South Africa Child Rights Program Officer - The Graça Machel Trust

Location: South Africa Period of Contract: 2 years Remuneration: Competitive salary will be offered Closing date: This position will remain open until filled Starting date: asap Reference: GMT-CRP-RSA

About The Graça Machel Trust The Graça Machel Trust which been recently established, works throughout Africa on issues of Women’s Rights, Child Rights and Democracy and good Governance. The Trust has exclusively retained the services of Mission Talent to search for a dynamic and forward-thinking Child Rights Programme Officer to enhance its work. This Organisation will bring together all the existing programs and create a space to incubate and nurture new initiatives within the focus areas of the organisation’s work. The Child Rights Programme Officer is to be part of a small and vibrant team that is committed to promoting the rights of women and children in Africa. The Child Rights Programme Officer will report to the Director of the Organisation and be based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Key responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of an action plan to guide the Organisation’s portfolio of programs on child rights, including programs to address malnutrition in children, end paediatric HIV and AIDS, promote access to education and support organisations working to end child marriage;
Manage and direct the growth of the Organisation’s portfolio of strategies and interventions that strengthen Child Rights in Africa
Steer the Organisation’s development of advocacy that promotes the rights and dignity of African children as articulated in the African Children’s Charter and related international instruments, and ultimately the development of a Vision for the African Child;
Promote research and learning to identify the most promising approaches to advance child rights, and support the establishment of an African Institute for Child Development that is linked to a network of national Institutes of Child Development in Africa;
Work together with the Women’s Rights Program Officer to develop and implement the Organisation’s strategy to promote achievement of the Millennium Developments Goals (MDGs);
Facilitate development and maintenance of networks and databases to support the work of the Organisation, including documentation of the Organisation’s work on child rights;
Document the Founder’s past work on child rights through various media, including audio, visual and print;
Facilitate synergy between the Organisation’s different areas of work related to child rights;
Provide written and oral briefings, speeches, op-eds and other materials as required;
Create, manage and regularly report on budgets for different aspects of the Child Rights work;
Identify funding gaps and support the Director to develop funding proposals or fundraising initiatives; and
Establish synergies with relevant national, regional and international civil society organisations, and multi-lateral bodies as necessary and relevant to the Organisation’s work on Child Rights;
Requirements

A minimum of a Masters degree in the social sciences, with a strong preference for degrees in Child Development, International Development, Development Studies or Related Field;
A good understanding of the multilateral environment and international organizations in general.
A minimum of five years’ experience in child rights, child protection or child-oriented development;
Solid experience working in the development and humanitarian sector in Africa, including experience that addresses policies and strategies in poverty eradication, education, health and/or strengthening and implementation of child rights;
Strong background in program evaluation, research and field-based learning
Familiarity with trends in public, private and philanthropic investment in child rights and child development in Africa
Experience networking and building partnerships with a range of individuals and organizations in the same field of work;
Excellent communication skills and evidence of multi-tasking competence are essential;
Strong writing abilities in English and capacity to produce thorough briefs, press releases, op-eds and speeches on a variety of issues;
Understanding of Portuguese and/or French would constitute an additional asset.

How to apply:
Since GMT has tasked Mission Talent to undertake this search, all applications must be sent directly to Ketso: applications@missiontalent.com stating GMT-WRP-RSA in the subject line. Kindly attach your relevant CV (in English) and a suitability statement (not more than 350 words).

Thank you in advance for your interest in this position. Please note that only candidates under serious consideration can be contacted.