Peacebuilding Technical Lead

Context

Faith to Action Network supports faith actors empower people to live healthy, peaceful, quality lives. We focus on issues that faith actors are grappling with, including sexual and reproductive health and family planning; gender equality and women’s rights; pluralism and understanding.

As a global interfaith network of more than 100 Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Confucian, Hindu and Muslim faith organisations, we combine innovative, evidence- and faith-backed community based programming with national, regional and international dialogue and advocacy to influence change at all levels. We meet international standards of quality and accountability and ensure the relevance of our interventions to the everyday lives of faith communities

Purpose of the role

Faith to Action Network seeks a Peacebuilding Technical Lead to manage and provide technical support in Faith to Action Network’s pluralism & peaceful co-existence, freedom of religion and belief (FORB), interfaith cooperation and collaboration projects. S/he will be responsible for providing technical, programmatic and administrative assistance to Faith to Action Network implementing partners and members, and build their institutional capacity. S/he will contribute to strengthening partnership and knowledge networks within and outside Faith to Action Network.

This is a full-time position, which is stationed in either Kenya, Egypt, Belgium, Germany or South Africa and the salary is competitive and commensurate with the seniority of the appointment.

KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical leadership on peacebuilding and peaceful coexistence projects

· Provide leadership, technical support, and guidance to implementing partners on pluralism & peaceful co-existence, freedom of religion and belief (FORB), interfaith cooperation and collaborations.

· Lead, coordinate, support, and/or conduct analyses and evaluation on peacebuilding, peaceful co -existence and conflict prevention issues in areas of intervention.

· Liaise closely with and provide the necessary advice and support to the country coordinators in all matters pertaining to effective management and implementation of peacebuilding project activities.

· Support implementing partners and members to understand human rights issues and relate them to the understanding to the project outcomes.

· Facilitate and support a strong learning and knowledge sharing of pluralism & peaceful co-existence, freedom of religion and belief (FORB) within a community of practice.

· Manage the technical relationship with project partners, alongside the Programme Manager.

· Build the capacity of implementing partners through technical assistance (remote and in country) and training on pluralism & peaceful co-existence, freedom of religion and belief (FORB).

· Work closely with the Knowledge management advisor on research, information-gathering and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and peaceful co-existence;

· Identify entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build faith organizations capacities for conflict prevention and peaceful co-existence.**

Donor relations management

· Review and provide timely technical feedback on project results, reports, and other deliverables for various stakeholders.

· Support resource mobilization strategies as appropriate, providing technical input or leading on proposals related to pluralism & peaceful co-existence, freedom of religion and belief (FORB).

· Support ongoing donor relationship management at a global and national level.

Project management:

· Plan, monitor, evaluate and report on project activities, resolving issues and initiating corrective action as appropriate.

· Define project tasks and resource requirements, including developing project work plans and supporting the design and implementation of peacebuilding strategies.

· Participate in project governance meetings and effectively represent Faith to Action Network in technical working groups, meetings, and other forums.

· Coordinate communication with implementing partners.

· Identify successful learning and practices within Faith to Action Network projects related to pluralism & peaceful co-existence, freedom of religion and belief (FORB), interfaith cooperation and collaborations that can be demonstrated in articles, scientific publications, communication materials, or other global knowledge products (e.g. conference abstracts).

Financial management and grants management:

• Manage project finances and collaborate with the finance team, including the development, implementation and tracking of Faith to Action Network and partner budgets, cash flow plans, and development of variation reports.
• Develop, supervise and track Faith to Action Network and partners’ work plans and budgets.
• Manage grants to partners by ensuring timely disbursements of funds and adherence to agreed activities and objectives in the signed agreements, and enforce partners’ accountability.
• Manage compliance with donor rules and regulations of Faith to Action Network and all partners, pre-empt problems, and advise senior management on solutions and recommendations.

Monitoring and evaluation

· Apply a monitoring and evaluation plan including processes and tools adapted to advocacy, capacity strengthening and gender mainstreaming.

· Monitor implementation of activities and data collected by implementing partners.

· Support knowledge management and sharing of good practices on conflict prevention and peacebuilding; ensure that stories and lessons learned are shared within the Faith to Action Network Secretariat;

Other

· Effective communication and development of written and oral program materials.

· Build and maintain positive relationships with all members of staff, and contacts within and outside the Network.

· Plan and complete work assignments with a high degree of initiative, good judgment, analytical skill, and integrity.

· Perform other duties as assigned by the Programme Manager

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS (Candidates must meet basic requirements to be considered for this job.)

Educational background:

· Bachelor’s degree in Peace Studies, law, Conflict Resolution/Peacebuilding, Political Science, Sociology, Development Studies or other relevant field. A master’s degree is preferred. Specialization in peacebuilding will be an advantage.

· An understanding of religious approaches to peacebuilding and additional training or experience in human rights approaches.

Professional experience

· A minimum of 5 years of experience working with communities in conflict management and peacebuilding programming in an international NGO context.

· Demonstrated experience of working with local partner organizations, managing contacts with key-stakeholders;

· Experience providing conflict resolution or skill-building training is desirable.

· Experience with programme planning models, project management, and monitoring systems

· Demonstrated experience providing capacity building and training at individual and organizational levels.

· Proven expertise in designing and implementing strategies and activities in peacebuilding programs.

Skills and Competencies

· Demonstrated strong project cycle management skills including monitoring and evaluation, budgeting, controlling, financial and technical reporting;

· Demonstrated ability to identify priority actions, generate and complete work plans within short time frames.

· Demonstrated experience conducting peacebuilding and strategy frameworks.

· Experience collaborating with government agencies, host-country governments and counterparts, and international donor agencies.

Personal competencies

· Enjoys project management and financial work;

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English; critical and analytical thinking, problem solving. Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to advocate, influence and negotiate;
• Fluency in Arabic or French is an added advantage.
• Team player, but also able to work independently.

· Able to work in fast paced work environment;

· Able to work in multi-cultural and multi-religious settings;

· Able to prioritize and deliver outstanding and complex work requirements;

· Able to plan, pre-empt and meet deadlines;

· Ability to function with strategic rather than day-to-day supervision

• Proven ability in building capacity and fostering good communication of a diverse team (has supervised team before)

· Practices a hands-on approach to programmes management;

· Optimism and an interest peacebuilding, human rights and community based work.

To apply or to download further information on the required qualifications, skills, and experience for this exciting role, please read the full terms of reference:TOR: Peacebuilding Technical Lead

The deadline for applications is 31 May 2021.