Call for story proposals on Pan-African land grabs; Programme Officer, DRC; and other opportunities

Call for Story Proposals: Pan-African Land Grabbing Expose Launched

Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR) has created a partnership with the US based Oakland Institute (OI) to investigate specific cases of land grabbing in Africa. OI has pioneered investigative research in this field that has changed policy, broken corrupt deals, etc. We are looking for eight to ten journalists who are highly skilled with a history of innovative investigative journalism, able to travel to remote areas longer periods of time, able to speak to diverse audiences (from corporates to displaced peoples), and who are ready and willing to get their hands dirty. Send through a letter of motivation, resume, samples of your best investigative work, references. FAIR will be providing a grant to the journalists. OI and FAIR will partner to develop the research.

Please send your applications to editor@fairreporters.org and cc director@fairreporters.org
DEADLINE: 15 July 2013.
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Reports to: The Country Program Manager

Location: Bukavu, DRC (Non-family duty station) – with frequent travel to the Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda

Starting Date: As soon as possible

Salary and Benefits: Competitive salary plus 13th month pay, pension, 41 leave days (including R&R and home leave) per year

Security: ICCO has a high level of security attention to ensure the safety of its staff members

The ICCO Cooperation seeks motivated colleagues who support their mission to end
poverty and injustice and who are committed to creating a world where people can live
in dignity and security.

ICCO was established in 1964 and became a cooperation in 2012. The founding
members of the ICCO Cooperation are Edukans, the Protestant Church of The
Netherlands (Kerk in Actie) and the association Prisma. Within a coherent programmatic
framework, the ICCO Cooperation offers worldwide financial support, lobby and
brokerage services to local non-governmental organizations, the private sector, churches,
and networks that work on sustainable economic development, democracy and peace,
access to basic services, food security and climate mitigation.

The ICCO Cooperation with a global office in The Netherlands has 7 Regional Offices. It
has approximately 300 employees worldwide and a budget of €100 million in 2013.The
Central and Eastern Africa Regional Office has programs running in 8 countries with sub
offices in Juba – South Sudan, Bukavu – BD Congo and Kampala – Uganda.

The Bukavu office in Eastern DRC has programs running in Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo. The Program Officer will therefore be responsible for oversight of CTD programs in this region. Mission Talent has been tasked by ICCO Central & Eastern Africa with providing them with a vibrant, motivated and practical Programme Officer for the Conflict Transformation and Democratization portfolio, who can ensure effective and efficient running of the multi-level and multi-actor programmes in the Great Lakes Region (DRC, Rwanda and Burundi). S/he will be based at the ICCO Bukavu office in the DRC, with regular travel within the region. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
To contribute to Conflict Transformation and Democratization (CT & D) processes at local,
national and regional levels by facilitating multi-actor, multi-level programs supporting tactical action, capacity building of local groups, strategic relations and alliances within the framework of ICCO Alliance Strategic Plan.

OVERALL JOB OBJECTIVE
The job objective is to assess, plan, and fund regional development processes aim at conflict transformation and democratization. This objective is attained by facilitating multi-actor, multilevel programmes and support strategic relations and alliances within the framework of ICCO Alliance Strategic Plan.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Program Officer CT & D works with local partners and coalitions. The main tasks for this position include:

  • Development and facilitation of programs, partners and coalitions by applying the four ICCO Alliance strategic roles: strategic financing, lobby/advocacy, capacity building and brokerage;
  • Assessment of programs, project proposals and institutions;
  • Preparation of financing decisions;
  • Monitoring and evaluation of ongoing contracts between ICCO Alliance and (local) partners;
  • Contributing to innovation learning, exchange and knowledge-sharing within ICCO Alliance as well as with other organizations;
  • Together with partners, develop a financial plan per program
  • Secure funds from various sources to expand the programs;
  • Ensure communication and visibility regarding activities and policies of ICCO Alliance and partners towards their constituencies and policy makers;
  • Contribute to policy development;
  • Contribute to the development of the (regional) annual plans and develop internal program plans based on a thorough understanding of the context and ICCO Alliance’s niche;
  • Participate in strategic alliance activities of ICCO Alliance with other international NGOs and coordinate with other relevant alliances in the region.

PROFILE
Required Qualifications and Skills:

  • A graduate degree in the relevant thematic areas (Conflict Transformation/Peace Building/Democratization);
  • Exposure to working within the Great Lakes region (Burundi, Rwanda and DRC);
  • A minimum of 3 years professional working experience in conflict transformation and democratisation;
  • Programme development skills is a must;
  • Strategic thinking and innovation;
  • Planning and organizing skills;
  • Sound capacity building and program facilitation skills;
  • Negotiation, networking and advocacy skills;
  • Communication skills;
  • Proposal writing skills
  • Knowledge of the political, social and economic situation in the Great Lakes Region is a must;
  • Knowledge of development issues in the Great Lakes Region;
  • Basic knowledge of financial aspects on financing organizations;
  • Experience with leading a multi-actor and multi-level process is an advantage;
  • Experience with grant giving is an advantage;
  • Excellent language and writing skills in English and French.

