Gender and Advocacy Manager

About the Research

Lt. General Romeo Dallaire founded the Child Soldiers Initiative in 2007 and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, provided a home to the Initiative in 2010. In 2020, the Initiative became the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, an international repository of expertise, research, and advocacy to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence. The Dallaire Institute is the co-developer of the 2017 Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. As part of Dalhousie University, the Dallaire Institute hosts a prestigious Tier 1 Canada Research Chair on International Peace, Security and Children and offers undergraduate and graduate courses. Through academic and practitioner training and community engagement, the Dallaire Institute’s interdisciplinary and applied research advances innovative strategies for preventing recruitment and use of children in armed violence. The Dallaire Institute is supported through private, public and international contributions.

To achieve this important objective, the Dallaire Institute conducts activities on four fronts:

• World-class, interdisciplinary research to build and share knowledge, which in turn leads to new solutions.
• High-level advocacy activities to create and promote the political will to end the use of children in violence as central to the achievement of global peace and security.
• Education and programming to sustain the efforts to make the recruitment and use of children as soldiers unthinkable by inspiring leaders, educators, and policy makers to implement new approaches, conduct research, and actively share their knowledge on the prioritization of the children’s rights upfront approach.
• Comprehensive, prevention-oriented training to security sector actors, in the service of broader security sector reform, as well as collaboration with civil society to create and implement tools that protect children from the dangers associated with recruitment.

Job purpose

 The Gender and Advocacy Manager is responsible for leading the gender and advocacy components of the Promotion of the Vancouver Principles in Sub-Saharan Africa (PVPSSA) project. This role is carried out in collaboration with the Africa Center of Excellence (ACoE), ensuring that all efforts align with the strategic aims and priorities set forth by the PVPSSA Project and the ACoE. In this role, the Gender and Advocacy Manager will lead the implementation and potential customization of the advocacy initiatives and collaborate with relevant central teams at headquarters to ensure that programming and resource allocation for both the PVPSSA Project and the ACoE are aligned with overall goals.

A critical aspect of this role is applying a gender-based and intersectional lens to the understanding of issues and promoting policy frameworks and research that support gender equality and advocacy efforts.

Duties and responsibilities

Advocacy and reporting.

• Using the guidelines of the HQ Research and Knowledge Mobilization Director, and in close collaboration with the PVPSSA Training and Logistics Manager, assist with the development and implementation of the required assessments and reports creation.
• Lead the development of the PVPSSA Project’s advocacy materials and its impact on the ACoE, with support from the Policy and Advocacy Manager.
• Stay abreast of trend affairs on the African continent, and share these trends with the PVPSSA Project and ACoE leadership, research, and advocacy team
• Collaborates with internal teams to design, coordinate and implement events and/or meetings to advance PVPSSA project and ACoE’s Advocacy goals;
• Participate in the creation of reports to the donor and HQ on the progress and impact of programming.

GBA+

• Implement and propose customizations to the Dallaire Institute’s GBA+ strategy within the project and the ACoE.
• Ensure the establishment and monitoring of Gender, Advocacy and Impact priorities and performance in its context, conducting standard self-assessments, including a Continuous Improvement System.
• Keep up to date with local trends on GBA+, and social and behaviour change on gender in the security sector and use this knowledge to advise and update management and staff as needed.
• Oversee the implementation of the gender approach aspects of the project which seeks to Promote the Vancouver Principles and reduce conflict-based sexual violence through capacity building of national military and police forces, advocating for the participation of female security sector personnel.
• When needed, support other functions of the organization to enhance GBA+ considerations in the monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning mechanisms of the organization.
• In collaboration with the Curriculum Design function, design and deliver training to internal and external stakeholders in the relevant locations for the project, on a range of gender-related issues related to the recruitment and use of children as soldiers and the essential contribution of women in all levels of the security sector institutions to prevent grave violations against children.
• As a subject matter expert, provides technical guidance, advice, and support to the members of the PVPSSA project or any member of the Dallaire Institute on related matters
• Leads mainstreaming of a GBA+ lens throughout the Project’s operations and programming.

Other:

• When relevant to its responsibility area: create and conduct the staff training needs analysis and develop a country learning plan, as well as maintain staff training records.
• Proactively participate in planning and performance processes as outlined in the Employee Handbook including annual appraisals, regular meetings, and ensuring that annual reviews are an integral component of workplans and priorities.
• Promote a safe and secure work environment in line with the organization’s core values; and foster strong communication between teams within the organization.
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to child protection and commitment to the Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse (PSHEA).
• Comply with Dallaire Institute’s financial and operational requirements and uphold high standards of honesty and integrity in personal conduct.

This job description is a general outline of responsibilities and qualifications and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The responsibilities and duties may evolve based on the organization’s needs, and additional tasks may be assigned as required.

Qualifications

Skills:

• Analytical thinker
• Security Sector knowledge or experience with a proven understanding of and ability to navigate military structure, processes, and language;
• Solution-oriented, demonstrating initiative, enthusiasm, creativity and flexibility with excellent interpersonal skills and team spirit;
• Maintains high personal and professional ethical standards;
• Possess well-developed analytical, problem-solving and communication skills;
• Able to manage and be managed in a dotted line hierarchy;
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively across multicultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary teams both on-site and remotely;

Knowledge:

• Post-secondary degree in a relevant field, or suitable combination of work and educational experience
• At least 7 years’ experience working in government on policy and issues that involve multiple lenses, with demonstrated political judgement
• knowledge of child protection, peacekeeping, and global networks linked to the mission of the organization.
• Experience working internationally, in fragile contexts, and ability to travel in such contexts as required;
• Proven experience (minimum 7 years) combining formal expertise on gender mainstreaming and gender equality with experience of applying these concretely to specific humanitarian/development/security sector
• Recognized training in GBA+ topics.

Abilities:

• Team player
• Ability to balance competing priorities and make sound judgement calls in situations of urgency;
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines, including ability to prioritize and delegate, as required;

Assets:

• Knowledge and experience of GAC’s Feminist International Assistance Policies (FIAP).
• Proficiency in French, Portuguese or Spanish languages.
• Official certification in GBA+ topics

Working conditions

In-Person role: The successful applicant will be required to be in our Kigali offices as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and Institute guidelines.

The position is based in Kigali, with the need for regional travel up to 30% of the time.

Supervisory/managerial

The position is at the Managerial level, with direct or indirect accountability to manage positions with related responsibilities in the PVPSSA Project and ACoE, and a high level of influence in the deployment of its expertise area topics.

To apply, send your cover letter and curriculum vitae (CV) to DallaireHR@dallaireinstitute.org before November 11th, 2024.