Project Officer We Lead

Reports to:    Program Manager

Scope:            Guatemala, Honduras

Location:       Guatemala or Costa Rica

Hours:            Fulltime / 40 hours a week

JOB CONTEXT

We Lead is a new, inspiring, innovative and far-reaching program aiming to improve  the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRH-R) of young women from four specific  right holders groups: who live with HIV, that have a disability, who identify as lesbian, bisexual, trans or intersex, and who are affected by displacement. The program truly puts these young women rights holders in the driving seat, while supporting them to impactful and sustainably advocate for their SRH-R.

The program will be implemented in nine countries in Africa, the Middle East and Central America. The We Lead consortium consists of six civil society organizations (Positive Vibes, Restless Development, Marsa, FEMNET, the Central American Women’s Fund, Hivos). The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also part of the partnership. Hivos is the lead party.

The We Lead program supports young women’s’ groups and organizations. We connect these rightsholders with one another in local Communities of Action (CoAs) and support and coach them, so that they are better able to advocate for, claim, protect, and promote their SRH-R. For a start, they will localise the overarching We Lead Theory of Change. A local CoA-facilitator will guide the CoAs. We Lead supports with funding (through an innovative participatory grantmaking mechanism) and capacity strengthening and coaching initiatives.

The program started on January 1st, 2021 and is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the SRHR Partnership Fund, which is part of the Strengthening Civil Society subsidy framework. The project will end on December 31th, 2025.

Main goal of the job

The Project Officer (PO) supports the CoAs (and their technical team) of Guatemala and Honduras, their functioning, the strengthening of Capacities and the fulfillment of their Action Plan according to the results of the project. Is also responsible for approving and implementing organizational level and joint project proposals, and ensures these processes are developed in line with agreed procedures of We Lead and Hivos.

Project Officer ensures contracts with the CoAs are signed and checks an appropriate financial and technical implementation, on progress and deliverables.

Project Officer is responsible for upholding We Lead values ​​and principles and translating them into practice. The PO coordinates the delivery of sound country level narrative plans and reports, that visualize activities and results of local organizations, joint CoA-activities and Hivos. These contribute to the overarching We Lead plans and reports. In doing so, she/he/they will closely work together with the Hivos financial officer, Capacity Strengthening officer, the DMEL officer, the rest of the Hivos staff as well as with the CoA facilitator, amongst others.

Project Officer participates in the regional management team, the global coordination team, and some of the thematic working groups, and plays an active role in coordinating activities in the field of capacity strengthening, lobby and advocacy, learning, etc. with consortium partners and local organizations, as well as with the relevant Hivos staff. Next to that, the PO will share progress and results of the program to both the global program management team as well as Hivos colleagues in other countries and global office.

Project Officer is also responsible for the preparation of stories and content for website, media and other channels and the organization of internal and external events. The PO will assist the Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (DMEL) officer in outcome harvesting, narrative assessment and other reporting needed. The PO will work as a team with the DMEL officer, CS officer, the Financial officer, the Linking and Learning specialist, amongst others.

Project Officer will work in close coordination with the members of the We Lead consortium that are in the region: FCAM and Restless Development, promoting good performance and harmonization of actions that benefit the CoA.

RESPONSIBILITIES / RESULT AREAS

Program design

• Supports the CoAs in developing their localized ToC every year, annual plans and (in coordination with the financial officer) budget, in line with guidelines
• Supports and guides local organizations in the development of their individual or joint plans and proposals for SRH-R lobby and advocacy, and including activities on capacity strengthening  (in coordination with the CS officer) .
• Contributes to the development of Hivos’ overarching We Lead planning, and particularly to the design of innovative elements of the program, in particular the functioning of the CoAs, as well as the design of a participatory grantmaking mechanism.
• Coordination and harmonization with the members of the We Lead consortium that are in the region: FCAM and Restless Development.

Implementation of work plans

• Realizes successful implementation in accordance with the specific goals, timeline, working methods and budgets of the projects.
• Supports and guides CoAs organizations in the development of their individual or joint plans and proposals.
• Participates in participatory grantmaking mechanisms.
• Ensures contracts with local organizations and host organizations are established.
• Coordinates with CoAs, with consortium members and with Hivos’ staff around capacity strengthening and advocacy activities.
• Ensures Hivos’ own activities are implemented according to plan.

Monitoring & control

• Monitors progress towards established goals in CoAs, and in the organizational level or joint project plans, and flags in the Hivos overarching management team when problems arise.
• Coordinates with the DMEL and CS officers so that the entire Monitoring and Evaluation and Outcome Harvesting process of the CoAs follows the proper process and on time for the annual and semi-annual reports
• Relates progress to the overarching We Lead plans.

Coordination and collaboration

• Throughout the process of project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, the PO plays a proactive role in coordinating with the CoA facilitator, with the organizations that participate in the CoA, with the host organization, with consortium members and with the regional and global Hivos team.
• Actively contributes to and supports activities at the national and regional level, such as research, advocacy, campaigns, learning events, etc.
• Proactively participate and collaborate with the We Lead Global team and its groups, according to the team's needs, both in content and logistical support.

Sharing, learning, and quality improvement

• Identifies, analyses and highlights success and good practices, as well as potential risks, challenges and problems.
• Proposes solutions for identified challenges, problems and follows-up on those.
• Contributes to identifying and sharing positive stories.
• Collaborates with the CoAs, the consortium members, and Hivos’ capacity strengthening officer, in the design and realization of exchange and learning events.
• Contributes to reflection and learning on the national and regional level, as well as on the global programmatic level.

REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant degree an equivalent work experience, and academic level of working and thinking.
• Minimum of three to five years of relevant working experience.
• Work experience in working with civil society, in project design, capacity strengthening, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and working in international teams.
• Proven expertise in working on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRH-R) and/or with one or several of the rightsholder groups.
• Proven experience in coordinating work teams, and experience working with Communities of Action, networks of organizations working for the rights of young women, their SDS-R.
• Keen on ensuring ownership by local organizations, and in finding innovative and creative solutions to realize goals.
• Work experience in an international environment.
• Flexible attitude, creative, supports Hivos’ and We Leads values, has a progressive and positive view on SRH-R and the leadership of rightsholders.
• Full professional proficiency in English and Spanish.

We particularly welcome applications of women and/or persons that belong to one or the rightsholder groups.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer a stimulating work environment in a professional international organization with very dedicated staff.  We offer a national contract based on Hivos local labor conditions, with a remuneration commensurate with the experience and expertise.

WANT TO APPLY

You are welcome to submit your application on the apply button located on the right side tab. You must submit both, a letter of motivation and resume/CV (3 pages maximum), in English before 04 December 2022.

Candidates are highly encouraged to provide a clear track record in their CV that matches the requirements of the position elaborated above.

Background check for final candidates

If you are selected to go to the final stage of the selection process, please note that professional references and criminal record certification will be requested due to our Safeguarding Policy*. Exceptions will only be made if there is a prohibition due to local legislation or when the candidate cannot obtain the police records certificate due to activities in LGBT + and Human Rights. We may screen social media (unless applicants indicate that they do not want us to do so). The accuracy of the information in the resume will also be verified.

(*) https://america-latina.hivos.org/quienes-somos/nuestra-organizacion/integridad