Behavioural Competencies

  • Personal Integrity;
  • Resilient;
  • Flexible and good humoured;
  • Result oriented;
  • Flexibility towards circumstances;
  • Concern for standards;
  • Understanding others;
  • Innovativeness;
  • Efficient under pressure;
  • Proactive work style.

TO APPLY
Applications must be addressed to Mission Talent via email to applications@missiontalent.com stating ICCO-CTD-DRC/+your surname in the subject line.

To apply for this role, kindly attach your CV (in English) and a covering letter (of 350 words or less) which summarizes how your profile aligns with the key requirements, skills and abilities of this role.

DEADLINE: Open until filled
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Rotary Peace Fellowship

The Rotary Peace Fellowship provides peace leaders with two options to pursue academic and practical training in peace and conflict resolution. Candidates can apply for either a master’s-level degree or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies at one of six Rotary Peace Centers.Option One: Master’s Degree Option

  • “Building the leaders of tomorrow”
  • 15-24 months of Rotary-funded graduate study toward a master’s degree at one of our five Rotary Centers (University of Queensland, University of Bradford, Duke University/University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, International Christian University, and Uppsala University)
  • Funding includes tuition, travel expenses, and a stipend to cover room and board
  • Training in the root causes of conflict, theories of international relations, and effective models of cooperation, conflict resolution, and negotiation including course work and applied field experience
  • A growing network of committed alumni employed around the world in diplomacy, government, non-governmental organizations and private corporations.

Professional Certificate Option

  • “Strengthening the leaders of today”
  • Three month professional development certificate program fully funded at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand
  • Funding includes tuition, travel expenses, and room and board
  • Designed specifically for candidates already working in the field of peace and conflict studies to further their understanding of conflict resolution
  • Theoretical foundational knowledge during eight weeks in the classroom and practical experience during two through three week on site fieldwork

The master’s-level program requires, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and three years of relevant work experience. The certificate program requires five years of experience and proficiency in English. Up to 100 fellows are selected every year in a globally competitive process based on personal, academic, and professional achievements.

More information about the fellowship is available at www.rotary.org/rotarycenters. Application information will be available in January 2014.

All Rotary Peace Fellowship applications need the endorsement of your local Rotary district. You can find your nearest local Rotary Club by using the Club Locator tool on the Rotary International web site at www.rotary.org/clublocator.

Please email kathleen.obrien(at)rotary.org with questions.

DEADLINE: July 1, 2014
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Job Opportunity: Project Director (Credit), Frontline SMS, Kenya

Reporting to: CEO

Salary: $50,000

Hours: Full-time

Based: Nairobi, Kenya, with 30% travel

The Project Director has overall responsibility for the delivery and day-to-day management of our Credit Project, and in conjunction with the CEO, growing our brand strength in the mobile money market. This position is also expected to play a role in and contribute to the on going strategic development of all FrontlineSMS projects.

Credit project management:

• Manage the timely delivery of :Credit products, extensions and related materials;

• Responsible for the accomplishment of project milestones, donor reporting, and relationship management related :Credit project. These outputs must be delivered in a timely manner and may involve the coordination (and support) of additional SIMLab staff.

• Ensure the design and implementation of proof-of-concept and pilot projects, supporting local partners and documenting the outcomes;

• Recruit, manage, and develop the capacity of the :Credit Program Manager;

• In consultation with the CEO, identify and secure fundraising and income generation opportunities in the mobile money and related spaces;

• Lead on outreach to the wider sector, including the development of user resources and building up best practice knowledge about the use of FrontlineSMS, FrontlineCloud, SMS and other mobile technologies where :Credit-related functionality is locally appropriate;

• Represent FrontlineSMS and the :Credit Project in publications, at events, and in other capacities as required by the CEO;

• Ensure that the project is compliant at all times with relevant law and regulations.

Project Management:

• Support other members of the SIMLab team- including but not limited to consulting projects, business development materials, attendant benchmark reports, billing schedules and communications.

• Uphold and embody FrontlineSMS values.

• Undertake other duties reasonably requested by the CEO

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL

• Experience with, or demonstrated understanding of mobile money and developing world financial services

• M.A. or equivalent degree in finance, economics, communications, and/or development

• Experience with international aid donors, development programs, and/or social change organizations,

• Excellent writing and analytical skills

• Strong administration skills; accurate, organized, and punctual

• Enjoys working within a diverse team and able to work with a distributed network of users, partners, and stakeholders

• Ability to juggle a complex workload and prioritise duties, meeting deadlines

• Proven ability to self-motivate, even while working independently, communicating remotely with colleagues, primarily using email, calls and social media.

• Strong work ethic with an interest in working for a start-up, recognizing the time, structure, and stage-of-growth implications involved, with the proven opportunity to drive positive social change

DESIRABLE

• Experience in business modelling and development

• Strong networks and relationships in the mobile money, social entrepreneurship, impact investment, and/or software-as-a-service spaces

• Experience in not-for-profit leadership

• Experience in for-profit consulting and/or client services

• Experience in development program and/or product development

• Experience in communications, design, and/or monitoring & evaluation

• Negotiation skills / contract management

• Proficiency in Swahili and/or multiple languages

DEADLINE: Unknown