Project Officer at Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa

Overall job purpose

The Programme Officer’s core duties will entail provision of support in identification and fostering of effective grant making relations in a dynamic, creative and committed manner with a focus on OSIEA’s equality and non-discrimination programming in the Eastern Africa region. The program officer will particularly focus on youth programming in the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a bold vision for innovative work that will add value by identifying grant-making, operational, and advocacy strategies to advance the rights of youth in Eastern Africa. Participate in the development of overall program strategy.
• Collaborate within and beyond the program team, including building partnerships beyond OSF, to develop knowledge content, identify emerging trends, and conduct strong field assessments employing a rights-based lens.
• Conduct relevant policy analysis in the region for internal and external audiences.
• Support identification of capacity and institutional development opportunities in partner organizations (grantees).
• Support network/coalition building for joint advocacy with grantees and constituents targeting governments, donor agencies, service providers, and the general public.
• Oversee administrative duties within the program and supervision of consultants.

Person specifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• At least six years’ relevant work experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and one other East African language.
• Support identification of capacity and institutional development opportunities in partner organizations (grantees).
• Experience developing and implementing social change strategies through a rights-based approach and substantive knowledge of human rights issues in the Eastern Africa region.
• Experience in working with community based groups in East Africa on human rights issues relating to youth.
• Experience in or understanding of grant making in East Africa.
• Knowledge of the Eastern Africa human rights context.