CURRENT VACANCIES

Director - Africa Progress Panel Foundation

The Africa Progress Panel (APP) consists of a group of distinguished individuals chaired by Kofi Annan whose objective is to track and encourage progress in Africa, and to underscore shared responsibility between African leaders and their international partners for sustaining it. They do this by ensuring that Africa’s development & governance needs are prioritized in global agreements and arrangements; by focusing attention on delivery of commitments and achievement of results, particularly in the areas of political & financial accountability and equitable growth; and by making timely policy, public and discreet interventions on specific issues with a view to generating action by leaders in both the public and private sectors.

The Panel is supported by the APP Foundation (APPF), a not-for-profit Foundation under Swiss law, consisting of a Board and a Geneva-based Secretariat. The Secretariat supports the Panel members’ policy & communication activities.

The role and responsibilities of the Director will be as follows:

Support the Chair and the Panel members. This involves ensuring that they are informed of issues and relevant political developments; identifying opportunities and suggesting  interventions; organising at least one annual meeting of Panel members; preparation of input for other events, speeches, op-eds, etc; occasionally accompanying them on trips and representing the Panel or Chair; and supporting their public and discreet interventions on APP-related matters.

Prepare and implement the APP’s policy agenda in light of the Panel’s evolving priorities and ensuring the implementation of a Work Plan accordingly. The current Work Plan  includes preparation of and outreach around APP’s products, including the annual Africa Progress Report; Policy Briefs, information notes and ad hoc publications, the fortnightly APP Bulletin; public statements, op-eds and articles by Panel members; and the APP’s electronic presence.

 

Managing the Secretariat, including human resource management; contracting external services including policy expertise; public relations and media support; financial management; reporting to donors and the Board; and resource mobilisation, with the support of the Board and the APP Chair.

Competences required

-          Good knowledge of Africa and of the challenges and priorities faced by African governments and civil society, as well as of policies towards Africa by its partners;

-          Extensive knowledge of African development & governance issues in the international system, including experience in policy analysis and research in relevant subject areas;

-          An understanding of development issues in the context of business and civil society;

-          Diplomatic skills and experience of working with very senior figures in government and the private sector;

-          Advanced degree in international relations, economics, development, or related;

-          At least 15 years professional experience in positions of responsibility;

-          Proven management skills, including of finances and people, and experience in resource mobilisation and reporting to donors;

-          Excellent communication and writing skills, good networking ability and computer literate;

-          Willingness to travel;

-          Fluent English; good knowledge of French.

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with skills and experience. Remuneration is subject to Swiss social charges and taxable under Swiss/Geneva law.

 Interested candidates should send

  • a one page cover letter;
  • a CV; and
  • the names and contact details of three referees.

 to HR@africaprogresspanel.org.

The closing date for all applications is 21 February 2011, 0900 am Central European Time.

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