ActionAid Corporates and Natural Resources Officer job

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency formed in 1972. We are a partnership between people in poor and rich countries working together to end poverty and injustice.
Today we are working with over 15 million of the world’s poorest and excluded people in over 45 countries worldwide to secure their rights to a life free of poverty and injustice, and with the support of half a million donors and supporters.

Actionaid International Directorate: Programme Development, Quality and Impact (PDQI)
Position: Corporates and Natural Resources Officer

Location: Nairobi, Johannesburg

Duration: Fixed Term Contract – Until 31st December 2015

Salary: £31,617 p.a

Purpose of the Role: To promote coherence between local, national and international work on the role of corporations in control of natural resources. Global remit, but with special emphasis on Fair, Green & Global (FGG) project in Southern & Eastern Africa (Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa), working to improve local control of land, water, and other resources in the face of increasing control being granted to private companies.

Key responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Provide advice to local and national staff on programme responses to increased corporate control of natural resources. This requires a strong understanding of existing opportunities, mechanisms, debates and key actors at regional and international levels and important networks/platforms
• Support and coordinate research, advocacy and public campaigning at all levels to identify specific corporate actors (including investment entities) having negative impacts on poor people’s control over natural resources in developing countries and hold them accountable.
• Contribute to efforts and all levels to pressure governments to impose (or improve) and enforce rules ensuring fair treatment for vulnerable populations
• Develop strategic partnerships with allies, especially at regional and international level, working on corporate accountability (including advocacy for government action) with regard to natural resources
• Support the Fair, Green & Global (FGG) project and its objective on corporate accountability in focus countries Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa
• Work with the HRBA Programme Support team to develop, test and roll out capacity building measures on natural resources and corporate accountability.
• Intensive country support visits to improve practice on natural resources and corporate accountability and to facilitate coherent programming that links local, national and international work
• Promote participatory review and reflection of our work on natural resources and corporate accountability, systematise ongoing monitoring in a rigorous way and draw out learning for future programming.
• Contribute to strengthening communications with sponsors, supporters and donors around our work on natural resources and corporate accountability.

Desired Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• At least 5 years’ experience working in an international agency / across countries on natural resources and corporate accountability.
• Experience with advocacy and/or public campaigning, ideally at regional or international levels, is an advantage
• Comprehensive understanding of rights-based programme practice and the potential to link this work to national and international influencing work
• Strong networking/relationship-building skills- ability to anticipate, coordinate and facilitate activities with colleagues
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, ability to inform and engage through written communication
• High capacity for work output in order to meet tight deadlines and multiple priorities
• A strong commitment to develop, promote and practice AAI’s vision, mission, values, and strategy
• Excellent problem-solving skills and resourcefulness

How to Apply

Applications should be sent with your CV, motivation cover letter by no later than 24th July 2015.
You are requested to highlight in the motivation letter how specifically you meet the criteria for this role.
Please clearly indicate which position you are applying for.

Internal Applications send to: applications.jhb@actionaid.org

External Applications send to: programmes.jhb@actionaid.org

Due to high volumes of applications received, we can only correspond with short listed applicants. Should you not have received feedback on your application within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.
ActionAid International will not consider candidates from recruitment agencies. We reserve the right to withdraw any of our vacancies at any time.

ActionAid International promotes diversity and welcomes applications from all section of the community.