The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international feminist organization working to be a driving force within the global community of feminist and women’s rights activists, organizations and movements, strengthening our collective voice, influencing and transforming structures of power and decision-making and advancing human rights, gender justice and environmental sustainability worldwide.
About the WHRD Program:
Launched in 2010, AWID’s program on Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) works to:
1.Promote collaboration among human rights and women’s rights groups at the international level for joint advocacy and coordinated actions in support of WHRDs
2.Strengthen documenting, and model regional experiences in protection and support networks for WHRDs
3.Raise awareness about the situation of violence against WHRDs in different regions and existing tools and mechanisms to respond to it, and increase understanding of the diverse contexts that facilitate violence against WHRDs
4.Mobilize AWID’s constituencies to take rapid action in support of WHRDs at risk
Overview of the Position:
Three program coordinators work within the WHRD Program with various regional and thematic areas of focus. This position is full-time, reporting to the WHRD Manager, and primarily responsible for implementation of the WHRD strategy toward AWID’s 2016 International Forum, as well as relevant post-Forum strategy, which will aim to further consolidate partnerships with diverse groups to advance creative and collective responses to address and counter the violence and oppression facing WHRDs around the world.
Work Location of the Position:
•Work location is open •AWID offices are located in Cape Town, Mexico City and Toronto but applicants may apply to work from home in other locations •Applicants from the Global South are strongly encouraged to apply
Responsibilities:
Strategic Convenings & Capacity Building
•Refine and implement WHRD strategy for the 2016 Forum process. This includes: ◦Cultivating relationships with relevant program partners to inform strategy development and collaborative implementation ◦Developing a creative methodological proposal, aligned to the current strategy, for partner engagement in the lead-up to the Forum event, at the Forum, and post-Forum ◦Developing materials for use in the lead-up to the Forum in webinars or other activities with priority constituencies ◦Facilitating on-line exchanges and debates related to integrated security & protection and intersections with the Forum theme ◦Proactive outreach and relationship-building with groups working on integrated security and protection to encourage strong engagement in the Forum process ◦Organizing an “Integrated Protection & Security Area” on-site at the Forum with dimensions linked to: (i) wellness and self-care as fundamental strategies for the sustainability of our movements; (ii) digital security; (iii) solidarity networks; and (iv) urgent responses from a gendered perspective ◦Organizing activities related of the initiative around the impact of extractive industries in WHRD in coordination with the WHRD IC and other partners ◦Overseeing preparation and framing of WHRD Forum sessions, confirming speakers and preparing relevant materials ◦Collaboratively exploring creative strategies for expressions of solidarity and support with WHRDs through the Forum process and beyond, including organization of a WHRD tribute/memorial ◦Fulfilling WHRD team reporting requirements related to documentation of achievements and lessons ◦Engaging partners in development and implementation of post-Forum action plans ◦Participate, providing WRHD-specific inputs, in Forum planning and production through the staff Forum planning group, led by the Forum team ◦Develop suggestions for post-Forum WHRD follow-up priorities ◦Lead monitoring and evaluation of WHRD engagement in the Forum process ◦Maintains regular email communication with WHRD stakeholders and allies, identifying new opportunities for alliance-building ◦Participates in related meetings, representing AWID in international (or local/regional) venues as appropriate for the WHRD initiative
Knowledge Building and Research
•Prepare collaborative presentations of research highlights at the AWID Forum (and for other venues) •Draft and/or provide input to select communications in response to urgent situations facing WHRDs •Supporting AWID and partner advocacy efforts by drafting, editing and packaging relevant research findings and analysis to communicate with diverse priority audiences •Develop, edit and support presentations, articles and other documents highlighting WHRD content, in collaboration with other AWID programs where relevant •Adapt the WHRD program research and knowledge to create accessible materials, presentations, advocacy tools, etc.
On-line Communications & Outreach
•Edit and write WHRD in-depth interviews and analysis articles for publication •Source, edit and/or write relevant information for the WHRD sections of the AWID website and social media
AWID Resource Mobilization in Solidarity with WHRDs:
•Work with WHRD team members to develop campaigns in solidarity with WHRDs at risk. •Work in collaboration with the relevant staff for the production of membership appeals to raise awareness and inspire action regarding WHRDs.
Organizational Processes
•Contribute to WHRD work-planning, monitoring and evaluation processes •Active participant in relevant team planning and coordination meetings •Maintain collaborative relationships with staff across AWID as needed to ensure accountability and effective coordination of cross-team deliverables
Qualifications:
Experience:
4 to 6 years working for a non-profit organization in a related role:
•Working in women rights programs •Working with human rights systems •Building constituencies both face to face as well as virtually across different and diverse constituencies
Academic Qualifications:
•University degree in Social Sciences or relevant field •Courses or certificates in Women's/Feminist Studies and/or Human Rights
Expertise & Skills:
•Proven expertise in methodological design, popular education, facilitation and organization of different types of participatory events •Capacity to systematize information and produce content and documents of different formats, from a feminist and women’s rights perspective •Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills; ability to facilitate and coordinate diverse groups (bringing them together for joint action) •Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and French •Displays good judgment, sensitivity and attention to communication •Strong time management, detail orientation and thoroughness of work •Results-oriented and takes initiative; is able to work virtually and independently in small team •Project management experience: ability to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a work plan with multiple projects, multiple deliverables and deadlines •Ability to work under pressure and manage stress
Knowledge and Other Requirements:
•Understands the situations of violence that WHRDs face as a result of their work, and the complexities of the contexts that generate risks and violence •Committed to the principles and values of feminism and anti-racism •Travel: ability to travel internationally (approx. 4 weeks per year)
Assets:
•Experience using art for organizing and/or wellness processes •Familiarity with International and/or Regional Human Rights Mechanisms related to WHRD’s •Basic knowledge of the latest communication technologies; particularly content management systems and web 2.0 for the purpose of building online communities, information sharing and e-learning •Experience working on WHRD issues and with women’s organizations in Africa and/or Central and Eastern Europe •Working with grassroots women’s organizations in the Global South •Trilingual or Quad Lingual in English and French, Spanish, Arabic, Russia •Working in a multi-cultural team
How to apply:
Please submit, in English- a cover letter and résumé in Word or PDF format, addressing how you meet the necessary qualifications and outlining why you want to work for AWID, to jobs@awid.org by Sunday, August 2, 2015. In addition please include a response to the following question (no more than 300 words).
"What do you consider to be among the most important strategies to advance protection and security for women human rights defenders?”
Please include “WHRD – Program Coordinator – [your name]” as the subject line of your email.
We thank all those who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No calls please. AWID encourages, promotes and support diversity in all aspects of its work. To learn more about AWID and our programs, please visit our website at www.awid.org
