Learning exchange at the UN, Geneva

CIVICUS is offering one learning exchange opportunity for an African based individual to be based and involved with activities at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. This opportunity is sponsored by Irish Aid, focused on Strengthening the Voice of African Civil Society and human rights defenders in the international human rights system.

The opportunity is time based, starting on the 27th Feb 2017 – 27th May 2017

This opportunity serves to:

• Familiarise the candidate with the United Nations system and bring information pertaining to African civil society to the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, and Special Procedures, (Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of Special Procedures);
• Assist in the preparation of reports or statements and help to coordinate engagement during the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council, 27 February – 24 March, the 119th session of the Human Rights Committee, 6 – 29 March, and the 27th UPR session, 1 – 12 May; and
• Assist to organise side meetings for CIVICUS and partners with relevant officials from the OHCHR, particular Officers supporting the Special Rapporteurs, Governments with permanent missions in Geneva and NGO partners with permanent representatives in Geneva.

Who you are

You are passionate about Human Rights and dream of becoming the new voice in Africa. You see this as an opportunity to further your dream and the advancement of civil society and human rights, especially in Africa, an opportunity to understand the processes and get to know and meet the actors in these. You will act as a bridge between civil society actors in Africa and Special Procedures as well as other human rights mechanisms, gathering, preparing and presenting reports on human rights issues thus keeping information affecting the region on the horizon at the UN through key engagements.

You will be based in Geneva for the 3 months of this learning opportunity.

Who we are

CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world. We strive to promote marginalised voices, especially from the Global South, and have members in more than 170 countries throughout the world. Since 1993, we have been dedicated to enhancing the rights, freedoms, health and vitality of civil society as a whole. We’re also a global team, using new technologies to connect us around the world.  We’re passionate about what we do. We share links to provocative articles and talk about what they mean to us. The highlight of our week is having an impassioned conversation with an activist or social change group about what’s happing in the world around us.

• We work for civil society, protecting and growing `civic space’ – the freedoms of expression, association and assembly – that allow citizens and organisations to speak out, organise and take action.
• We monitor, research and analyse global events and trends that impact civil society.
• We strengthen civil society by bringing it together to generate and share knowledge, to improve its working and to act collectively.
• We work to ensure that civil society voices are heard. To achieve impact we communicate, campaign and advocate.

Why CIVICUS?

• Be part of the leading global alliance of civil society organisations and activists.
• Be part of a global, highly effective team, driven by civil society.
• Grow and be challenged by the dynamic responses to our ever-changing world.
• Global outlook with meaningful content and the passion and drive to make a change wherever you are.

Required qualifications and competencies:

• A degree in Human Rights, International Affairs or a related field;
• Experience of working with human rights community in one or more African countries and a thorough knowledge of regional human rights issues within Africa;
• Fluency in English is essential, French would be an advantage;
• Demonstrated professionalism, diplomatic skills and analytical diligence;
• Willingness to travel to Geneva for three months.

Location:              Geneva, Switzerland

Start date:            27 February 2017 – 27  March 2017

Remuneration:    Accommodation in Geneva, round trip airfare and a stipend of €600 a month to cover living costs.

Duration:            3 months

To apply, please submit:

• A motivational letter;
• A detailed CV; and
• Contact details of three current references.

To jobs@civicus.org by 20th January 2017.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not have heard from us within 2 weeks after your application, please consider your application as being unsuccessful.

 

Does your organization promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue?Apply for funding from the Youth Solidarity Fund

The Youth Solidarity Fund (YSF) supports youth-led organizations that foster peaceful and inclusive societies by providing direct funding to outstanding projects promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue. It awards grants (up to USD 25,000) to selected projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to intercultural or interfaith dialogue and advance the mission of UNAOC. YSF only supports projects that are entirely developed and managed by youth for the benefit of youth. The age definition used by UNAOC to characterize youth is a person who is between 18 and 35 years old.

Established in 2008, the Fund responded to calls for action made by young civil society leaders around the world on the importance of establishing funding mechanisms for youth-led organizations. Since its creation, YSF has funded 50 youth-led organizations in 30 countries.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible, applying youth organizations need to fulfill each and every one of the following criteria:

• Be a membership-based youth-led organization;
• Be youth-led: a majority of the positions and decision-making roles within the organization are held by women and men between the ages of 18 and 35;
• Be a non-governmental organization (with the exception of national youth councils) registered in the country of operation as a charity, trust, foundation or association;
• Be officially registered and operational for a minimum of 2 years at the time of the application with funding base and project implementation (e.g. registered in January 2015 or earlier);
• Be registered and operate in one of the aforementioned countries;
• Have a democratic governance structure, leadership nomination and consultative processes in formulating priorities and policies with members;
• Have an ability to demonstrate proper and consistent monitoring, evaluation and record-keeping of their activities, including project evaluation reports and financial accounts;
• Have a gender perspective/balance reflected in their staff, membership and activities;
• Have no adherence to or affiliations with violent ideologies or antagonism against any particular country, culture, religion or belief system, ethnic group, gender, etc.;
• Did not receive funding under past editions of YSF or did not receive the UNAOC-BMW Intercultural Innovation Award.

