About Sonke
Founded in 2006, Sonke is a womxn’s rights organisation that is committed to feminist principles, using a rights-based and gender transformative approach to achieve human rights and gender justice. Our vision is a poverty free world in which womxn, children, men and gender non-conforming individuals enjoy equitable, caring, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of gender just and democratic societies. Sonke strengthens governments, civil society and citizen’s capacity to advance gender justice and womxn’s rights, prevent gender-based violence, and reduce the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS, and in this way contributing to social justice and the elimination of poverty.
About the Position
The MATI and Youth Leadership Coordinator reports to the Regional Programmes Co-Unit Manager and will be a crucial member of the coordination team for Sonke’s regional and international programmatic activities supporting the MenEngage Africa Alliance.
The MATI and Youth Leadership Coordinator coordinates the regional MenEngage Africa Training Initiative and the MEA youth activities with country partners including supporting development of governance structures mirroring the MenEngage country and regional structures, capacity strengthening for MEA Youth, supporting regional trainers to deliver programmes in their relevant countries in Eastern, Western and Southern Africa.
The position coordinates the MEA youth work, with the youth chapter, and the age criteria for membership is 35 years. It is for this reason that ONLY candidates 35 years and younger will be considered.
Key duties and responsibilities
- Coordinate MenEngage Africa Training Initiatives
- Co-ordination of the MEA Youth Alliance
- Research, writing and editing
- Engage with RPN Unit processes and provide management support
- Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation of programme work
- MenEngage Africa Training Initiative
- Coordination of the MATI and act as a focal point for any matters related to MATI
- Manage the planning, implementing and evaluation of the residential MATI courses. This includes but is not limited to: coordinating the process for development of course material, selecting participants, guiding facilitators, coordinating logistics and monitoring the budget.
- Make plans for the development and sustainability of the training initiative
- Link MATI to other projects and MenEngage Africa processes
- Conduct research related to the MATI topics
- Develop (internal and external) partnerships to support MATI
- Develop and revise the MATI curriculum in collaboration with staff in the organization and with relevant stakeholders
- Plan for the further development and expansion of MATI, including developing an e-learning module for MATI
- Maintain and further develop a mentorship and engagement programme for MATI fellows
- Ensure monitoring and evaluation of MATI following donor requirements and develop the MATI sections of donor reports.
- Engaging MATI Alumni in MEA projects and events at country, regional and global levels.
- Increase MATI online presence and on the MATI social media pages, as well as the website
- Translate MATI modules and materials to other languages, especially French and Portuguese
- Documentation of MATI impact stories
- Development of online MATI tools to support students accessing online modules
- Establishment of a MATI community of practitioners
- MEA Youth Coordination
- Coordinate and support development of functioning youth networks in all MEA countries and build governance structures.
- Under the guidance of the RPN Unit Manager develop an annual work-plan of youth activities to be implemented in the MEA countries
- Overall coordination of the MEA Youth work, including project set up, oversight, including support in all MEA countries
- Conduct capacity and needs assessments for youth related work, provide ongoing remote support and coordinate capacity strengthening workshops for MEA youth on Gender, SRHR and other MEA thematic areas;
- Facilitate and lead on planning and budgeting for activities for youth work
- Collect relevant MEA Youth information including databases, thematic areas and key youth regional and international events.
- Participate in development of advocacy strategies and plans in relation to MEA youth work
- Participate in relevant meetings and events in relation to MEA youth work
- Create a database of all relevant documents
- Research, Writing and Editing
- Where necessary supervise consultants, or support colleagues to conduct desk research on MATI and Youth activities
- Assist with the development of key priority advocacy campaigns and activities both in South Africa and the region
- Ensure timely submission of input to donor reports, including relevant information for reports on work performed with core support funding.
- RPN Unit processes and management support
- Contribute to the writing of project proposals, financial project/s budgets and monitoring and evaluation of plans in consultation with the RPN Co-Unit Manager;
- Ensure timely submission of project reports to funders, including relevant information for reports on work performed with core support funding; and
- Provide ongoing programme support to RPN team members on parallel projects where necessary.
- Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Prepare monthly reports on MATI and Youth in the MEA countries;
- Submit monthly reports, project reports, budgets, team meeting reports and stakeholder meeting reports;
- Assist with the development of M&E indicators under the guidance of the Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (RMEL) Unit Manager and in consultation with regional trainers and ensure these are integrated in the RPN annual work plan
- General
- Represent Sonke externally in conferences, dialogues, symposiums and in stakeholder meetings when required to:
- Attend staff meetings, staff retreats, staff trainings including international meetings as required;
- Submit monthly timesheets
- Identify and develop contracts with consultants to assist with the strengthening of the unit as required;
- Attend stakeholder meetings, donor meetings and conferences where necessary and when required to do so;
- Ensure the continued development of relationships with stakeholders both potential and existing in order to further the work of the unit;
- Network strategically with existing community networks, educational institutions, NPO’s and government;
- Participate in monthly unit meetings; and
- Assist with the writing of funding proposals when necessary
- Attend stakeholder meetings, donor meetings and conferences where necessary
Experience and educational qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in gender studies, political science, or another relevant field
- A postgraduate qualification would be advantageous
- 4 years’ minimum experience working across Africa on matters related to Youth in the gender, HIV and/or SRHR, children’s rights and protection thematic areas, preferably program coordination in these areas
- Project planning and management skills with the ability to prioritize time and work effectively including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Budgeting skills and experience assisting with M&E and reporting
- Experience in conducting and coordinating capacity strengthening activities both remotely and face-to-face
- Good research and writing skills is required
- Familiarity with the African region and policies and practices relating to gender, sexual and reproductive health and HIV and AIDS; a focus on young people, men and masculinities an advantage
- Experience in coordination of short courses
- Movement building experience will be an added advantage
Competencies required
- Budgeting and financial management skills
- Ability to work and support remote teams
- Ability to work in a pressurized environment with a strong focus on meeting deadlines
- Willingness to take action, accomplish tasks, maintaining a high level of motivation and energy
- Ability to work in a team and independently
- Fast learner, flexible and openness to learning
- Planning and organizing with ability to pay attention to detail
- Working knowledge of French is an added advantage
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- Relationship building skills with an ability to establish rapport and credibility with a broad group of internal and external stakeholders
- Results oriented and drive to produce high quality work
- Availability and ability to travel within the region
- Knowledge of French, Swahili or another language widely spoken in Africa is an added advantage.
To Apply
- Interested applicants should submit their CV, a motivational letter that details your experience, the contact details of three referees, to Sonke’s Human Resource Unit at [email protected]. Closing date 23 November 2021.
- All applications must be submitted with the one page application form you can download on this page
- For non-South Africans, it is the responsibility of the applicant to attain a work permit from the Department of Home Affairs, and employment will depend on a valid work permit being in place.
- Sonke is committed to racial and gender transformation and encourages previously disadvantaged individuals to apply.
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us by 31/12/2021, please consider your application unsuccessful.
- The organisation reserves the right not to make an appointment.