Director of the Secretariat ( Coalition of African Lesbians)

Location: Based in Namibia, with extensive travel to CAL member countries

Line management: Reporting to the Executive Committee through the Chairperson or her designate

Start date: November 1, 2006

Job Environment

CAL is a non-profit membership based continental organisation that aims to advocate and lobby for the political, sexual, cultural and economic rights of African lesbians, and to work for the eradication of stigma and discrimination against them, by engaging strategically with African and international structures and allies. Its vision is the building of a strong, visible, knowledgeable and articulate African lesbian women’s movement using, among other things, the tools of feminist research and analysis, and the vehicle of creative expression. Accordingly, CAL supports the development of lesbian organisations and the strengthening of lesbian leadership in Africa at community, national and regional levels.

The Secretariat is based for the time being in Namibia, and the organisation is to be registered as a non-profit organisation with charitable status in accordance with the laws of that country. Its membership is currently made up of fifteen organisations from eleven countries in Southern, East and West Africa.

Job Summary

The Director of the Secretariat will: ensure the proper, effective establishment and capacitating of the Secretariat; effect the due registration and, thereafter, legal and financial sustainability, of the organisation; oversee the operations of the Secretariat and the management of CAL’s programmes; and ensure that the organisation works towards its vision and mission.

Expected Outcomes

As a result of this appointment, it is expected that the appropriate administrative and operational systems and structures will be put in place and maintained to ensure that programmes are effectively run, members receive required support, and the organisation meets its targets and fulfils its obligations to donors, allies and other stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage and co-ordinate the operations of the Secretariat of CAL, including the employment of staff.
• Co-ordinate all the activities of the organisation and all its organs and internal structures.
• Manage, and oversee the development of, CAL’s research, creative expression and leadership development programmes.
• Assist in the development of policy, and of research, advocacy and development agendas for the organisation
• Fundraise for the organisation’s core operations and programme work.
• Upon the express instructions of the Executive Committee, open and maintain bank accounts for the organisation, and hold and manage all the funds, property and other material resources of the organisation.
• Collect, organise and maintain all records and data of the organisation relating to registration and legal status, funding and finances, programmes, membership, or any other matter whatsoever properly concerning the organisation.
• Ensure the implementation of the decisions of the EC and General Assembly, and the fulfilment of all the organisation’s contractual and other obligations.
• Provide administrative support to the EC, and make all logistical arrangements for CAL processes, and for the representation of the organisation in other processes.
• Prepare or cause to be prepared the minutes and agendas of the Executive Committee, and the General Assembly proceedings reports.
• Handle all correspondence for the attention of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly.
• Ensure that members are kept advised about all developments, and receive notices and other urgent and important information in a timely manner.
• Represent the organisation, and provide strategic leadership, subject to the direction of the chairperson.
• Nurture and support the building of strategic partnerships and alliances that will add value to CAL’s work.

Job Requirements

Skills and Attributes

Complete familiarity with the concepts of gender, sexuality, sexual health and rights, sexual orientation and lesbianism.

A conceptual and practical understanding of the issues, needs and concerns of women and sexual minorities living in Africa, including the socio-political environment as relating to women’s and LGBTI rights .

Extensive experience in human rights and gender advocacy work

Familiarity with feminist principles and tools of analysis.

A thorough understanding of research principles and methodologies; extensive practical experience in a research environment.

Experience in conducting skills-building activities, and in facilitating various types of deliberations, and decision-making processes.

A passion for developing others, coupled with an ability to build capacity for staff and CAL members.

Experience in the development of networks and organisations.

Experience in fundraising, financial management and report-writing.

Experience in working in teams and in leading mixed teams of professionals and volunteers.

Fluency in English. Fluency also in French and at least one African language would be a distinct advantage.

Good communication skills, including competence in the range of office-oriented computer applications, such as MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint and internet / email programmes.

Experience in working with diverse cultures, religions and languages across the continent.

