MENA Resources the Feminist Movement (RFM) Manager

Job Purpose and Definition

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is a leading global organisation focused on addressing the root causes of violence through a feminist lens. We are working to create a world of permanent peace built on feminist foundations of freedom, justice, nonviolence, human rights, and equality for all.

We are seeking to hire a full-time MENA Resources the Feminist Movement (RFM) Manager.

The MENA Resources the Feminst Movement (RFM) Manager is responsible for the implementation and development of WILPF projects related to resourcing the feminist movement. Resourcing of feminist movements and creating space to support feminist agendas is guided by our feminist principles and practices, and includes financing the movement for feminist peace with flexible funding schemes, innovative institutional strengthening through tailored support, technical advisory and accompaniment to partners and Sections, and creating opportunities for exchange, peer-learning, and networking for collaboration.

The RFM Manager will raise awareness of WILPF’s feminist resourcing approaches and practices. They will lead on coordination with partners on all issues related to granting, contracts, activity implementation, and finance various MENA RFM programs and projects. They will coordinate between partners, WILPF teams, and experts to support the capacity building of partners. They will be the focal point with WILPF’s Finance and HR Teams and will ensure ongoing coordination and compliance. They will lead on engaging with donors and will prepare donor narrative reporting as required. The RFM Manager will work with relevant WILPF colleagues across the organization on developing MEL, knowledge production, advocacy, and communication plans related to relevant RFM projects. They will manage a team of 3 staff.

The successful candidate will be a strong program manager with extensive operational experience in challenging contexts. They will have a feminist strategic outlook and approach to resourcing and movement building, managing funding relationships in line with our resourcing approach, and ensuring we maintain space for our partners to develop their feminist agendas. They will also be a hands-on leader who is excited to build the capacity of their small but growing team, and will foster a culture that delivers partner-centered, quality, focused programming. They will also be committed to feminist, anti-racist, and inclusive ways of workingand they will thrive in a collaborative working environment.

About WILPF

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) with National Sections covering every continent, an International Secretariat based in Geneva, and a New York office focused on the work of the United Nations (UN). Since our establishment in 1915, we have brought together women from around the world who are united in working for peace by non-violent means and promoting political, economic and social justice for all.

Main Responsibilities

Oversee the Implementation of the Existing Partnership Frameworks

The MENA RFM Manager has the overall responsibility for development, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on four strategic partnerships projects, including supporting Syrian organizations to develop their feminist agenda through holistic resourcing, providing rapid support to women-led organizations to influence peace processes, and provide longer term partnerships with feminist movements in Syria and Yemen. This work includes but is not limited to:

• Overseeing the development and implementation of projects’ plans, including planning and monitoring tools and reports.
• Sustaining and growing WILPF’s relationships with projects’ partners and international partners.
• Leading on the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the projects with MEL Team staff and consultants.
• Serving as a focal point to the donors and providing timely and accurate responses to all their requests.
• Manage project budgets and coordinate directly with WILPF’s Finance Team.
• Attend activities in the MENA region as needed.

MEL, Reporting, and Proposal Development

Lead the projects’ MEL activities and deliverables, in coordination with the WILPF MEL Team, including:

• Develop proposals for new phases of projects, in line with project learning, partner feedback, and the MENA approach.
• Regularly update the log frames and design MEL tools.
• Advise and support project team(s) on populating MEL tools and producing reports for donors.
• Maintain a record of all MEL deliverables.
• Lead on the writing of narrative reports and provide support to the development financial reports as needed.

Management

Manage the following staff members and long-term consultants:

• Resourcing the Feminist Movement (RFM) Associate – Syria
• MENA Project Coordinator – Rapid Response Window (RRW)
• MENA Project Coordinator – Strategic Partnerships

The MENA RFM Manager will provide guidance and support, help the team with the coordination of tasks and deliverables, and make sure that the team is well informed and their talent is nurtured.

Overall Management Support

• Contribute to the development of WILPF’s operational tools and processes for partnership development and management around resourcing the feminist movements for peace.
• Carry out other duties as required to strengthen ties and forge partnerships with formed networks and coalitions working on women, peace and security in the MENA region.

Interdependencies and Reporting

The MENA RFM Manager reports to the MENA Director and works with the MENA Manager, advocacy coordinators, partnerships and MEL coordinator, and communications coordinator as part of the MENA team.

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills. Experience working with global, diverse teams across time zones and locations, both co-located and remote. Ability to collaborate and work well in a team setting. Ability to build strong and genuine interpersonal relationships.
• Proven project management skills. Ability to establish priorities and to maintain a variety of projects and activities simultaneously, while meeting quick deadlines during busy times.
• Good knowledge of and interest in WILPF’s work, aims and principles.
• Excellent fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English.
• Strong collaborative skills and ability to organize work across programmes and teams to achieve common objectives.
• Strong leadership skills consistent with feminist management values; comfortable managing projects and teams in a flat and consultative setting.
• Excellent feminist management skills, which include coaching and developing teams, mentoring staff, delivering timely feedback, and encouraging professional development opportunities.
• Excellent communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate across a multicultural and multilingual staff, as well as with internationally based membership sections.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work and take initiative. Ability to quickly pivot to evolving organisational priorities, based on fluid programmatic contexts in complex conflict environments.

Experience

• At least 10 years of work experience managing grants and partnerships in the MENA region.
• Strong fundraising and donor management experience required.
• Experience as a line manager and team leader.
• Experience working with local or national feminist actors and movements is strongly desired.
• An advanced degree in a relevant field is strongly desired.

Approach and Values

• Strong commitment to WILPF’s feminist values and to engaging partners based on collaboration and trust.
• A radical approach to delivering change and a willingness to “colour outside the lines”.
• Demonstrated self-awareness and ability to self-reflect. Commitment to learning, creativity, and innovation. Upholds and values transparency and accountability.

Location

Geneva, Switzerland is preferred. This position can be remote, if operating for a timezone reasonably close to the MENA region. The successful candidate will be expected to attend key in-person meetings as well as other relevant events and meetings, to fulfill the duties of the position. Office space is available in Geneva and London should the candidate prefer to work onsite.

Compensation

WILPF will provide the MENA RFM Manager with compensation commensurate with experience. The salary range for Geneva is 74,000 – 90,000 CHF/year, plus 3,000 CHF/year for healthcare and well-being. If hired from outside of Geneva, compensation will be based on the location of the selected candidate.