFSC provides a comprehensive salary which includes a country differential and savings (available for assignments of at least six months). For appointees with children, reasonable school costs are also covered, and each child is eligible for savings allowance. Note: country differential and school costs only apply to staff who are living in a country that is not their home country. Benefits and insurances provided by AFSC are dental care, group life insurance, health, short and long-term disability, accident, and high-risk insurances. Emergency evacuation and business travel insurances are also provided.

The American Friends Service Committee is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, national origin, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

AFSC’s Central Office and some of its offices in the U.S. are unionized workplaces. This position is not represented.

The American Friends Service Committee is a smoke-free workplace.