Programme Manager for Francophone Africa

About The Organisation

The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) is a Pan-African and feminist non-profit organisation which engages the rule of law within African domestic and regional courts to advance women’s human rights and sexual rights. ISLA’s work is based on the belief that strategic litigation is a powerful tool for social change because it has the capacity to work in multidimensional ways, both within a given context and, critically, across contexts. We believe that strategic litigation can reframe understandings of entitlements before the law, challenge legal discourse on human rights violations, hold States and non-State actors accountable to violations of human rights and develop new norms. This is achieved by building networks across the continent that work in strategic litigation.

Overview of Work

The Programme Manager for Francophone is a Feminist Lawyer who is a confident self-starter looking to make a contribution to the advancement of human rights, especially in the field of women’s human rights and sexual rights. The key responsibility is to provide leadership of for implementation of all ISLA programs in Francophone Africa. The Manager will report to the Legal Director and will work closely with thematic lead lawyers in the Litigation Directorate, managers in the Legal Directorate, other ISLA staff, interns, and partners.

Minimum Responsibilities

Programme Management

Demonstrate an ability to make a strategic and dynamic approach to the use of law as a tool for the promotion of human rights.
Develop templates, processes and procedures for the ISLA Francophone Unit that create an enabling environment for strategic litigation to happen in Francophone Africa countries.
Conceptualise and lead the delivery of key projects in Francophone Africa including on knowledge production, capacity strengthening and building partnerships.
Working with translators and interpreters to ensure that programmatic documents are available in English and French.

Participate actively in the development of strategies and plans that aligns with the the organisation’s strategic goals.
Engage in program designing, planning, implementation, and reporting of projects in Francophone Africa.
Gather and analyze monitoring and evaluation data to assess program impacts, and communicate current events and share knowledge of activities with ISLA’s audiences.
Participate in resource mobilisation, grant monitoring, budget management and donor reporting for activities under the pillars defined above.

Supporting the work of ISLA’s programmes as is required.

Producing Knowledge for Social Change

Research substantive issues of comparative and international human rights law and practice.
Oversee the development of publications that focus on Francophone Africa
Collaborate in the development of all ISLA publications to ensure that Francophone Africa intellectual contribution is included.
Develop communications content and strategies for ISLA’s work in Francophone Africa
Lead public engagements to showcase insights from work happening in Francophone Africa
Develop blogs, reports, and other written outputs as part of documenting ongoing work in Francophone Africa.

Strengthening Capacity for Strategic Litigation

Lead the implementation of capacity strengthening activities in Francophone Africa, i.e., strategy consultations, expert advisories and in-depth seminars
Engage in research and analysis needed to develop workshop materials, meeting documents including concept notes, agendas, reading packs to facilitate effective capacity strengthening sessions.
Work closely with the Partnerships Manager in the delivery of Litigation Institutes
Develop comprehensive reports for capacity strengthening sessions.

Building Partnerships for Social Justice

Conduct contextual analyses of Francophone Africa landscape including opportunities and challenges for advancing strategic litigation as a strategy for promoting human rights
Develop and manage an updated database of partners and collaborators in Francophone Africa
Participate in country visits to support ISLA’s work in Francophone Africa
Identify and engage potential partners for the Feminist Litigation network
Support any arising work for implementing the Sexual Rights Litigation Network in Francophone Africa
Institutional strengthening of FLN network partners to create an enabling environment for strategic litigation on women’s rights and sexual rights
Relationship management of Francophone network partners
Work closely with the collaborations unit to ensure inclusion of actors and perspectives from Francophone west Africa in Strengthening civil society organisations, strategic partnerships and strengthening Africa’s regional mechanisms and coalitions.

Litigation for Social Change

Work closely with thematic lead lawyers to develop cases before domestic, regional and international human rights fora from Francophone Africa across ISLA’s thematic areas (namely Violence Against Women, Women’s Land and Property Rights and Sexual Rights).
Draft clear and concise legal research memoranda, briefs and opinions when called upon.

Minimum Job Requirements

ESSENTIAL

A Bachelor’s Degree in Law and an Advanced Degree on Human Rights, Gender or a relevant subject.
Substantial experience using constitutional, regional and international human rights law.
In-depth or sophisticated understanding of international and comparative human rights mechanisms, and institutions.
Experience working with women’s rights organisations, particularly in Francophone Africa.
Knowledge and understanding of women’s human rights and feminist analysis.
Experience in a supervisory role as well as experience in coordinating and managing projects.
Experience in contributing to the overall strategic planning of an organisation.
Fundraising experience, including demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with individual donors, is beneficial.
Contributing to strategic and operational planning of the organisation and to organisational development.
Ability to foster partnerships within Francophone Africa.
Fluency in English and French.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Highest standards of excellence and integrity at all times.
A courteous, professional and cooperative attitude to all persons.
Meticulous attention to detail.
Evidence of being a self-driven, resourceful person who is able to manage and coordinate teamwork well.
Exhibit the highest standards of excellence and integrity, and display, at all times and to all persons, a courteous, professional and cooperative attitude.
Expectation of occasional work outside regular weekday hours, as required to accomplish job responsibilities.
Ability to work constructively and professionally across multiple issue areas and under deadline pressure.
Possess the skills to work with and motivate staff, board members and volunteers.
Be a self-starter and goal driven to initiate donor visits and fundraising calls.
Ability to work well in a diverse group.
Strong research and exceptional writing skills.
Keen analytical ability.

Additional Information

Able and willing to travel occasionally within and out of South Africa.
Commitment to the overall aims and values of ISLA, feminism and Pan Africanism
Expectation of occasional work outside regular weekday hours, as required to do the job.

Preference will be given to qualifying women applicants.

Salary: This position offers a competitive salary of $60,000.00 per annum, (total cost to company, and commensurate with experience).

Closing Date: 30 December 2022

Suitable candidates who meet the requirements for this position are invited to click here to complete an application form.

ISLA’s job application form replaces the need to submit a CV as we prefer to have standardised information provided by all candidates. Upon submission, the applications will be received by the ISLA recruitment team for selection. Only shortlisted candidates will receive feedback on their application with further requirements. Late applications will not be considered.