Regional Coordinator for Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

ECPAT’s Regional Coordinators play a crucial role in facilitating the Secretariat’s work in the region and in enriching ECPAT’s efforts with expertise and perspectives from the region. The Regional Coordinator is the key focal point of the Secretariat for the region, is from the region and based in the region. He/she is involved in all of ECPAT’s activities in the region, be this in a leadership or supporting role, as implementer, facilitator or enabler.

The Regional Coordinator brings knowledge of the regional dynamics and trends and of the regional membership to ECPAT’s work globally, and helps contextualise global developments and initiatives to the local and regional context. The Regional Coordinator will bring focus on regionally relevant issues relating to child sexual exploitation to organizational strategy and planning processes. He/she will help identify and verify strategic priorities in the region and oversee and inform the development, formulation and implementation of a regional strategy, ensuring that ECPAT’s advocacy, campaigning, programming, research and fundraising efforts are guided by and firmly based on the lived experiences of children in the region.

The regional position for MENA is a new position and is now being opened based on multiple year project funding recently secured for the region. The ECPAT Regional Coordinator for MENA will preferably be based in the country of nationality or where he/she has a valid work permit in the region. The position will report to Director of Network Development who is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Knowledge, innovation and learning

Generation and facilitation of knowledge from and into the region. Collective, institutional learning involves and benefits from knowledge in the region.

• Promote ECPAT perspectives in the region to ensure an aligned strategic approach within the membership
• Generate knowledge on SEC and membership in the region to inform Secretariat’s actions
• Facilitate transfer of knowledge from countries in the region for the benefit of the secretariat and other members within and across regions.
• Ensure mapping and assessment of the composition and functioning of the regional membership
• Organise regional network consultations with members and partners for knowledge transfer and joint planning; support the implementation of follow-up actions and commitments.

Advocacy and External Representation

The Regional Coordinator is the Secretariat’s regional advocacy focal point and may be leading, supporting or facilitating ECPAT’s advocacy and programming work against the sexual exploitation of children in the region.

• Coordinate and inform the development of an engagement strategy for ECPAT with the relevant regional intergovernmental organisations and other regional advocacy targets and partners.
• Develop and maintain relationships and facilitate ECPAT’s strategic engagement with the relevant regional platforms and international advocacy targets identified in the region.
• With the approval and in consultation with the Secretariat, represent ECPAT externally and in collaboration with the Communications team, liaise with media on behalf of ECPAT as needed.
• Ensure the regional membership is aware of and strategically engaged in regional advocacy efforts.
• Contribute to the development of evidence based, high quality and effective advocacy tools.

Network development, coordination and support

Network development includes the strengthening of the collective effort of ECPAT through targeted and strategic engagement with members and other relevant CSOs in the region, both in countries where ECPAT has and does not have membership representation.

• Engage with the region through reaching out and being available and responsive to the regional membership.
• Inform the Secretariat’s work with the Credentials Committee of the ECPAT Board of Trustees on membership affiliations and disaffiliations in the region.
• Support capacity building of member organisations, including by providing technical support and facilitating training to ECPAT member organizations.
• Coordinate network communication within and across the region and the Secretariat.
• Facilitate member engagement in ECPAT research initiatives.
• Ensure ECPAT’s internal membership database of contacts is kept up to date on regular basis.
• Promote, and as needed facilitate, child participation in regional actions

Donor relations, proposal development, fundraising

• Involved in donor relation management and grant management, including report writing and submission.
• Proactive assessment of fundraising opportunities and inform and contribute to the development of project proposals.

Qualifications and competencies

• Advanced university degree in law, human rights, international relations, or another related field;
• Minimum of five years’ experience in advocacy and programme management, with focus on the MENA region.
• Knowledge of child rights and sexual exploitation of children, including and in the digital environment;
• Ability to initiate external contacts and network effectively in order to have influence on policy and practice agendas;
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including the ability to think creatively, to innovate and to set priorities, create management work plans and evaluate progress;
• Demonstrated commitment to ECPAT’s mission and values;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Fluency in the English and Arabic language; knowledge of French is a distinct advantage.

As a child-focused organisation, ECPAT has a strong commitment to child safeguarding and rigorous procedures. The successful candidate will be required to provide three referees and a criminal record from country of residence and country of origin (as applicable).

Duty station: this position will be based within the region ideally in country of residence of the final candidate; other locations may be considered depending on travel needs and administrative requirements.