Human Rights Programme Advisor: Trócaire
Ngo & Social Services Jobs
Job Description
The Zimbabwe Country Office falls within Trócaire’s programme portfolio of countries where human rights and democratic space are contested. This is one of three thematic/country classifications that encompass Trocaire’s global programme
The Zimbabwe country programme addresses the following themes:
(i) Defending Human Rights and Promoting Access to Justice
(ii) Climate and Environmental Justice
(iii) Supporting Women and Girls’ Protection, Voice, and Leadership, and,
(iv) Saving Lives and Protecting Human Dignity.
Trocaire’s rights-based approach, partnership model, commitment to localisation, accountability, and the triple nexus, underpin each programme area. The Zimbabwe programme team consists of five staff members with different but complementary responsibilities. The team is led by the Programme Manager.
Background to the role
Globally, one of Trócaire’s key ambitions is to support the protection and empowerment of individuals and communities who have suffered human rights violations and those who are at risk of human rights violations. We aim to support rights holders and their defenders to take action to claim, secure and defend their rights. We also support them to obtain redress and improve or maintain their safety and wellbeing. We aspire for communities to hold duty bearers to account so that policies and institutional practices are increasingly human rights compliant. Increased participation, representation, and leadership of those most affected is a cornerstone of our programmes. This work is guided by a recognition that perseverance is required to ensure justice is delivered for communities. In Zimbabwe, Trocaire has been supporting civil society work for several years. In the new strategic plan (2021-2025) Trocaire Zimbabwe has sharpened focus and redefined this work as the defence of human rights and promotion of access to justice and this role will lead in providing thematic expertise, and technical and managerial support to this body of work.
Reporting to: Programme Manager
Managing (Individuals/team): Three programme staff
Contract type: Fixed term
Contract duration: Two years
Grade: Zimbabwe Local Staff Scale
Location: Harare, with frequent travel to the programme areas and occasional regional and sometimes international travel.
Scope of the role
The role will provide provide leadership and technical expertise ensuring the effective management and development of Trócaire Zimbabwe’s programme defending human tights and promoting access to justice. The role will cover two existing funded projects as well as support thinking and proposal development for resource mobilisation for growth in this area.
The post-holder is expected to provide effective and credible representation of the organisation and its’ work on human rights with donors, partners, organisations, and networks active in this field, and other stakeholder.
The Human Rights Advisor will work collaboratively with the rest of the programme team and give technical support and guidance on Human rights and democratic space protection across the country programme.
The role is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the Human Rights programme in collaboration with the management team and managing and/or supporting day to day project implementation through supporting the implementing partners.
The role is expected to facilitate research where relevant for the defence of human rights and promotion of access to justice, as well as ensure that citizen mobilisation, monitoring and advocacy is part of the programme. Learning should be promoted within this strand of work and opportunities for innovation taken up.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key duties and responsibilities:
Programme Technical Leadership and Management
Provide technical support for the design and delivery of Trocaire’s Human Rights programming in Zimbabwe.
Work with, advise, and support Trocaire staff and partners and implementing of donor-funded human rights projects, including that supported by FCDO, SIDA and Irish Aid.
Oversee the delivery of the EU-funded Devolution Programme through supporting the two project staff in the delivery of the results set out therein.
Represent Trocaire as technical human rights lead with donors and other stakeholders.
Contribute to ensuring positive working relationships with project partners, donors, and other stakeholders.
Ensure citizen monitoring and advocacy is mainstreamed in the programme.
Ensure Trócaire priority approaches (accountability, localisation, rights based and triple nexus) are addressed integrally across the programme and body of work.
Work with implementing partners to design an advocacy strategy to deliver advocacy on Defending Human Rights and Promoting Access to Justice relevant to Zimbabwe.
Identify potential new human rights projects and partners in consultation and collaboration with the Programme Manager.
Assess project proposals from partners and ensure that they are in line with the Country Strategic Plan.
Support and advise on project monitoring and evaluation through results-based programming.
Review and advise on project and programme progress through reviewing reports, partner visits, and programme review workshops/ meetings.
Advise and participate as necessary on partner capacity assessments, and support Trocaire staff and partners to develop capacity strengthening action plans promoting localisation.
Produce reports for internal and external stakeholders
Monitor partner budgets, financial reports, and spend in collaboration with the Programme Accountant.
Hold regular meetings with individual partners and undertake at least two field visits in a year to each partner.
Maintain all programme related information actively on Salesforce.
Technical Support to the Country Programme and Partners
Provide technical support on human rights programming to the country team and partners, and ensuring our added value is clear and measurable.
In collaboration with MEL staff, facilitate capacity strengthening of partners in technical areas such as human rights monitoring and documentation, report writing, and CMA, amongst others, and ensure that they have relevant tools to ensure quality MEL.
Support/facilitate capacity strengthening of partners in relevant programme management and governance areas through training, accompaniment, learning visits, etc.
Ensure all relationships with partners are in keeping with the principles and values outlined in Trocaire’s partnership policy.
Support partners in documenting results at every level in accordance with Results Based Management (RBM) - logic model and results framework - and in accordance with donor requirements.
In collaboration with the Programme Manager, raise partner awareness on safeguarding and ensuring they meet the minimum safeguarding requirements.
Contribute to the preparation and facilitation of partners’ and donors’ meetings, leading and delivering on content, as necessary.
Ensure partner compliance with Trocaire minimum management requirements and policies.
Human Resource Management
Line-manage three project team members in line with Trócaire’s performance management framework, ensuring that all are clear on the change to which they are contributing to and on their roles and responsibilities.
Implement an effective performance management system in line with organisational policy.
Support, mentor, and coach the team members as part of their professional development and to help them to be highly effective in their work.
