Global Program Manager - VCA

Scope: Voices for Climate Action (VCA)

Reports to: Director, Hivos East Africa

Level: Global Program Manager

Countries: Kenya

Hours: 40

JOB CONTEXT

The five-year strategic objective of the VCA program is “By 2025, local civil society groups have claimed a central role as empowered innovators, facilitators and advocates of climate solutions”. Our program is about climate justice i.e. climate change is not only an environmental problem to be addressed but also a societal challenge with ethical and human rights aspects. Hence our intention is to build wide societal support for locally shaped climate solutions through an inclusive and rights-based approach. This includes building a broad-based climate alliance at country level, bridging divides (urban-rural, gender, youth), that amplifies voices in new, unusual ways. In addition, we will influence national and global policies and financial flows in support of these locally shaped solutions. The program will be implemented by an alliance of 6 organizations: WWF NL, Hivos, SouthSouthNorth, Akina Mama wa Afrika, Shack Dwellers International, Fundación Avina. During the 5 years’ program period the alliance aims to increase ownership of the program by local CSOs. The program is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the “Power of Voices” framework.

The Global Advocacy and Program Manager (GPM) for the VCA program oversees the Hivos contribution to the VCA program and theory of change. The manager is responsible to connect with the alliance members at global level, WWF as lead partner and DGIS as donor. The manager will represent Hivos in the – global – joint program team (JPT) of the VCA alliance and is the to-go-to person for WWF-NL lead, the independent VCA global program director (who reports to the directors of the Alliance) and DGIS for this program. He/she/they assure delivery of Hivos’ part of the program by organizing and leading Hivos’ internal coordination of VCA alliance work. The manager will consequently assure Hivos’ vision, mission and climate justice strategy, as outlined in the Hivos Strategic Compass, is translated into the VCA at national and global level.

The manager also develops and implements the global advocacy dimension of the VCA program together with the global communication & advocacy officer. The manager will be part of the global VCA advocacy strategy team with other VCA alliance partners. The manager will reach out to and influence relevant stakeholders as identified in the global advocacy strategy. He/she/they will execute and commission research, organize events and perform other activities to implement the advocacy strategy. He/she/they will liaise with the VCA country teams and Country Engagement Managers to update and improve the global advocacy strategy based on country needs and opportunities and vice versa. Furthermore, he/she/they will oversee and be responsible for Hivos’ global VCA budget.

The manager works closely with the Hivos VCA Finance Manager and will report on Hivos implementation and progress to the JPT, as well as to DGIS through the lead applicant, WWF. He/she/they will guide Country Engagement Managers, the innovation officer and the communication advocacy officer on strategy and implementation of the VCA program. The GPM works closely with the Hivos DMEL to report on Hivos implementation and progress to the JPT, as well as to DGIS through the lead applicant, WWF.

*The candidate will ideally be located in the Kenya_, but consideration for candidates based in one of the VCA countries will be made*_

RESPONSIBILITIES

Delivery of program results; Coordinates the implementation and coherence of the program; secures stakeholder/donor satisfaction through implementation according to contracts in terms of results, budget and competencies.

External positioning; Is the Hivos ambassador of the program; promotes Hivos’ agenda in professional forums by sharing and profiling practice-based results, experiences and proposes and delivers sustainable solutions.

Networking; Directs the “listening” of key stakeholders in the Hivos environment and provides internal stakeholders access to this intelligence in terms of challenges, opportunities and risks.

Stakeholder intelligence; Directs the “listening” of key stakeholders in the Hivos environment and provides internal stakeholders access to this intelligence in terms of challenges, opportunities and risks.

Partner engagement; Advice country engagement managers by identifying and selecting (coalitions of) partners with national JCA team; ensures an increase of ownership of program by (national) partner organizations; supports timely and high-quality reporting of partners contracted by Hivos by country engagement managers and finance manager.

Agenda setting; Within the thematic area, formulates key issues; designs advocacy strategies for change and proactively creates entry points and interventions in order to generate space and support for Hivos’ strategies, ideas and activities with key decision makers and at key global positioning events.

Mobilizing forces; Joins forces with people, organizations and donors; creates or co-creates the necessary preconditions for successful advocacy and lobby activities and innovation; co-creates effective campaigns and projects.

Leadership; Leads, motivates, trains, appraises, guides and/or inspires staff and enables effective teamwork, achieves objectives and works according to Hivos’ guiding principles.

Innovation; Ensure the program is constantly innovating, e.g. through building unusual partnership and cooperation between urban youth and local communities. Include other ways of working e.g. by linking climate change and transparency or other use of media (e.g. citizen led reporting).

REQUIREMENTS

This is a senior position for nationals or residents of the concerned country:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in sustainable development, environmental studies, climate governance or another relevant field.
• Minimum of ten years relevant working experience preferably in international advocacy, including climate rights advocacy, and influencing strategies.
• Minimum of ten years’ experience in an international (NGO) context, for example in project management.
• Ability and commitment to move towards local ownership of partners.
• Proven leadership in order to lead Hivos colleagues globally.
• Demonstrable experience and proven track record to reach out to national and international governments, other stakeholders and partners.
• International network relevant to this field of work.
• A keen understanding of country political and social dynamics; analytical and conceptual skills, and ability to translate these into relevant and timely actions.
• Excellent networking, relationship building and negotiation skills.
• Excellent verbal, writing and communication skills in English.
• Experience overseeing programs to ensure the effective design, implementation and increase ownership of right holders.
• Experience overseeing and using monitoring and evaluation plans and indicators.
• Level skills: cooperation, influence, leadership.
• Job skills: communication, project management, enterprise.