Senior Program Officer – Collaborations Open Society Foundations – Africa Regional Office

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to criticism, whose laws and policies are open to debate and correction, and whose political institutions are open to the participation of all people. We seek to strengthen justice and the rule of law; broaden respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities; encourage pluralism and a robust diversity of opinion; deepen democratic practice and participation; expand economic equity; support effective governance; and invest in individuals, public and private organizations, and social movements that advance these goals.

We are a global network of foundations committed to local knowledge and national expertise. Our network includes national foundations, regional foundations, and other geographic programs operating in more than one hundred countries. At the same time, many programs with global reach operate from our four headquarters in Europe and the United States, including programs on digital information, documentary photography, drug policy, early childhood, education, fellowships, fiscal governance, higher education, human rights, international migration, justice, public health, scholarships, think tanks, and women’s rights. In addition to making grants to organizations and individuals, the Open Society Foundations engage in policy advocacy, legal advocacy and litigation, program-related investing, and public communications, as well as providing direct assistance to governments. Most programs and foundations in the network are governed or advised by their own boards.

The Open Society Foundations are the global philanthropies of George Soros, who, as chairman, plays an active role in the work of the foundations.

Purpose of Position:  The purpose of the Senior Program Officer (Collaborations) role is to enable the Africa Regional Office to fulfil its commitment to promote and support collaboration among the many Open Society Foundations programs that work in Africa. Open Society Foundations teams have a range of tools to deploy and bringing them into collaborative projects allows simultaneous use of multiple tools to advance our work. Many of the projects we undertake are complex and exhibit multiple dimensions making it desirable to bring programs with different thematic capacities together. In practice, this may sometimes require the post holder to take on significant substantive work themselves on a program issue, to convene cross-program groups of staff, to diagnose and help resolve practical challenges, or to promote or support ideas for new collaborations. In the current strategy cycle, the biggest element of the role is to help coordinate Open Society Foundations’ work on African Food Security in the context of Climate Change.

In 2014, a new cross-program tool – the shared framework – was launched in Open Society Foundations to promote collaborative work among programs on themes of broad interest to the foundations. The goal is to increase effectiveness by mobilizing and aligning a variety of tools and knowledge from regional foundations, thematic programs, and their partners to work toward a single set of objectives. The shared framework to address food security in Africa in the context of climate change is Open Society Foundations’ first shared framework, and it brings together Open Society Foundations’ four Africa-based foundations and several thematic programs.   A series of objectives have been agreed that advance the participation, influence, and interests of farmers and marginalized constituencies, particularly smallholders, women, pastoralists, the urban poor, youth, and the elderly’ in production and markets.

Open Society Foundations’ Africa Regional Office coordinates the food security shared framework and the holder of this senior program officer position will lead that work during the current four year strategy cycle. They will report to the Africa Regional Director. They will be responsible for convening and encouraging participation in food security collaborations, for helping participating programs to design, develop and implement projects and for trouble-shooting and helping to address challenges as they arise. They will be responsible for the strategic oversight and direction of the overall framework and for supporting programs to participate. They will coordinate use of the Reserve Fund allocated to support food security work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. OSF may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

This post is responsible for the oversight of the various elements that will comprise the Food Security shared framework and for supporting collaborative programming in Africa:

Internal program activities/responsibilities:

On food security shared framework:

Act as the primary point of contact for colleagues from around the network on matters related to the food security shared framework. In consultation with colleagues from participating programs and foundation offices, evaluate whether proposed initiatives meet the exacting requirement for the shared framework projects – to show unique insight, opportunity and Open Society Foundations’ capacity to make a difference;Receive requests for funds for food security work, review proposals and recommend appropriate allocation of resources;Monitor progress against shared framework goals, from the individual activity level through to the overall objectives;Liaising with colleagues involved with the shared framework who need assistance take forward their work alone and with others;Promoting and supporting participation by new programs;

On program collaborations in general:

Convening Africa-focused staff in combinations that increased shared understanding or effectivenessDiagnosing problems that prevent effective collaboration and helping to resolve themPromoting new ideas for collaborative work in the Africa area.

Admin responsibilities and Supervision

Working closely with the Africa Regional Office Programme Coordinator, design appropriate administrative systems and procedures in relation to the Food Security shared framework,Day to day monitoring of shared framework reserve fund and tracking of expenditureSupervise and support work by the Programme Coordinator assigned to food security work;Work with program coordinator to  ensure effective communication of shared framework progress and outcomes to Open Society Foundations programsEnsuring updates are shared via the appropriate KARL communities (equivalent of OSF intranet) as to progress with the Food Security Shared framework.

External relationships/activities

Keep abreast of the latest pan-African and international developments in the fields of food security and climate change;Develop and maintain strong contacts in food security and climate change arenas, in support of Open Society Foundations programs external engagement;Represent Open Society Foundations in collaborating with other donors, with grantees or other collaborators outside Open Society Foundations.When applicable arrange or support grant making in support of food security/climate change work or other collaborative projectsWhen applicable, identify, assess and hire consultants in support of food security/climate change work or other collaborative projects

Education/Experience:

Postgraduate qualification  in a relevant field, such as political economy, agricultural development, environmental science,  or substantial equivalent experience;Substantial relevant work experience in the fields of food security and/or climate change, and other open society fields in a Program Officer or Senior Program Officer roleProject and program management experience: experience of designing and implementing complex programs with extensive budgets;Experience setting up monitoring and evaluation systems; experience of reporting on program progress to senior management;Experience working remotely with global teamsGrant making/management experience

Skills Required:

Outstanding writing and presentation skillsStrong team-building and leadership skills, negotiation and diplomatic ability;Excellent written and spoken English;  good ability in another language widely used across Africa;Finance and budget management skills;Excellent analytical and organizational skills;Willingness and ability to travel for work and meet deadlines plus ability to work flexibly;Commitment to the aims and values of Open Society  FoundationsCurrent right to work in the UK

Start date: ASAP

Location: London

Duration: Permanent position

Working hours: Full time position, 40 hours per week

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package

To Apply: Please email a resume and cover letter to recruitment@opensocietyfoundations.org and include job code in subject line: AfRO-SPO

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