Project: Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF)
Position Location: Africa (remote)
Position type: Full-time five-year fixed-term contract
Compensation: US$ 60,000 to US$ 80,000
Closing date: 7 January 2024
Background:
About this Role
GDIP is seeking an experienced Regional Manager for Africa. Working with the Policy and Advocacy Lead, the regional manager will monitor the policy and regulatory environment in the region to assess barriers and risks where WiDEF plans to influence and implement projects. The manager will support the development and implementation of strategic advocacy activities and efforts at the national and regional level to address any barriers in the region and work with partners and stakeholders to ensure that no structural or policy and regulatory barriers impede WiDEF projects success..
About the program:
WiDEF is a five-year, $60M+ digital inclusion program funded by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. WiDEF will directly scale evidence-based solutions to effectively close the gender digital divide. Employing a strong localization approach, the program will create opportunities for organizations and businesses at the forefront of equitable digital inclusion to receive financial, technical and operational support to advance their work. WiDEF will collaborate with industry leading organizations to engage local and global private sector actors and funders to advance a shared set of commitments to closing the gender digital divide. Beyond direct delivery, the initiative will incorporate a substantial policy and advocacy component as well as global communications efforts in order to inform and influence action at every level of the development system.
Duties and Responsibilities:
As the WiDEF Regional Manager for Africa you will:
- Support the development and implementation of the WiDEF advocacy strategy to achieve the goals for advancing gender inclusive policy frameworks in Africa.
- Cultivate relationships with policymakers and digital rights organizations aligned with mainstreaming of digital gender equality nationally and throughout the region.
- Work closely with the Communications Team to develop clear WiDEF advocacy messaging, informed by research and insights from the region.
- Develop regional advocacy campaigns and activities to support and advance WiDEF priorities for creating an enabling environment for women in the digital economy and closing the digital gender gap.
Lead and oversee policy and advocacy activities in Africa
- Contribute to the development of a regional advocacy strategy and oversee its implementation.
- Identify events and partners for impactful WiDEF advocacy moments.
- Direct relationships with partners in the region; developing and nurturing networks, to collaborate and advocate for digital gender inclusion.
- Represent GDIP/WiDEF at regional and/or global events as needed.
Lead strategic partnerships for effective advocacy, including within the WiDEF community:
- Cultivate partnerships with relevant stakeholders from government, private sector and civil society in support of WiDEF’s goals.
- Educate and develop learning opportunities on relevant policy issues to WiDEF partners and overall stakeholders.
- Cultivate and nurture partnerships within the WiDEF consortium and stakeholders to secure support for advocacy campaigns.
- Collaborate with a network of digital inclusion practitioners to amplify WiDEF initiatives and leverage events and plans from the network.
Required Skills and Experience
- Knowledge of and/or experience working on policy and advocacy in the domains of ICT4Development, digital inclusion, gender inclusion and related areas highly preferred
- Ability to take the lead/self-start based on the needs of the larger program
- Exceptional cross-cultural communication skills, including experience working with globally distributed teams in disparate countries and time zones
- Ability to analyze policy environments, develop policy strategy and train policymakers and others on policy issues.
- International work and lived experience, preferable in Sub-Saharan
- Master’s degree in public policy related field or other relevant field, or the equivalent combination of education and work experience
Core Values and Competencies:
- Awareness and sensitivity regarding gender issues in technology, especially digital development in the global majority
- Understanding of and belief in feminist principles in practice
- Creative and open approach to effective advocacy and issue campaigning.
- Effective communication to diverse audiences
- Inclusive collaborative style
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Integrity and professionalism
Functional Competencies:
- Proven knowledge and expertise in leading strategic advocacy at all levels, especially in Africa;
- Proven ability to conceptualize and implement policy and advocacy strategies and campaigns;
- Excellent knowledge of the digital rights landscape in Africa, key players, for effective advocacy;
- Proven ability to develop partnerships for advocacy;
- Outstanding written policy reports and briefs, editing skills; proven ability to position issues effectively, both orally and in writing;
- Demonstrated experience and skill in effectively managing multiple stakeholders and successfully juggling multifaceted priorities
- Strong knowledge of gender and digital issues.
Experience:
- At least 5-10 years of management experience in policy and advocacy, preferably with a regional organization based in the global majority.
- Proven experience in policy and advocacy, including but not limited to, identification of challenge, development of intervention strategy and engaging of stakeholders for implementation of advocacy strategy.
- Experience working with top-level media from media centers around the world, specifically on digital technology and/or gender issues;
- Experience with development of policy reports/briefs.
- Senior level management experience and ability to work well with decision makers;
- Experience working with networked capacity in multiple remote locations.
Languages:
Fluent written and oral presentation in English is required. French and/or Portuguese language a plus.
Job Details
Location: This is a full-time 5-year contract term position to be ideally based in any country in Africa working with a remote team in multiple locations and time zones. The successful candidate must have permission to work at the preferred location.
Remuneration: GDIP offers competitive compensation – based on value, skill, and experience – with excellent benefits. Salary range for this position is US$60,000 to $80,000.
To apply and be considered, please send an expression of interest letter, including salary requirement, and a resume/CV to jobs@globaldigitalinclusion.org by January 7, 2024
GDIP is committed to inclusivity and equity in its hiring process and practices and is therefore open to candidates of all backgrounds. We are interested in candidates who consider themselves champions of digital equality for the people of the global majority.
GDIP is fiscally sponsored by Global Impact, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Individuals based in the USA will be legally employed by Global Impact on behalf of GDIP.