Africa Platform for Social Protection (APSP)
Vacancy Announcement for the Position of a Programme Manager
The APSP is seeking to recruit a Programme Manager for a fixed term of Six months starting from June 2016
Job Title: Programme Manager
Department: Programmes
Location: Nairobi
Responsible to: Executive Director
Overall Purpose
To be the focal point in the development of an Africa-wide network of civil society organisations (CSOs) working to promote effective social protection policies in African countries. Working closely with the Executive Director, the PM will engage with CSOs, NGO’s, the UN, regional and international bodies actively working on the design and delivery, monitoring of and advocacy on social protection programmes. The PM will play a key role in supporting the activities of Platform members at country level, strengthening their capacity and equipping them with skills to lobby and advocate on SP. The PM will be a member of the Management Team, managing a team of development officers, leading on the development of programmes and taking parting developing plans and strategies of the APSP as well as deputising for the ED.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Programme Development
· Work with the ED to develop strategies and plans for the delivery of the APSP agenda
· Monitor new developments in social protection and develop programmes to respond to them
· Research new funding opportunities and working with the Programme team, develop, write, edit and submit high quality proposals as required
· Prepare and monitor budgets, ensuring that all programme work is implemented within agreed budget limits
· Ensure that narrative and financial reports to donors are provided as required.
2. Support and coordinate the Platform activities at national and regional level:
· Provide organisational development support to Platform members and partners to improve governance, advocacy, and programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation
· Support Platform members to develop and implement national action plans in their countries
· Provide general liaison and coordination with Platform members and ensure that a regular news update is circulated to all the Platform members
· Ensure the development of linkages between Platform members across the continent for purposes of networking and sharing of information and learning
3. Lead, coordinate and implement the Platform’s communications and external relations strategy
· Represent the APSP and the work of Platform members and partners at meetings with donors, governments and other external bodies.
· Work with the ED to develop a communications, media and external relations strategy and to manage its implementation.
· Establish and build working relations with research and training institutions and other relevant stakeholders such as UN agencies with a view to developing partnerships.
· Establish and build working relations, and develop advocacy channels with appropriate sections of the AU.
· Advise on, and where appropriate, coordinate lobbying on social protection issues with the AU, the RECS and other international bodies.
4. Budgeting, Monitoring and Reporting
· Work with the ED to prepare the annual budget and provide regular reports as required.
· Work with the ED to review, on a monthly basis, the APSP expenditures and ensure that they are in line with budgets
· Working with the ED, develop a process for assessing, selecting and reporting projects implemented by Platform members with APSP support.
· Prepare programme budgets as necessary during proposal development and development of organisational plans
4. Management and Administration
· Support the ED in developing and overseeing financial policies, systems and procedures
· Contribute to the development of APSP policies.
· Be responsible for managing programme as well as other staff as appropriate
· Ensure all programme outputs and deliverables are achieved and are of high quality
· Support the preparation for meetings of the Board by contributing to agendas, briefings, updates on progress at regional and national level etc.
· Be a member of the APSP Management Team (MT) that meets monthly to discuss and take strategic decisions for the organisation
· Deputise for the ED
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Essential
- At least 5 years experience in advocacy
- Experience in communications
- Successful record of working as a project manager/coordinator
- Strong experience working with African community based organisations
· Excellent communication skills both verbal & written
- Excellent networking skills and ability to build strong working relationships and foster open communications.
- Strong project planning skills with proven ability to organise and prioritise tasks and manage own time efficiently;
- Ability to understand and manage project finances;
- Proven ability to motivate and inspire others with ideas;
- Computer literate (Word, Excel, Internet, Outlook, Powerpoint).
- Willing to travel to countries involved in the project.
- Fluent in French
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of social protection policies and programmes;
HOW TO APPLY:
The deadline for applications is 24th May 2016.Please send your application to the
Executive Director, info@africapsp.org
