Community Engagement & Partnerships Lead

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service provider and one of the leading advocates for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. IPPF is a worldwide movement of 120 national organizations, referred to as Member Associations, working with and for communities and individuals. These member associations are the leading civil society providers of contraception in 89 of 120 countries. And in 64 of those 89 countries, IPPF is the only largescale international provider. Collectively, member associations delivered more than 1 billion cumulative services between 2016 and 2022.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the overarching goal of IPPF Africa Region (IPPFAR) is to increase access to SRHR services to the most vulnerable youth, men, and women in sub-Saharan Africa. To reach this goal, IPPFAR works with local civil-society organizations, governments, the African Union (AU), regional economic commissions (RECs), the United Nations, among others, to expand political and financial commitments to SRHR in Africa. IPPFAR tackles the continent’s growing SRH challenges through a network of Member Associations (MAs), strategic partners and volunteers in 42 countries. For more information, please read our 2022 profile (in English and French) here.

Role Purpose:

Any international organization, any federation, any movement, must be truly representative of those whom they claim to serve. IPPF is reach out to, work with, and include those who have been historically excluded from our services, our offices and our societies because of the colour of their skin, disability, drug use, sex work, HIV status, sexual identity or gender expression.

The Community Engagement & Partnerships Lead will ensure that the work of IPPF in Africa is relevant and resonant to the lived experience of the most marginalized and historically excluded communities in the region, and those underrepresented by the sector, such as people living with disabilities, sex workers, hard-to-reach communities, migrants, indigenous peoples, people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBTIQ+ people, etc. It invokes courage, ambition and aspiration by partnering with regional partners to collectively ensure that IPPF is a force to be reckoned with in the region. The role will work with MAs and outside the Federation to connect with non-traditional Partnerships that will make a positive difference to the progress of our work. This role will support the delivery of a new aspiration to harness collective power to continually challenge IPPFs delivery of its strategy.

Role Deliverables:

• Conduct preliminary data analysis for the purpose of developing new community engagements and partnerships with community networks.
• Organise outreach meetings/events with community partners in support of our aim to provide opportunities for challenge, engagement and disruption.
• Recommend community engagement improvements that optimise the relationship between marginalized groups and IPPF.
• Provide practical guidance on engaging with community partners so those we serve can challenge and disrupt how we think, speak and act.
• Create and maintain regional opposition maps based on gathered/shared intelligence for use in informing decisions and priorities for action.
• Support and enable a safe environment, adhering to the safeguarding reporting and monitoring requirements of this role.
• Collaborate with IPPFAR teams, Mas and CPs to ensure that the views, and priorities of community groups are included in our work.
• Support and enable a safe environment, adhering to the safeguarding reporting and monitoring requirements of this role.

Key Skills/Expertise:

• Lived experience within a stigmatized population an asset; an activist who works within and across multiple community networks challenging the system; standing up and speaking out.
• Builds authentic relationships and can relate to people from different cultures and backgrounds in a positive, engaging and thoughtful way.
• Inclusive, curious, and open to other’s ideas as well as coming up with and articulating their own ideas.
• Problem solver.
• Good at organizing themselves.
• Understands how to leverage new technologies and digital spaces to support activism.
• Fluent in written and verbal English; fluency in French and/or Portuguese is an advantage.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding in a local and international context
• Demonstrates ability and willingness to work in a diverse, multicultural, multilingual and intergenerational environment that is anti-racist and respectful of others
• An intersectional (pro) feminist passionate about sexual reproductive health care rights + justice.
• Supportive of people’s rights regardless of sexuality or gender identity/expression and supportive of worker’s rights and access to health care in sex work.

Competencies:

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of (related field). Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

How to apply

Interested individuals should submit an application form in the IPPFARO CV form and a 1-page cover letter to: hroffice@ippfaro.org with the job position you are applying for as the subject of the email by 9 May 2023.

Please note that IPPFAR will not consider applications that are not done in the requested format.

For more details about this position and to download the TORs, please click HERE

IPPF is an equal-opportunity employer. As a leading global human rights organization focused on equality, empowerment, ending discrimination, and poverty eradication, we internally reflect social justice principles. We, as IPPF, strongly oppose racism in all its forms and resolutely go for a cultural change that will shift the existing imbalances in power and process.

Applications are particularly encouraged from women, persons living with disability, and candidates openly living with HIV.

IPPF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees, volunteers, contractors and partners to share this commitment. Anyone employed with IPPF agrees to sign and adhere to IPPF’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding (Children and Vulnerable Adults) Policy.