Regional Lead: Africa and the Middle East

The Senior Regional Coordinator supports civil society, governments, and other key actors in using the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to progress reforms on transparency, accountability, and participation. This position will be responsible for supporting OGP members across multiple countries in French-speaking Africa in their development and implementation of high-quality, relevant, and ambitious OGP action plans. Additionally, this role will identify and encourage learning between OGP countries, engage thematic and development partners, donors, and regional / and multilateral institutions, and conduct political and strategic analysis to promote open government in the region.

The Senior Regional Coordinator will report to the Regional Lead for Africa and the Middle East.

I. Strategic leadership and analysis- 15%

• Lead on providing political and strategic analysis and planning, based on research and intelligence gathering from in-country and regional contacts, work with the regional team on developing and delivering regional work plans to strengthen the open government agenda in managed OGP countries, and provide regular and proactive updates to the wider Support Unit team

• Engage and update regional partners, relevant members of the Steering Committee, funders, and other relevant external stakeholders on the development and execution of country and regional strategies and plans.

II. Country support- 65%

• Provide accurate and timely advice to civil society and governments in all OGP countries on the OGP process and requirements. This includes providing procedural information and advice, analyzing country processes (co-creation roadmaps, draft commitments, TORs, working group models, etc), providing guidance for improving the design and implementation of action plans, identifying opportunities for mobilizing advanced support, working with the IRM on encouraging the uptake of IRM recommendations and guidance by country stakeholders, and supporting strategic communications in priority members.

• Lead on outreach to, and maintain strong working relationships with, senior government, civil society leaders, funders, and other stakeholders to increase awareness of OGP and encourage their engagement with OGP processes and activities.

• Help mobilize and coordinate financial and technical support to assist in the development and implementation of ambitious commitments, through the OGP Trust Fund, OGP’s thematic, bilateral and multilateral partners, foundation, and country practitioners.

• Lead on working with government officials, civil society, multilateral partners, and other stakeholders to design and facilitate country visits by OGP Support Unit staff and other key partners (OGP Steering Committee, Envoys, and Ambassadors,) workshops and other events to support the delivery of country strategies.

• Identify opportunities to catalyze action on OGP’s thematic priorities, forge connections between OGP country stakeholders and relevant regional and global platforms, and showcase successful OGP reforms and reformers at OGP and partner fora.

• Promote the fulfillment of annual country contributions to the OGP Support Unit.

III. Regional and Global Events- 15% on average and up to 30% during Regional Meeting and Summit years, with adjustments made in other work areas

• Lead in the organization of OGP regional meetings and cross-country peer exchange events and contribute to the organizing of OGP Global Summits working in coordination with other members at the SU, governments, and civil society.

• Represent OGP at external events, give presentations, network, and develop contacts.

IV. Other duties as assigned- 5%

• Support the development and implementation of the global campaign strategy of the organization.

• Contribute to quarterly and annual reporting and learning and evaluation activities.

• Lead on cross-team projects from time-to-time

EDUCATION

• Advanced degree in a relevant field preferred; bachelor’s degree required (e.g. public administration, development, political science, social sciences, law or international relations)

JOB-RELATED EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of 6 years of experience working and living in a French-speaking African country in a relevant position (preferably government or civil society).

• A minimum of 6 years working on governance issues, ideally with a focus on transparency, accountability, participation, and open government reform.

• Experience working with Francophone regional institutions and funders is a must.

• Excellent communications skills, including writing, public speaking, and facilitating meetings.

• Familiarity with civil society networks and experts working on governance issues across a range of sectors.

• Willingness to travel up to 35 percent of the year

• Must be a native French speaker and fluent in written and spoken English.

Type of previous job-related experience required to do this job

• Track record working with senior leaders in civil society organizations, governments, and/or multilateral institutions on open government, transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement issues.

• Strong track record on working effectively with a range of diverse stakeholders from diverse contexts/cultural backgrounds, including the senior-level national government, civil society, parliament, funders, international cooperation, and/or the private sector;

• Track record of representing organizations regionally or globally

• Demonstrable experience leading on the organization of training workshops and events at a regional and global level desirable;

• Demonstrable in-country work experience across the Francophone region is a must (e.g. lived and worked);

JOB-RELATED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Understanding of policy, development, and socio-political processes, especially on region/countries supported

• Proven ability to manage a complex set of priorities and multiple projects simultaneously and independently.

• Strategic thinking and leadership, detail-oriented and precise, but with the ability to step back and see the big picture

• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including relationship and partnership building, communication skills, and coaching experience

• Self-directed intrinsically-motivated, with an ability to work with minimal supervision

• Demonstrating core OGP values of honesty, humility, integrity, transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness.

CONTACTS (Type of business contacts this job involves).

Most important ones:

External

• Ministerial government level

• Technical and working-level government

• Other branches of government, e.g. parliament, judiciary

• CSO representatives (national, regional, and global)

• Multilateral and regional institutions

• Diplomatic representations and funders

• Consultants and vendors

Internal

• Report to Regional Lead for Africa and the Middle East

• Liaise with Management Team and Senior Leadership

• Liaise with direct reports based nationally and internationally

• Liaise with OGP Steering Committee members

• Liaise with other teams at OGP Support Unit, e.g. L&I, A&I, IRM, Comms, Ops

DECISION MAKING

• Manager and employee agree on an annual overall work plan. Within that work plan there is sufficient discretion for the employee to move forward and make decisions on his/her own. This includes discretion on country strategies, utilization and delivery of pre-agreed budgets, the contracting of consultants, and travel.

Types of decisions does the employee recommend that require final approval by others and whose approval is required:

• Annual work plan and prioritization or fundamental changes to those plans

• Provision of any type of financial support to OGP stakeholders

• Development of long-term formal partnerships between OGP and external actors for support to OGP countries

• Hiring consultants or temporary staff

• Travel (including travel of contractors/experts)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Duties are generally carried out in a normal business office environment – i.e., working at a computer while sitting at a desk for extended periods of time. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the job.

• Travel: high frequency; occasionally extended, weekend and overnight travel; occasionally to destinations that require the exercise of a higher degree of caution (note: the OGP Employee handbook will provide guidance on risk management, protocols, and support in such situations.)

• Requires flexibility for occasional work after regular working hours (e.g. to accommodate time zone difference across the organization) and/or weekend work.

WORK COORDINATION AND SUPERVISION

• Manager and employee agree on annual overall (regional) Workplan

• Weekly or bi-weekly b progress made against regional work plan

• Quarterly check-ins with regional team and Management Team

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Program assistants, bilaterals with the manager, additional check-ins as required on issues that need clarity, confirmation, and approval

• Bi-annual check in associates, interns;

• Consultants supporting OGP in conducting research, planning of regional/country events, country visits, etc;

• Contractors/vendors.

BUDGET: The amount of the annual budget that this job administers:

Any expenditure along budget lines agreed in the work plan to support program activities.

WE OFFER

• Engaging work where you will help to improve lives by promoting open, transparent and participative governance

• A talented team of passionate colleagues located around the world

• Opportunities for continued professional and career growth

• A competitive salary with a generous benefits package-

• Salary Grade 4, anticipated starting salary of $64,000 – $104,000 per annum.