About FAWE
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a Pan-African Non-Governmental
organisation that operates through 34 National Chapters to promote gender equity and equality in
education in Africa by fostering positive policies and attitudes towards girls’ education.
Overview of FAWE’s Vision and Advocacy Work
FAWE is a renowned thought leader in girls and young women’s education in Africa. FAWE
facilitates access to quality education and training opportunities for girls and women across Africa
to develop relevant skills to achieve their full potential in all realms of life. Our advocacy work is
anchored on integrating gender-responsive approaches and policies in African education systems
to inculcate skills and competencies in girls and women to enable them to contribute to and
transform their societies. FAWE believes that the entry of girls into schools, their retention, and
transition to higher levels of education make significant contributions to ending gender disparities
and enhancing sustainable development in Africa.
Position Summary: FAWE seeks to recruit an Advocacy and Programme Officer to work with the
advocacy Unit at the Regional Secretariat in Nairobi. The Advocacy and Partnership Officer will
support steering FAWE’s advocacy, policy work, and partnership enhancement. The officer is
expected to strategically position FAWE as the champion of policies and programmes that promote
quality education and gender equality at the national and regional levels.
Contract Type: This position is a temporary contract for one year with a possibility of extension
based on funds availability and performance.
Location: The Advocacy and Programme officer will be based in the Regional Office in Nairobi, with
frequent travel across the region.
Reporting to: Senior Advocacy and Partnerships Officer
Functional Relationships: Programmes Team, Other Units within FAWE, FAWE’s 34 National
Chapters, Civil Society Organizations, and regional and sub-regional policy bodies, among others.
Direct Reportees: None
Key roles and responsibilities:
1. Support the development and implementation of partnership and advocacy initiatives
▪ Coordinate implementation of advocacy programmes/projects work. This entails,
observing the work plans, deliverables, timelines, compliance to budgets, M&E plans,
advocacy plans, selection of strategic partners, compliance to FAWE procedures,
funding partner and the respective country governments, and overall quality assurance
on projects under advocacy docket.
▪ Planning and execution of creative advocacy actions including influencing decision-
makers, campaigns, lobbying, and building public support for FAWE issues.
▪ Lead in commemoration of International Days on Education. This includes developing
concept notes, convening sessions such as webinars, and working with National
Chapters to commemorate these days at the Country level.
▪ Preparation of advocacy team reports and various documentation relating to the
activities carried out. This includes correspondence, donors’ reports, and FAWE reports
(monthly/quarterly/annual reports).
▪ Collect, document, and disseminate successful FAWE advocacy interventions. Includes
production of well throughout advocacy materials such as position/issue papers,
outcome papers, and policy briefs.
▪ Be the focal point for select FAWE demonstrative models and advocacy groups at the
regional level.
2. Support in knowledge management and capacity development.
▪ Research key issues relating to FAWE’s advocacy and policy work and be up to date
with various interventions at global and regional levels.
▪ Support in building and strengthening FAWE partnerships for collective advocacy and
collective project delivery. This includes collaboration with the African Union and its
relevant institutions/networks, Regional Economic Communities such as EAC, SADC,
ECOWAS, and National contexts such as partnerships with Ministries in charge of
Education and Gender.
▪ Support the development of internal assessment and recommend capacity-building
needs on advocacy. This includes support for FAWE National Chapters and members.
3. Provide technical support to FAWE’s National Chapters/Partners and strengthen
stakeholder engagement.
▪ Provide technical support assistance to FAWE National Chapters to engage with
relevant advocacy stakeholders and execute appropriate interventions.
▪ Provide substantive support to expanding and mobilizing stakeholder engagement and
3
facilitate interventions towards influencing global trends in education such as EFA,
SDGs, GES4CESA, and Agenda 2063.
▪ Support the advocacy Unit to strengthen the linkages between the global, regional, and
national processes that promote the education and well-being of women and girls.
▪ Provide support in organizing workshops/forums to facilitate the sharing of
experiences with relevant stakeholders.
4. Programme Development & Management
• Provide administrative support towards the successful implementation of advocacy &
partnership activities. This includes the preparation of documents such as memos, and
agreements, scheduling meetings, and coordination of external contacts.
• Assist in resource mobilization efforts for advocacy initiatives. This includes pitching
ideas to development partners and providing input in funding proposals for FAWE
Advocacy and partnership work.
• Participate in proposal development processes liaising with the relevant Units such as
the resource mobilization/programmes units to ensure that advocacy approaches are
integrated into the programmes.
• Participate in programme meetings and related sessions to draw out research-based
advocacy messages in programmes, and present advocacy updates.
• Provide any other support as required by the supervisor.
Qualification Requirements
• Master’s degree in social sciences, Education, Political Science, Philosophy, Gender,
Law, Project Management, Journalism, Public Relations, or any other relevant
discipline.
• A first-level university degree in combination with four additional years of qualifying
experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Preferred 8 years of work experience with a minimum of 4 years working in complex
international environments with practical field experience.
• Experience in advocacy work and human development work with NGOs, and strategic
partnerships especially working within a consortium (range of stakeholders) covering
more than one country. Work Experience with the African Union, Regional Economic
Communities, and Relevant National Ministries/Government Bodies is an added
advantage
Personal Attributes
• Programme management skills, including process management, scheduling, project control,
documentation development, risk management and quality management, monitoring, and
evaluation.
• Communication skills – strong verbal and written communication skills – Production of high-
quality written work to influence policy outcomes.
• Strong networking, team building, organizational, communication, public speaking, and
interpersonal skills.
• Sound knowledge and Skills in Advocacy – clear demonstration of the ability to
influence decisions and knowledge of women’s and children’s rights key international
agreements and conventions.
Languages
• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of French language will be an added advantage.
Application Procedure
Review of applications will begin as soon as they are received, and only complete applications will be
reviewed. If an outstanding applicant is identified early in the search process, we reserve the right to
appoint before the deadline. For this reason, we encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as
possible. Please submit a detailed CV and a Cover letter to the Executive Director via email address
[email protected] with the subject line FAWE Advocacy and Programme Officer by latest
Friday, 20th December 2024