 
Qualifications

• First degree in any Social Sciences discipline
• Accredited training in Human Rights and/or Gender Advocacy
• At least five (5) years work experience in the LGBTI / Gender / Human Rights sector/s
• Candidates should preferably be female and of African descent, and should have resided in an African country for a continuous or cumulative period of at least eighteen (18) months in the past five (5) years

Application Process

Applicants should submit the following:

• Motivation letter
• CV not exceeding three (3) pages, including full details of at least three (3) references
• Copies of certificates/degrees

For the attention of the Vice Chairperson, at the following address/es:

            CAL Secretariat,

            C/o The Rainbow Project,

            PO Box 26122,

            Windhoek,

            Namibia

            Email:   madelene@trp.org.na

Applications should be received in the Secretariat, by post/courier or email, no later than Tuesday September 26, 2006. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Interviews will take place either in Windhoek, Namibia, or Johannesburg, South Africa, during the second week of October, 2006.

Attri-Media Inclusive a media and communications company, which does a whole lot of different projects including casting for TV, Radio, Film etc. is looking for people who are in need of employment. The company is signed up with different production companies from Joburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria. They receive casting briefs looking for artists for commercials, feature films, international films, local dramas and soapies etc. They also do need dancers, voice artists for radio commercials and presenting etc.

If you are interested, please contact Simphiwe H Mongoma on Tel: +27(0)82 881 5332 Fax: +27(0)86 500 1566 or info@attri-media.net

Address is:

Attri-Media Inclusive
P O Box 32359 Braamfontein 2017
1094 David Webster Building
West Campus - Wits University

Researcher On Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender Rights

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program

Location: New York Office

Deadline for applications:  October 16, 2006

Please note: Interviews for short-listed candidates will be held in New York and are tentatively scheduled for October.

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies of influential governments and international institutions.

Description:  HRW’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (“LGBT”) Rights program is seeking a Researcher.  The Researcher will focus on human rights abuses related to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression worldwide under the supervision of the Director of the LGBT Rights program, who will provide guidance on the choice of research and advocacy projects.  The Researcher will be responsible for ongoing research and advocacy efforts, play an important role in developing strategies for dealing with human rights issues related to sexuality and sexual rights, and contribute to policy development in this area.  S/he will carry out fact-finding missions to target countries; write and publicize reports on findings; develop advocacy strategies; present human rights concerns to governments, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, and the press; and write press releases, articles, op-eds, and position papers.  The Researcher will coordinate research and advocacy plans with the HRW thematic and regional divisions.  S/he will help create and maintain partnerships with NGOs working on sexual rights and will follow media and other reports on human rights abuses based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.  S/he may also be responsible for editing, representing the program in seminars and other meetings, and related tasks.  The Researcher may assume primary responsibility within the program for responding to emergency situations.  The Researcher will be based preferably in HRW’s New York headquarters, although other locations may be considered.

Qualifications:  An advanced degree in law, public health, international relations, gender studies, or a related field, and two to three years of experience in human rights, with a preferred emphasis in LGBT rights, gender, sexual rights, or a closely related area, are required.  Candidates must have research experience and advocacy skills and should have good interviewing skills; field experience in public health or human rights is strongly desirable, as is demonstrated experience working with sexual minorities and LGBT communities.  Experience working with issues of gender identity and expression is highly desirable.  Excellent oral and written communications skills in English are required, and writing and speaking proficiency in another language is highly desirable.  Candidates should be highly motivated and well-organized; able to work quickly and well under pressure, both independently and as a member of a team; juggle multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines; and demonstrate a commitment to international human rights.

Salary and Benefits:  Human Rights Watch seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and generous employer-paid benefits.  HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary U.S. work authorization; non-US citizens are encouraged to apply.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY  (no calls or email inquiries, please) by emailing together a letter of interest, resume, names or letters of reference, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than October 16, 2006  to lgbt@hrw.org.  Please use “LGBT Researcher Application” as the subject of your email.  Only complete applications will be reviewed.  It is preferred that all materials be submitted via email.  If emailing is not possible, send materials (please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:

Human Rights Watch

Attn:  Search Committee (LGBT Researcher)

350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor

New York, NY  10118-3299  USA

Fax: (212) 736-1300