Ensure a team approach to programming is maintained, ensuring that project staff work together to share learning and to exchange skills.
Research and Innovation
Identify/support new research opportunities in collaboration with the country team, HQ, and other country programmes.
Identify learning focus for the programme and monitor and disseminate learning to relevant stakeholders.
Remain updated on gender and human rights issues and trends in Zimbabwe, particularly those relevant to the country programme’s thematic areas, and share these with the programme team.
Assist in the identification of new innovative practises and future strategies and approaches, in consultation with partners, the Trócaire global team, and relevant networks.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
In collaboration with the MEL managers, ensure that all aspects of the human rights programme MEL frameworks are adhered to and adapted where necessary.
Participate in scheduled partner visits and produce field visits reports highlighting progress, challenges, learning and safeguarding, amongst other issues.
Conduct or participate in partner review meetings as agreed with institutional donors.
Review partner financial reports in collaboration with the Programme Accountant.
Review and comment on partners narrative reports, ensuring relevance and quality, and they are submitted to donors timeously.
Facilitate mid- and end-line reviews and evaluations as agreed and support the production of new project baselines, as necessary.
Institutional Funding
In cooperation with the Regional Business Development and Grants Manager (RBDGM), programme team and HQ Advisors, identify funding opportunities and grow contacts with organisations and donors supporting human rights work.
Develop concept notes and proposals in collaboration with the BDGM, Programme Manager, Country Director, and HQ Team.
Assist partners to source funding from donors, as necessary.
Programme Administration and Finance
In conjunction with the Programme Accountant, ensure production of regular cashflow forecasts, monitor partner budgets, and track partners’ disbursements and financial reports to ensure efficient use of resources and effective programme implementation.
Manage approval processes for the projects and programme including grant agreement processes.
Ensure that programme ancillaries are updated.
Contribute to the development of funding financial proposals.
Effectively use Trócaire’s financial management system – Agresso to manage all grant budgets and partners disbursements.
Networking
Participate in relevant thematic working groups, networks and learning forums, nationally and possibly internationally, to improve programme and advocacy learning, sharing and impact.
Develop relationships with peers in other I/NGOs working in the women empowerment sector and maintain an overview of their work, identifying opportunities for collaboration.
Teamwork & Collaboration
Work collaboratively with colleagues at country, cross-country, and global levels, to contribute to the achievement of broader organisational goals.
Participate in and contribute to Trócaire’s global women empowerment thematic meetings.
Provide material for Trócaire’s Communications, Campaigns, Fundraising, and Education Units as required.
Other
Deliver on other duties as agreed with the Programme Manager.
Qualifications and Experience
Qualifications
Third level qualification (preferably Masters) in Law, Development Studies, International Relations, Humanities, Social Sciences, or another relevant field.
Experience
Minimum 5 years’ experience managing civil society and human rights programmes preferably in a Southern African context.
Minimum 3 years’ experience as a human rights programme technical lead-person representing the organization at a senior level with government, donors, partners, civil-society actors, and other stakeholders
At least 3 years’ experience managing a programme throughout the programme cycle.
Minimum 3 years’ experience working on development programmes/projects within a partnership model.
Demonstrable skills in report writing.
Proven track-record in conducting effective advocacy with partners and in networks.
Experience in working with international donors and donor procedures.
Skills
Excellent programme development and management skills.
Good understanding of NGO financial management systems, budget monitoring and reporting.
Excellent facilitation skills and experience of applying them when collaborating with individual partners or groups of partners.
Fluent in English and at least one local language.
Qualities
Team player with strong commitment to working with others to achieve mutual objectives.
Availability to travel extensively within the country and to work outside normal hours when necessary.
Strong commitment to women empowerment and HIV work.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Proven experience in managing institutional funding (such as EU, FCDO, SIDA, Irish Aid).
Excellent written, oral, and presentational communications skills (for the purposes of reporting, advocacy, sharing learning, and facilitation.
Other
Empathy with the ethos of Trócaire as a Catholic organisation.
Person Specification - Desirable Requirements
Flexibility
Initiative
Coordination skills
Excellent organizer
Excellent communicator and team working skills
Behavioural Competencies in line with Trócaire’s Competency Framework
Leading: Reflecting our values of Participation & Accountability, acts to inspire and lead others to achieve their potential, demonstrating Trócaire’s values with integrity to achieve organisational objectives.
Communicating: Reflecting our value of Participation, being one organisation, communicating clearly and transparently across, teams, units, divisions, locations, and other external organisations. Getting our message across with impact.
Collaborating: Reflecting our values of Participation & Solidarity, partnering effectively as One Trócaire organisation and, in solidarity, maintains positive relationships built on trust and respect.
Stewardship of Resources: Reflecting our value of Accountability and decision-making around the best use of resources. Using our resources transparently, sustainably, ethically, fairly & with integrity; acknowledging Trócaire’s reputation in the use of resources.
Delivering Results: Reflecting our values of Accountability & Perseverance, getting a quality job done through effective performance, planning and decision-making.
Continual Improvement & Learning: Reflecting our values of Participation & Courage, constantly looking to learn and develop self, employees, and partners to better fulfill Trócaire’s’ mission.
Flexibility & Change: Reflecting our values of Participation & Courage, adapts positively to change and to different ways of doing things; manages or takes part in change processes in a way that is appropriate to role in the organisation.
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Safeguarding
Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants, and other organisational representatives. Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. All offers of employment will be subject to pre-employment checks including satisfactory references and appropriate screening. Trócaire also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and all employees will be subject to this as part of contract of employment.
Benefits
Trocaire offers a competitive salary and benefits package for this position.
The closing date for applications is Friday 12 August 2022.
