Thinking Africa Conference; Senior Research Advisor; African Management Initiative courses; and other opportunities

Regional Director – West Africa, Search for Common Ground

SFCG works in 21 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and divides them into two regions for management purposes: East and West. In West Africa, SFCG has ten country programs. The Regional Director – West Africa offers leadership, capacity building and oversight to the Country Directors in West Africa. This includes ensuring that program quality is excellent, fundraising targets are reached, and operational and financial management complies with international standards. S/he supports country programs in developing annual country and regional strategies that drive program and business development in line with SFCG’s organizational mission. S/he oversees key recruitment and performance reviews, approves proposals and budgets to donors and signs off on strategic external communication. S/he shares best practices around program quality, innovation and capturing of results, drawing from SFCG programs and others in the peace building field. S/he supports the development of a team spirit in each country and throughout the region, respecting the diversity of the team and ensuring that our organizational values are upheld.

SFCG is flexible concerning the location of the Regional Director. Preference will be given to candidates who will live in the West Africa region, and can be based in one of SFCG’s Country Program offices. However, applications from candidates who prefer to live elsewhere in an area within the same time zones and in relative geographic proximity will be considered. This position requires extensive travel around the region, estimated at up to 50 per cent.

Qualifications: Master’s degree in conflict resolution, international relations, international development or a related field; Minimum of 6 years of program management experience at a senior level, preferably in peace building or a related field; Significant experience in managing multiple projects, multi-tasking, clear delegation and follow-through; Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse team, with attention to professional development of staff; Successful track record of fundraising and excellent skills in the cycle of design and proposal development; Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal); Excellent financial literacy and management skills, including a familiarity with the basic funding guidelines of major donors; Ability to respond collaboratively in situations of uncertainty, ambiguity /or conflict; Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa with at least 3 years of working in Africa and in a cross-cultural environment; Experience working collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders, local government officials, and international donors; Willingness to travel up to 50 per cent of time; Fluency in English (written and verbal) and French (verbal, written preferred).

DEADLINE: 12 September 2014

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Capacity Development/Instructional Design Specialist, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Capacity Development / Instructional Design Specialist to enhance ILRI’s contribution to the capacity development and learning aspects of several of its CGIAR Research Programs (CRP) and programs,

ILRI works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia.

Requirements: Advanced degree in Education, Communication, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or other related fields; At least 10 years exposure in the disciplinary area, e.g., instructional design  / learning systems / education & training  / social science – with experience working in developing countries.  Of these, at least three years in one or more of the following areas:  (1) online instructional design experience; (2) technical writing experience; (3) working with an LMS; A proven skill-set in the development of learning courses, dissemination of learning products, training and technical assistance materials, needs assessments, and other capacity development products; Familiarity with aspects of livestock production, and/or agricultural systems in developing countries a plus; Experience with Adult Learning, Engagement skills, Curriculum Development Competence and e-learning; Experience with eLearning tools such as Articulate Storyline, Articulate Studio (Quizmaker), Adobe Captivate, Flash, HTML/HTM5, MS SharePoint 2010, and Java Script Flash/Action Script as well as graphical design tools, such as Photoshop and Illustrator.

DEADLINE: 30 September 2014

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Thinking Africa Colloquium, Rhodes University, South Africa

The NGO sector in Africa has grown considerably over the last few decades. The term NGO covers such a broad range of organisations – from huge international organisations with large budgets and high profiles to small, locally based organisations with very particular mandates. It is therefore very difficult to make generalisations about their role in any particular country, and certainly in the continent as a whole. Nevertheless, there has been much debate about the increasing presence of NGOs in Africa with some seeing NGOs as essential players who help alleviate poverty and improve the lives of Africans while others accuse them of eroding the power of the state, creating dependency and facilitating imperialism.

Many NGOs in Africa claim to be doing work that will bring about greater social justice in that they claim to be working to eradicate poverty or bring about greater equality, democracy and accountability. Their goal appears to be to bring about a situation of greater justice, equality and freedom. However, critics counter that while these may be the stated goals (and even the honest intentions) of many NGOs, the actual effect of their presence in Africa is not conducive to the achievement of greater social justice.

This colloquium will bring together academics writing on the NGO sector, people actively involved in NGOs, and activists involved in social movements in order to have a robust conversation about the role of NGOs in Africa. The intention is to reflect carefully and collaboratively on what role NGOs do and should play in Africa and to go beyond sweeping statements about their role towards a more nuanced and detailed picture of their contribution to the achievement of a more just and equitable Africa.

The colloquium will be held from 27-28 September 2014 at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. The colloquium will consist of academic papers, panel discussions and open debates.

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Senior Research Advisor, Life & Peace Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Life & Peace Institute (LPI) is an international and ecumenical centre that supports and promotes nonviolent approaches to conflict transformation through a combination of research and action that entails the strengthening of existing local capacities and enhancing the preconditions for building peace.

In 2014, the Horn of Africa Regional Programme (HARP) of the Life and Peace Institute will launch a pilot initiative that enhances the role of civil society organizations and academia in regional policy-making. The pilot will take an innovative convergence-based advocacy approach where it will work on two policy dilemmas that are already on the agenda and of relevance to both civil society and regional policy makers. LPI will work with civil society organizations and academic/research institutes to first collect evidence and conduct joint analysis on the two identified policy questions in order to draw policy options for the consideration of the African Union (AU) and Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD). By linking analysis and local perspectives to national and regional policy, the initiative will enhance the role local organizations and academics play in regional policy making. The overall objective of this initiative is to enrich regional policy making processes with local perspectives, lived experiences, solid evidence and expertise by supporting civil society organizations and academia to conduct policy-targeted research and analysis. The initiative also opens space for cross-fertilization and knowledge sharing between civil society and academia. By supporting academic institutions to produce policy-focused research and assisting civil society organizations to frame their analysis as policy questions and recommendations, the initiative strengthens the input of civil society and academia in policy formulation and implementation.

LPI is seeking applications for the position of Research Advisor. As the research advisor, you will be at the core of the collaborative policy analysis and advocacy in the Horn of Africa pilot as the focal point for cooperation with academia and academic partners. The research advisor will be based in Addis Ababa as key member of the Horn of Africa Regional Programme team.

DEADLINE: 30 September 2014

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Malawi Young Women’s Feminist Leadership Programme

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African Management Initiative courses

A number of online management, entrepreneurial and business courses are available through the African Management Initiative.