Application Process:

To apply:

Interested organizations can apply at the following link: http://apply.unaoc.org/

In order to be considered complete and valid, the application package must include the following and be submitted through the online application system available at http://apply.unaoc.org/

• The application form, completed and certified by the applicant organization;
• A copy of the registration certificate of the applicant organization;
• A copy of the statutes/by-laws of the applicant organization;
• The resume/CV of the project coordinator (2 pages maximum);
• A picture or scan of the project coordinator’s passport identification page. If the project coordinator does not have an international passport, upload his or her national identification card.

Application Deadline: February 5, 2017, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (New York).

For More Information: http://www.unaoc.org/event/youth-solidarity-fund-call-for-applications/

Are you a woman engaged in Science,Technology,Engineering and Mathematics?Apply to take part in a fellowship organized by TechWomen that will take place in San Franciso,USA

TechWomen, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, brings emerging women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East together with their professional counterparts in the United States for a mentorship and exchange program based in San Francisco. During the five-week program, participants engage in project-based mentorships at leading companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

The 2017 program will include 100 women from the following countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe.

They are accepting applications for the 2017 program until January 17, 2017. Please follow this link: https://www.techwomen.org/parti…/eligibility-and-application

They’re looking for women who have demonstrated themselves as emerging leaders in their chosen profession, through their work experience, volunteer experience, community activities and education. Please consider forwarding this message to your pertinent networks.

Are you a blogger and seeking to share your thoughts on farming to an Audience in Washington Courtesy of World Bank?Apply to attend

World Bank invites youth from Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda aged 18-28 years to share thoughts on “youth and agriculture” for a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C. in April 2017. As a participant, you’ll be required to discuss the following question in an original blog of no more than 500 words:

To farm or not to farm: What opportunities exist for youth to prosper in agriculture and agro-business?

Submit the blog post in English by January 15, 2017 here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/65FSQJD You may want to prepare the 500-words blog post first and then paste it on the link above.

Are you an entrepreneur seeking to expand your business skills and secure funding?Apply to be part of The Tony Elumelu Foundation fellows

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), is now accepting applications from African entrepreneurs, with business ideas that can transform Africa.

The application portal is open and accepting submissions until Midnight WAT on March 1, 2017. To apply, complete the online application at www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/programme.

The Programme provides critical tools for entrepreneurial success, including:

Training:12 weeks of intensive training on setting-up and managing businesses

Mentoring:A mentor will guide successful applicants in creating a robust business plan

Seed Capital:$5,000 in non-returnable seed capital and access to a $5,000 convertible loan.

1,000 entrepreneurs will be selected based on the viability of their idea, including: market opportunity; financial understanding; scalability; and leadership and entrepreneurial skills demonstrated in the application.

To be eligible:

Business must be based in Africa
Business must be for profit
Business must be 0-3 years’ old
Applicants must be at least 18 and a legal resident or citizen of an African country.

Call for applications to attend UNESCO Conference in Ottawa,Canada

If you’re committed to creating a better future through education, apply now for a unique opportunity to be part of a UNESCO conference in Ottawa, Canada. Send in your completed application here: http://bit.ly/2iBIxwC Deadline; 27 January 23:59 GMT.

Participate in the discussions on UNESCO MGIEP FB page to learn more and increase your chances of being selected.

Call for Application by Afrika Kommit to participate in their fellowship program in Germany

You can now apply for the new intake of the program AFRIKA KOMMT! 2016 – 2018!An Initiative of German Industry for Future Leaders from Subsaharan Africa

Applications can only be submitted through the online application system. Deadline for applications is 03.02.2017.

Please read the application requirements carefully. You will find all necessary information in the application guide:https://gc21.giz.de/ibt/gc21/area=portal/en/usr/modules/gc21/ws-afrikakommt/ibt/downloads/home/Announcement%20Webseite6.pdf

To learn more about Afrika Kommit,visit their website http://www.afrika-kommt.de/