Collaborations and Advocacy Manager At Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA)

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ISLA is a feminist and Pan-African organisation that is based on the belief strategic Litigation is an immensely strong tool for social change because it helps to reframe the understanding of entitlements before the law. Mindful of the limitations of the law in bringing about social change, we reinforce our work by creating partnerships and strengthening our partners’ capacity to do strategic litigation in order to create an enabling environment for strategic litigation to achieve its intended impact. We use the law to advance sexual rights and sexual orientation (SOGIE), gender identity and expression in particular and women’s human’s rights in domestic courts and regional accountability mechanisms across the continent.

ISLA seeks to appoint a Collaborations and Advocacy and Manager to be based in Johannesburg.

Reports to: This role reports to the Legal Director.

Remuneration: This position offers a competitive salary, up to (R650 000) per annum, (total cost to company, and commensurate with experience.

The purpose of the candidate will be to lead the strengthening of their newly established Collaborations Unit (ISLA Strategy Plan 2020 – 2025). She will be a part of their Building Partnerships for Social Justice team and will lead the development of our collaborations and advocacy work that support our thematic and priority areas. She will also work closely with the litigation unit to develop advocacy strategies and identify social movement and other partnerships that will enable their litigation efforts to bring about social change.

Responsibilities:

Partnerships Management 30%
- Lead and consolidate ISLA’s strategic thinking, intellectual leadership and planning on Collaborations and Advocacy;
- Develop and execute collaborations and advocacy strategies to support ISLA’s mission, thematic and priority areas, and initiatives;
- Develop work plans and build systems to ensure the effective implementation of the Collaborations Unit’s projects and strategic priorities;
- Ensure cohesion, coordination, and high-level performance across the Collaborations Unit;
- Provide strategic advice to the Executive Director and Legal Director on ISLA’s collaborations and activities;
- Support the Executive Director in her interactions with civil society leaders and key stakeholders in ensuring appropriate follow-up required from the program team from high-level meetings;
- Champion and manage new projects to create stronger partnerships;
- Maintain a great ongoing relationships with current partners and offer new ways to grow the partnership;
- Map existing networks and complementary or cross-sectoral initiatives to help build regional network and identify other organisations, experts and practitioners focused on common goals;
- Maintain strong links with international, regional and national networks on sexuality and sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE), women’s human rights and human rights;
- Liaise with partners to solve issues, communicate needs and create synergy;
- Work with the thematic and priority area leadership teams to identify current high-priority partners for individual initiatives and projects, their current approaches to partnership development and management, and their short and long-term goals for current and desired partnerships;
- Develop a partnership management system that ensures ISLA continually captures knowledge and information about our strategic partners;
- Support the Legal Director in general program management processes (Senior Management Team) and manage specific projects and grants related to Partnerships.
- Research partners, identify key players and generate interest in ISLA’s initiatives; and
- Support partner organisations including, but not limited to, technical and management advice, assessment of capacities and approaches to sexual rights, women’s human rights and human rights.
Advocacy Management 30%
- Play a key role in horizon scanning and maximising ISLA’s opportunities for external engagement by identifying issues that are amenable to strategic litigation and where collaborations will be useful;
- Work independently and as part of a team to develop and implement realistic and effective international, regional and national advocacy strategies and tactics in order to identify and seize advocacy opportunities;
- Think creatively and strategically to identify opportunities for increased impact beyond assigned tasks;
- Provide an analysis of current contextual developments and sector policy debates and developments, and provide briefings and briefing papers to inform ISLA staff, partners and other relevant stakeholders as required;
- Provide analysis on regional and international human rights, sexual rights and women’s human rights;
- Shape ISLA’s response to emerging trends including threats, attacks and sudden opportunities;
- Conduct and support high-level advocacy and engage with contacts within human rights accountability mechanisms, civil society organisations, and institutions at the national, regional, and international levels with a specific focus on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
- Develop and publicly present position statements and advocacy strategies to support ISLA’s initiatives; and
- Work with the Communications manager to communicate about ISLA’s collaborations.
Litigation Support 40%
- Develop working methods to engage with social movements and other stakeholders to enable litigation to have broader social impact;
- Mobilise and support various constituencies to leverage litigation processes to advance their struggles and vice versa.
- Support ISLA’s network partners to strengthen their litigation advocacy work; and
- Support the litigation unit to establish new relationships with advocacy and litigation partners across the continent and to develop advocacy strategies to support the litigation work.
Other Essentials Specific to the Job
- Carry out any additional responsibilities that may be assigned by the Legal Director and Executive Director from time to time;
- Able and willing to travel occasionally across the continent;
- Commitment to the overall aims and values of ISLA; feminism and Pan Africanism; and
- Expectation of occasional work outside regular weekday hours, as required to do the job.

Required:

Skills:
- Ability to develop and deliver high impact messages;
- Ability to develop project work plans and manage budgets;
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
- Ability to juggle multiple tasks and consistently meet deadlines;
- Ability to initiate donor visits and fundraising calls;
- Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required; additional oral and written communication skills in French are desirable;
- Proficiency in other official African Union languages is a plus;
- Excellent research, public-speaking and presentation skills;
- Organisational, analytical and interpersonal skills;
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, Google applications, and Dropbox; and
- Supervision and managerial experience required.
Personal attributes:
- A courteous, professional and cooperative attitude;
- Ability to work constructively and professionally across multiple issue areas and under the pressure of deadlines;
- Ability to work well in a diverse group;
- Demonstrated commitment to human rights, feminism and social justice;
- Highest standards of excellence and integrity at all times and to all persons;
- Highly motivated with the confidence and the ability to act proactively, think quickly, and work independently;
- Meticulous attention to detail;
- Ability to work with and motivate staff, partners, board members and other volunteers; and
- Self-driven, resourceful person who is able to manage and effectively coordinate teamwork.
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Advanced degree in law, human rights, gender, international relations, or a relevant social science discipline; or commensurate collaborations and advocacy experience;
- At least 7+ years of collaborations and advocacy professional experience required;
- Previous management experience is a plus.

Other information about the position:

Preference will be given to qualifying women applicants.

Application:

ISLA’s job application form replaces the need to submit a CV, cover letter or any other document as we prefer to have standardised information provided to us by all candidates.

Deadline May 30, 2020

To apply for this position, click on this link: http://www.the-isla.org/application-forms/collaborations-and-advocacy-manager/20/