Africa Programme: Advocacy and Partnerships Lead
Location: Remote or IPI Secretariat (Vienna)
Deadline for applications: 15 December. However, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as interviews may be conducted on a rolling basis.
Description:
IPI is seeking a driven, dedicated programme lead to help guide our advocacy work and partnerships across Africa, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. This is an exciting opportunity to join IPI’s fast-growing team as we redouble our efforts to defend independent journalism globally and renew our monitoring and advocacy footprint in Africa.
The Africa Advocacy and Partnerships Lead will develop and implement a comprehensive advocacy, partnerships, and communications strategy for expanding and deepening IPI’s engagement in Africa and positioning IPI as a strong and effective voice for protecting the press. This individual will play a leading role in developing IPI’s overall Africa program by cultivating and strengthening partnerships and networks across Africa, especially with the journalistic community and with local civil society organizations.
Duties and responsibilities include:
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Identifying, cultivating, and strengthening partnerships and networks with civil society organisations, journalists, and policymakers to support the IPI Africa program activities.
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Developing, in coordination with the Director of Advocacy, IPI’s overarching advocacy strategy and priorities for the defense of press freedom in Africa
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Developing and implementing a clear strategy for communicating IPI’s press freedom monitoring and advocacy work in Africa.
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Overseeing and carrying out robust research and data collection on press freedom violations in Africa, working directly with journalists, local CSOs, IPI members in Africa, existing data platforms, and other stakeholders.
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Overseeing and producing regular advocacy materials highlighting press freedom violations in Africa, including drafting and editing of statements, reports, newsletters, fact sheets, annual reports, and policy briefs that support national, regional, and global advocacy.
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Working with regional and international partners to develop and disseminate advocacy materials to tackle pressing violations.
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Directing research into existing commitments and legal mechanisms to protect safety of journalists in Africa and states‘ compliance with those commitments
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Carrying out campaigns to raise awareness about attacks on the press and build regional and international solidarity for media for journalists under threat, including advocacy activities with respect to key dates, such as the World Press Freedom Day (3 May) and the International Day to End Impunity (2 November), as well as advocacy tied into the annual IPI World Congress.
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Coordinating panel sessions and side events at key international forums related to press freedom in Africa
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Coordinating IPI press freedom missions to African countries with a high degree of press freedom challenges
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Driving and coordinating other aspects of IPI’s engagement in Africa, including training on covering disinformation and countering online harassment
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Liaising with IPI’s membership team on relations with current and potential IPI members in Africa
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Representing IPI at international events, on panels and giving interviews to the media on issues related to press and media freedom in Africa
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Contributing to donor communications and grant reporting.
Skills
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Has proven familiarity with press freedom issues and a strong understanding of freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.
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Has a strong general understanding of the NGO and IGO landscape in Africa as relates to media freedom
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Has deep knowledge of the journalistic profession in Africa and the challenges African journalists face in doing their jobs.
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Has demonstrated press freedom advocacy experience, with strong networking and partnership development skills and instincts.
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Has strong news judgement and the ability to track and prioritize key developments, with a firm grasp on new and emerging threats to conducting journalism freely and safely, from digital censorship to the proliferation of surveillance technologies
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Has strong writing and editing skills
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Has excellent communication skills in English; knowledge of other languages, especially French or Portuguese, is welcome.
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Is able to make strong use of various campaigning avenues, including social media platforms
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Has strong collaborative working skills, and is able to generate working relationships with sources and partners
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Is able to think strategically about how to use IPI’s voice to combat attacks on the press
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Is comfortable representing the IPI global network and pursuing advocacy aims with confidence and professionalism in various forums
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Has strong project management skills, including managing budgets and setting and meeting deadlines
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Is proactive in terms of project strategy and implementation
