ABOUT US
Established in 1987, ARTICLE 19 works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination. Our mission is to promote and defend the universal human rights of freedom of expression and information around the world, through international advocacy, legal analysis, and regional and national projects.
In the previous five years, one of the key achievements of ARTICLE 19 has been expanding and strengthening our international reach by consolidating our presence outside the UK, recruiting national or regional staff, and establishing strong and operationally autonomous national or regional offices. Being based in the countries and regions in which we work, we believe we have a better understanding of regional and national realities and local needs and thus have greater impact on freedom of expression developments. We are able to respond more swiftly to opportunities or crises. We are closer to our partners, and thus more capable to respond to their demands and strengthen interactions and capacities.
PROTECT BACKGROUND
PROTECT is a multi-faceted international aid project funded by the UK Governments' Department for International Development (DfID).
PROTECT seeks to foster open societies in Kenya, Malawi and Myanmar, based on expanded and protected civic space and stands for: Protecting Rights, Openness and Transparency-Enhancing Civic Transformation. The work is delivered by a consortium of specialist NGOs and expert organisations, led by ARTICLE 19 with partners Internews, the International Centre for Not-for-profit Law (ICNL) and the Humanist Institute Development Cooperation (Hivos). PROTECT partners bring together their expertise in the fields of freedom of assembly, association, expression, access to information and data transparency, media sustainability and protection of journalist and human rights defenders to address holistically the multifaceted challenges of closing civic space.
The objectives of PROTECT, are focused on and will be delivered through partners in Kenya, Malawi and Myanmar.
ROLE PURPOSE
The PROTECT Malawi Project Officer is a new role based in Lilongwe and will form part of ARTICLE 19 East Africa Regional Office team. The role will oversee ARTICLE 19’s PROTECT work in Malawi and will ensure the implementation of PROTECT objectives are in line with donor requirements. The programme focuses on the promotion of an expansive civic space with particular focus on the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists, and of civil society organisations working with marginalised groups, in particular those working on gender equality.
The Project Officer will have collaborative relationship with ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa country programs, PROTECT Consortium Partners (both in Malawi and across the PROTECT Programme) and Malawi-based civil society organisations, networks of social movements and State and non-State actors.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Programme implementation:
- Implement and manage ARTICLE 19's PROTECT programme and activities in Malawi.
- Participate and represent ARTICLE 19 with partners to deliver on agreed work plans and strategies related to PROTECT in Malawi.
- Organise and/or facilitate capacity building and other training workshops.
- Support the PROTECT Kenya Country Coordinator to ensure effective programme planning and delivery including reporting, donor compliance, risk management and review, evaluation and learning and knowledge sharing as pertaining to the work in Malawi.
- Use ARTICLE 19 project management guidelines and tools.
Managing PROTECT Programme:
- Ensure timley delivery of project outputs including by overseeing the delivery of work by local partners and liaising with colleagues accross ARTICLE 19.
- Ensure appropriate monitoring, documentation and evaluation of the project activities and impact.
- Maintain strong collaborative relationships with project consultant and partners.
- Promote the wide dissemination of project outputs and publications when necessary and appropriate.
- Maintain and develop project files and contribute to the development of relevant information systems to improve institutional memory and learning.
Maintain and Strengthen ARTICLE 19 Impact and Profile in Malawi:**
- Monitor and advice on civic space developments, and in particular freedom of expression trends in Malawi and the region with a view to identifying potential advocacy interventions in line with the overall ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa strategy and operational plan.
- Implement advocacy work, including by drafting press releases and other materials.
- Represent ARTICLE 19 in relation to Eastern Africa, including through dialogue with others working on the region and by attending meetings.
- Develop and build contacts and networks with organisations working on themes relevant to ARTICLE 19's PROTECT programme.
Contribute to ARTICLE 19's Policy discussion and Strategy:**
- Participate in team meetings and other organisational meetings and decision-making processes that contribute to delivery of ARTICLE 19's strategy and PROTECT objectives.
- Facilitate cross-learning and collaboration with ARTICLE 19's other regional and thematic teams.
- Contribute to overall ARTICLE 19's policy and strategies on behalf of the Eastern Africa office.
- Contribute to reports and other ARTICLE 19 materials and the website on behalf of the Eastern Africa office.
- Respond to inquiries and provide information on ARTICLE 19's Malawi programme.
- Contribute to the development of funding proposals to expand work in Malawi.
Other:**
- Undertake other tasks associated with this role which may reasonably be required by ARTICLE 19's Kenya and Eastern Africa Regional Director and Kenya PROTECT Country Coordinator.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
- University degree required; in any social science fields.
- Proven experience in implementing human rights projects and human rights advocacy.
- Knowledge and conceptual understanding of freedom of expression, media, gender equality issues (trends and prevailing situation and actors) in Malawi.
- Practical experience in rights-based program design and implementation.
- Effective communication skills including and capacity to write appropriately for different internal and external audiences.
- Excellent conceptual and analytical skills and ability to think strategically, innovatively and practically on/around rights-based programs and approaches.
- Experience in advocacy work including policy analysis, lobbying, media and public campaigning and of influencing decision makers.
- Proven ability in proposal development and project finance management.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
- Ability to work collaboratively, supportively and respectfully with others.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Flexibility and willingness to travel for project-based missions.
Other requirements:
- Must already have the right to work in Malawi.
- Commitment to work within ARTICLE 19's vision, mission, core values and objectives.
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural work environment and with a commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunities.
- Willingness to work outside normal working hours including weekends and evenings, and travel when necessary.
Application deadline is 12th April 2020.