Association of Progressive Communication New Position – Apply Here!

The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms is a pan-African initiative to promote human rights online in Africa. Driving the Declaration is a coalition that includes around 40 individuals and organisations and a Secretariat made up of three organisations that are founding members of the coalition.

We are looking for someone to coordinate an 18-month project:  “Securing human rights online in Africa through a strong and active ‘African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms’ network”.  The overall aim of the project is to utilise the African Declaration as a tool to promote human-rights respecting internet-related policies and governance on the continent.

Job Title: African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms project coordinator

The successful candidate will need:

• Experience in internet governance and human rights in the African context;
• Strong communications, networking and outreach skills;
• Expertise in advocacy; and,
• Solid experience in project coordination.

Start date: 1 August, 2018

Deadline for applications: 9 July, 2018

Location: The incumbent must live and work in Africa and have excellent internet access. APC provides an equipment allowance but requires staff to use their own computers. APC is a truly virtual organisation and does not have a physical headquarters. We do our work online.
Remuneration and duration of contract: This is a full time position for the duration of the project (18 months) with a 3 month probation period. Remuneration is based on APC’s salary scale for the position for project coordinator. Total income per annum will range from USD 40,000 to  50,000  depending on qualifications, experience, and place of residence. The position is contingent on project funding.

Main purpose of the job: The purpose of the position is to coordinate the implementation of the project ‘Securing human rights online in Africa through a strong and active ‘African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms’ network.

Project activities fall into four broad categories:

• Strengthening the African Declaration Secretariat
• Strengthening the African Declaration’s profile, and growing the coalition’s membership
• Strengthening regional and global advocacy around the principles of the African Declaration and
• Supporting and strengthening national advocacy African Declaration advocacy through administering a small grant fund

The project coordinator will lead implementation of project activities under the guidance of the Secretariat as well as provide administrative and logistical support for the work of the Coalition. They will work closely with and be supported by staff of the Association for Progressive Communications which will host the Secretariat for the duration of the project.

Responsibilities:
Project coordination

• Manage the overall implementation of project activities including  administering a small-grants program
• Oversee hiring of and supervise consultants and sub-contractors as needed.
• Work closely with APC staff who focus on policy, advocacy, human rights, communications, financial, administrative and technical elements of the project.
• Manage project budget and finances
• Prepare narrative and financial reports for donors
• Coordinate monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Coordination of the work of the African Declaration Secretariat

• Coordinate, facilitate and support the Secretariat’s operational, administrative and communication needs.
• Convene and document regular online and face-to-face meetings of the Secretariat and of the African Declaration Coalition.
• Coordinate and support internal communications between the Secretariat and the Coalition e.g management of mailing lists.
• Organise a face-to-face strategy retreat for Coalition members and facilitate development of a strategic plan (including a communication, outreach and engagement strategy).

Implementation of the strategic plan and communications strategy

• Working with the Secretariat, coordinate implementation of the strategic plan that emerges from the strategic retreat
• Ensure that all African Declaration online platforms are up to date
• Coordinate implementation of outreach, communications, network-building and advocacy strategies and plans including participation of members of the Secretariat and Coalition in key regional events
• Establish systems and procedures to ensure the longer term sustainability and impact of the African Declaration

Fundraising and resource mobilisation

• Assist the Secretariat with in building partnerships and developing funding proposals to ensure long term sustainability of the work of the African Declaration

Qualifications, background and experience: 

• Academic qualifications in one of the following areas: public policy; law; human rights; telecommunications policy and regulation; internet governance; economic and social development.
• Background in research or advocacy in the fields of human rights, ICT/internet policy, governance, and/or development.
• At least five years experience in project coordination, including reporting, and people and budget management.
• A track record as an inclusive network builder.
• Fluency in English and excellent communication and writing skills.
• Good knowledge of the key human rights and internet policy issues and actors in Africa
• Excellent computer and internet skills and experience in working in an online environment.

Other requirements:

• Ability to communicate in French is a distinct advantage
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work independently and to facilitate collaboration among people who live in different countries, using online tools
• Willing to travel frequently

How to apply:

Please send a CV and a covering letter in English that illustrates your interest in the position.

You should include the following information:

• Why you are interested in this position. See annex for more information about the project.
• Your background in human rights, internet policy and  internet governance work in Africa
• Your experience in research, advocacy and capacity building, network and movement building, and in working with different constituencies in multistakeholder contexts
• Your experience in project coordination
• Your computer and internet skills
• Where you live and plan to work from
• Confirmation that you are able and willing to travel frequently
• Languages you speak and write
• Other information you think might be of importance to our assessment of your application
• Three references: names, relationship, contact details; at least one of these should be related to the project that you have managed.

Please send this information via email with ‘AFDEC project coordinator’ in the subject line to: [email protected] by 9 July 2018 23.00 UTC. Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted

ANNEX –  Institutional Framework for the Project

For the duration of this project the Secretariat of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms will be led by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). APC is a global network of civil society organizations whose mission is to empower and support organisations, social movements and individuals in and through the use of information and communication technologies to build strategic communities and initiatives for the purpose of making meaningful contributions to equitable human development, social justice, participatory political processes and environmental sustainability. https://www.apc.org/

Project Securing human rights online in Africa through a strong and active ‘African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms’ network

The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (referred to as the Declaration), launched in 2014, is a pan-African initiative to promote human rights online in Africa. The text of the Declaration is based on existing human rights principles. A coalition of 23 organizations and multiple individuals (the Coalition) are using it to promote and apply human rights standards and principles of openness in internet policy in their national contexts.
http://africaninternetrights.org/
http://engage.africaninternetrights.org/

The project’s overall goal is that national and regional internet- related policy frameworks across Sub-Saharan Africa promote and respect human rights, particularly freedom of expression, association and assembly, through the active involvement of civil society, led by the Coalition, in monitoring and responding to violations, network building, and policy development.
The project’s objectives are that the Secretariat and Coalition have the capacity to effectively promote and coordinate uptake and use of the Declaration across Sub-Saharan Africa; the Secretariat and Coalition in collaboration with civil society actors, particularly human rights defenders and media groups, participate in and influence internet-related policy processes to help ensure that they respect human rights online, regionally and globally; and the Secretariat, Coalition members and partners have access to resources to enable them to respond to violations and implement actions towards human rights respecting national internet regulation and policy- making frameworks in Africa. The program’s activities include institution building for the Secretariat and Coalition; active engagement in human rights, internet policy and internet governance dialogues and decision-making processes regionally; strategic policy advocacy interventions at national levels; and actions to respond to threats and violations of human rights online at country levels.

Application Deadline: 9th of July, 2018