Livelihoods Thematic Manager Job Vacancy in Nairobi Kenya
Location: ACORD Headquarters, Nairobi-Kenya
Responsible To: Head of Policy & Advocacy
Organizational Context
ACORD (Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development) is a Pan-African
Organisation working for Social Justice and Development in Africa.
ACORD’s response to the challenges of Africa is firmly based on a belief that
people themselves are the agents of change and actors of their own development.
People’s ability to take action on the causes of poverty is what will transform
Africa’s future.
This belief underpins ACORD’s practical work, its research methodologies and policy
advocacy. ACORD works in partnership with local civil society and communities
and in alliance with other organizations in Africa and the rest of the world.
The ACORD Programming Strategy is organized around 4 themes: Food Sovereignty,
Conflict, Gender & other forms of discrimination and HIV/AIDS and developed
through twelve (12) Area Programs and a Pan-African Program led from the ACORD
Headquarters based in Nairobi.
ACORD approach combines practical activities, research and advocacy. Food
Sovereignty is the focus of the Pan-African Program planned to be implemented
up to 2010. ACORD is present in eighteen (18) countries in Africa
Job Summary
The Pan Africa program( PAP) on food sovereignty is based on ACORD’s long
standing experience on working on livelihood issues in Africa and the growing
threat posed by global processes (including global trades agreements and
others) on livelihood of marginalised communities such as small farmers,
pastoralist and women.
Food sovereignty is the right of people and states to define their own
agricultural, labour, fishing and land policies, which are appropriate to their
unique circumstances.
Under the supervision of the Head of Policy & Advocacy and as part of the
pan Africa program team, the Pan Africa Livelihoods Thematic Manager will play
a role of advisor on research and livelihoods & food sovereignty related
policy at pan Africa and global levels and provide support to area programs and
other themes.
Specific Responsibilities
A. Research , analysis, policy, lobby
- In close
collaboration with the Head of Policy & Advocacy, participate actively
in development and implementation of the work plan of the livelihoods
theme, especially advice on research and policy activities relevant to the
expected outcomes as designed in ACORD pan Africa program and strategic
plan - Keep abreast of
Research and policies development on food sovereignty, economic and trade
justice and feed the PAP and ACORD in general - Gather relevant
intelligence on issues of food sovereignty so as to keep ACORD and its
partners on top of the knowledge in the area and inform meaningfully the
advocacy and lobby work. - Analyse existing
research, advice on new ones and follow through the process of development
with the view to ensuring and managing quality. - Conduct research
when appropriate as agreed in the work plan and Pan Africa programs - Continuously
analyse policy options and advise on preferred choices - Take the lead in
preparing pertinent briefing papers, positions papers and recommendations
on current economic, trade justice agriculture policies, and food
sovereignty policy - Technical
guidance and feed in of ACORD lobbying and advocacy in development of
technical and strategic arguments.
Support to Area programs
- Keep all ACORD
area programmes and partners( when necessary) informed and updated on
relevant development and issues with regards to economic and trade justice
and in particular on food sovereignty - Liaise and
consult with area program managers and other interested parties to
identify research, policy needs and activities in alignment with ACORD pan
African ambitions - Work with food
sovereignty area program focal points and ensure synergy and coalition on
issues of pan Africa interest especially with regard to research and
policy. Support quality delivery on research carried out in area program
with link to pan Africa program outcome.
Support advocacy work including popular campaign and lobby
- Prepare advocacy
material (e.g. briefing notes for press, popular material) - Work with the
rest of the PAP team to ensure that material produced by ACORD are
accurate, understandable for the intended audience and participate in
quality assurance - Support CSOs
partners and farmers movements in their technical work and position
statements - Develop
synergies within other CSOs, research and policy institutes pertinent to
our work and aligned with ACORD interest. - Attend and
represent ACORD in relevant meetings and forum /summit on request by the
line manager or the organisation. - Execute any
other activities as judged pertinent for the advancement of the food
sovereignty agenda.
Requirements
A. Education / Qualifications and Experience
Minimum: Masters in Social Sciences, Sustainable Development or
Agricultural Sciences; international relation or law or related science
Experience:
- Minimum of 4
years of experience in Research and policy work in the INGO sector at
Pan-African and International level; - Strong
experience in research and policy analysis in area of economic justice,
trade and agriculture.
Technical Expertise
- Excellent
Communication( written and oral ) and Public Relations skills: very good
oral expression and writing skills in both languages; - High level of
conceptual, strategic thinking and analysis skills; - Very good
understanding of food sovereignty and economic justice issues specifically
at the level of Policy influence in the Pan-Africa scene; - Highly
conversant with Civil Society and Social Movement approaches on food
sovereignty work at Pan-African level - Good
organisational, research , negotiation and analytical capabilities - Ability to
identify, obtain and analyze information from variety of sources
Required Competencies
- Strategic
thinking capacity - Adaptation
skills: ability to work in a multicultural environment, self-directed,
resourceful and flexible - Highly
motivated, responsible, self-directed, resourceful and flexible - High level
conceptual, strategic thinking and analysis skills; - Collaboration
and Team work; - Decision making
and problem solving skills; - Partnership and
Negotiation skills - Innovative
skills - Communicate with
impact with various stakeholders - Able to manage
workload and meet deadlines
international package Download
the application form from this link and apply to: Human
Resources & Organisational Development Manager
ACORD
Nairobi, ACK Garden House,
P.
O. Box 61216, 00200,
Nairobi,
Kenya
Tel:
+254 20 2721172, 2721185/86 To
apply, please complete the application form attached above and e-mail it with a
detailed Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to recruit@acordinternational.org
with the Job Title in the Subject Box. Closing
Date: 28th October 2011
