Master in Public Health reason 3: Girls in School

Here is the job that I want one day:

Girl Activist Programme Manager.

The Girl Activist Programme Manager will develop and implement the new Malala Fund initiative to train young women, particularly in our programme countries, to advocate for free, safe, quality education for girls. The Manager will oversee all aspects of the Programme in countries where Malala Fund works, work closely with in-country staff and function as an integral member of the Programmes team. 

This programme will advance Malala Fund’s mission by supporting girls’ advocacy and public engagement and offer participants meaningful opportunities to contribute to our work. The Manager will also develop and implement a girls fellowship that provides intensive investment in and engagement with a select group of girls who show promise as advocates for education and equality. The Manager will build a portfolio of grants by identifying and selecting partners that further the programme’s goals. Fellows will complement Malala Fund’s existing network of advocates, operating in our focus countries and pursuing related advocacy goals.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

Programme Development

• Develop a five-year strategy for the programme that is in line with and contributes to Malala Fund’s overall strategic goals. 
• In consultation with Malala Fund staff, partners and external stakeholders, design the programme’s conceptual framework that incorporates key approaches of youth development and feminist programming. 
• Working closely with other Malala Fund staff, lead developing the Programme’s components, including:
  • A fellowship to cultivate and develop leading girl activists as local and/or global spokespeople for girls’ education.
  • A portfolio of grants to national partners in priority countries for initiatives that train and build girls’ capacity for advocacy and activism. 
  • Resources such as strategic documents, advocacy and media training toolkits for participants and additional materials for partners and stakeholders.
  • A measurement, accountability and learning system in conjunction with the MEL manager. 
  • Proper safeguarding policies and practices.

Programme Implementation

• Working with the Chief Programmes Officer, set annual objectives and work plans and budget for the programme. 
• Develop a grant-making portfolio focused on trainings and support for girls in a set of priority countries (beginning with Pakistan, India, Nigeria and/or Brazil) to be effective local education leaders and advocates.
• Work with other Malala Fund staff to regularly monitor, assess and report on programme activities and outputs.
• Recruit additional Girl Activist Programme staff to meet future expansion needs. 
• Establish relationships with global and national strategic partners to support the development and impact of girl-led advocacy.
• Coordinating with Malala Fund’s communications department, facilitate the use of social media platforms to connect girl activists with each other, promote collaboration and broadcast the fellows’ advocacy work.
• Work closely with the development team on proposals, reports and identifying fundraising opportunities for the programme. 

Advocacy and Communications

Working closely with the advocacy and communications departments to:

• Lead efforts to establish and develop impact-oriented youth advocacy strategies, agendas and actions at the national level.
• Identify advocacy opportunities where girl activists’ voices can be used to advance girls’ education nationally, regionally and globally.
• Oversee preparation and participation of girl activists at Malala Fund-sponsored events.
• With Malala Fund communications staff, identify media opportunities to profile girl activist work on national, regional and global levels.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum five years of related work experience in youth activism, engagement or programme management for a similarly focused organisation.
• Track record in facilitating youth participation at local, national and/or global levels with knowledge of trends and best practices in youth activism and movement building.
• Expertise in gender empowerment initiatives, preferably with a background in international education.
• Experience building cross-cultural partnerships and/or grant-making in Global South countries.
• Familiar with implementing and monitoring child safeguarding procedures and protocols.
• Budget preparation and management experience desirable.
• Strong interpersonal skills: demonstrated relationship management experience and high degree of diplomacy.
• Solid judgement and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
• Legally authorised to work in the U.K. and/or U.S.