Overview

Women for Women International (WfWI) works in some of the most dangerous places to be a woman. We serve women survivors of war in conflict and post-conflict areas around the world in 8 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Eastern Congo, and Northern Nigeria. Our core belief is that stronger women build stronger nations; and with access to knowledge, resources, and a support network, a woman rebuilds her life and improves her community.

Our model works and we have the data to prove it. In our 26-year history, Women for Women International has reached over half a million women. The women we work with across 3 continents earn just $0.81 a day when we enroll them. At graduation, it’s $2.11, nearly tripled.

Our impact goes beyond income. The number of women who say at least one household member went to sleep hungry in the last four weeks has gone from 18% to 5%. And more women say they speak out against women’s abuse: 26% report having publicly spoken in the last 6 months against physically abusing women.

When women have the right tools, they realize the power within themselves to transform their lives, their families, their communities, and finally their entire nations.

Purpose

WfWI is recruiting for an Associate Director of Women’s Economic Power (AD WEP) to lead WfWI’s global programming to support women’s economic power.  The AD WEP has overall responsibility for developing WfWI’s WEP strategy, inspiring innovation, ensuring quality, seeking funding, overseeing grants and encouraging learning on all areas related to WEP.

To be closer to our programs, we have a strong preference for candidates from and based in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East or Central Asia, with priority for conflict-affected areas where WfWI operates (Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan, Nigeria, Rwanda and DRC).  Expected travel is 20-25% to the country, US and European offices (as possible).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Based on their experience and expertise, the AD WEP will guide WfWI in furthering its extensive women’s economic power program portfolio, with a focus on gender-tranformative programming in fragile and conflict-affected countries. WfWI’s WEP portfolio includes, but is not limited to: cash transfers, financial inclusion, formal and informal savings and loans (including savings groups), numeracy and financial literacy, business and vocational training, micro-entrepreneurship and cooperatives/associations support, and market and value chain linkages. They are the primary point of contact for WfWI’s Country Offices for supporting context-specific WEP strategies, fundraising and program implementation.

Leadership in Women’s Economic Power

• Serve as the primary technical expert in WEP for WfWI globally
• Provide strategic advice to senior management to guide policy, planning, and delivery
• Develop programmatic partnerships to further WfWI’s WEP programming
• Develop global plans to improve WEP programming based on gaps in existing programs, and work with teams to develop country-specific plans, innovative approaches and mechanisms to address gaps (technology, partnerships, etc.)
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of WEP research and practice

Technical Guidance in Design and Planning

• Provide high quality technical guidance to Country Offices and teams for WEP program improvement
• Carry out regular monitoring and technical assistance to Country Offices to support the effective implementation of their WEP programming
• Collaborate with M&E team to contribute to the development of WfWI’s M&E system-related WEP activities
• Review and analyze global and country-specific outcome indicator data, and other evaluations, research and reports related to WEP, with country teams, as a basis for improving WEP program approaches
• Provide support to country teams in strategic and operational planning

Fundraising Efforts

• Lead WEP program design for grant proposals or new project concepts
• Develop highly impactful messages about our WEP program to share with donors
• Collaborate with business development teams on finding and responding to funding opportunities

Relationship Building and External Representation

• Establish relationships and cooordination with regional and global NGOs, institutions, UN bodies, and networks
• Support country teams to develop partnerships and linkages with other organizations, government and private sector working on WEP issues at national, regional an community levels
• Represent WfWI in networks and coalitions (e.g. SEEP) and at global and regional forums
• Support the global advocacy team in developing key messages and policy papers on WEP issues

Cross-Organizational Communication & Teamwork

• Maintain regular communications with Country Offices, HQ, and European offices
• Share up to date knowledge of research, policy and practice with the global organization

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Required Bachelor’s degree in international development, economics or related field; graduate degree highly desirable
• Minimum seven years’ relevant work experience in international development, with emphasis on women’s economic power, of which at least five years must be at managerial level
• Lived experience in WfWI’s target countries (or similar) is highly desirable
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant social and economic development issues such as povery, power, women’s rights and empowerment, gender, and conflict
• Analytical ability and extensive experience in creating project plans, implementing plans,  managing grants and budgets
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to support a large, complex, ethnically-mixed team of people through a participatory and enabling management style
• Demonstrated capacity to serve as a coach or mentor of individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, and professional backgrounds for staff development and capacity building
• Successful at establishing and maintaining internal and external relationships, building trust, and inspiring teamwork
• Confidence and experience in external representation and public speaking
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; working knowledge of a language of WfWI’s country teams (French, Kiswahili, Dari, Kurdish, etc.) highly desirable; knowledge of other local languages would be an advantage
• Good judgment and problem solving skills, positive attitude, demonstrated willingness to take initiative especially in changing security contexts, political dynamics and budgetary shifts
• Commitment to and respect for Women for Women International’s mission and values
• Strong computer skills in MS Word, Excel, internet, email applications

Application Instructions:

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so please apply at your earliest convenience through this portal.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Submit your CV and Application on Company Website : Click Here

Closing Date : 22nd August, 2020.