JOB PURPOSE: To develop and implement the Economic, Social & Cultural Rights programme strategy; implement and manage project campaigns as well as actions on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights’ concerns by using and developing knowledge on South Africa and programme thematic areas. To support and liaise with Amnesty International (AI) movement and outside networks to ensure maximum impact of the programme and specific projects
AI SOUTH AFRICA PURPOSE: Amnesty International South Africa (AISA) is a national human rights entity that is part of a global human rights movement, established to address national human rights priorities as well as create the possibility for people in South Africa to join Amnesty International’s global human rights campaigns. Our mission in South Africa is to address pertinent national human rights issues through research and campaigning, and to empower South Africans to take action on issues that matter to them through AI’s international human rights movement; and to leverage South Africa’s influence regionally and globally to promote human rights domestically, bilaterally and internationally.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PURPOSE: We campaign for meaningful human rights change; enable effective human rights activism and work to persuade governments and other actors to uphold universal rights standards.
- To contribute to the development and implementation of Economic, Social & Cultural Rights programme strategy and campaigning strategies to deliver impact, and to lead on the development and implementation of specific campaigning strategies to support them, managing and coordinating actions on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights concerns in South Africa and programme thematic areas aimed at effecting change in the women’s human rights situation
- To support and liaise with AI membership structures and maintain and develop networks of national and international NGOs and other external partners in the development and implementation of 2 campaigning strategies and plans
- To write or otherwise devise research, campaigning and other materials for external and internal use, such as reports, annual report entries, public statements, web features, audio-visual materials and government correspondence
- To collaborate with the Southern African researchers on the most effective ways to campaign on human rights concerns and monitor and conduct evaluations of campaigning strategies and plans
- To monitor and analyze political and human rights developments and commission research as appropriate into human rights contexts and individual cases, including by participating in field research and through contact with partners on the ground
- To communicate AI's concerns, positions and key messages to AI's membership, civil society organizations and at other forums, including through lobbying at relevant public forums in relation to campaigning priorities and undertaking other advocacy, and in addition, as appropriate, represent AI in governmental, inter-governmental and various public forums, as well as with the news media and others
- To contribute to the development of subregional and region-wide strategies and plans for research and campaigning and provide input into internal discussions on the AI mission, policy, organizational and other issues in order to increase the effectiveness of AI's work
- To participate in the coordination of the work of the team and contribute to the overall flexibility of resource use, including through setting priorities, preparing work plans, monitoring their progress and maintaining basic budgets
- To perform all necessary administrative tasks to ensure effective self-servicing, participate in the recruitment and induction of new staff and consultants and perform other corporate tasks as appropriate
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE IN THIS JOB?
- A successful programme officer will have developed and implemented specific and effective project campaigns within the overall programme strategy on programme themes in her/his brief;
- Communicated clear and effective messages to government, media, civil society, national and international NGOs and partners on the ground, having an impact on the human rights issues
- S/he will have produced, implemented, monitored and evaluated related campaign and action plans to agreed deadlines with relevant members of their project team(s); generated external awareness and activities on the themes in her/his brief including by mobilizing and supporting the membership, and expanded networks of influence in relation to key concerns and priority areas in the South African strategic plan; and written high quality materials for publication and other outputs
- S/he will have contributed to the effective functioning of the team, and to the implementation of AISA's mission, upholding AISA and AI’s values at all times
- Demonstrated commitment to human rights, e.g. through previous work, membership of an organization, involvement in advocacy of human rights, etc.
- At least five years’ experience in managing a human rights programme and/or projects. 3
- Experience in implementing ESCR projects.
- Experience of strategic campaigning, including knowledge of the steps required to devise campaigning strategy and awareness of the need for actions and campaigning techniques to be based on strategies and be adapted to effect changes in a given situation
- Knowledge of the South African human rights in general and a specialist knowledge in relation to Economic, Social & Cultural Rights and specific thematic issues in your brief
- Ability to understand and express ideas in English, and, where applicable, other relevant local languages in a fluent, clear and concise way, both orally and in writing, and to communicate complex information and institutional positions
- Ability to motivate and inspire others towards activism for change, including through creative and dynamic approaches to encourage campaigning in the face of obstacles and including an understanding of digital campaigning tools and their appropriate use for target audiences to ensure both online and offline activism and mobilisation
- Ability to represent AISA in a variety of forums, particularly with civil society and the AISA membership
- Experience of working in a team and understanding of the importance of efficient communications for the coordination and effective functioning of teams
- Experience of managing conflicting demands, meeting deadlines and adjusting priorities
- Ability and willingness to undertake personal administrative tasks in accordance with AI's guidelines on self-servicing
- Understanding of equal opportunities, cultural diversity and gender issues as well as a commitment to apply relevant policies
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Public or other activity, affiliation to or support for any group or organization, personal association or other factor which may generate a real or perceived conflict of interest with Amnesty International’s principles (specifically independence and impartiality), or raise a security concern, or otherwise prevent the candidate from carrying out key functions of the specific post and would therefore disqualify the candidate from being appointed.