Call for Applications: Project Officer

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Project Officer - Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA)

BACKGROUND 

Selam is a Pan-African organisation with offices in Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Stockholm. The organisation was created in 1997 and has since evolved into an international player, partnering with artists, cultural producers, the private sector, the media, institutions, researchers, and  national and regional governments across the African continent as well in other regions in the world. 

Selam participates in global and African culture networks, as well as annual networking meetings and Pan-African conferences in Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. Selam has implemented several regional and national projects on the African continent. Currently Selam implements, together with partners, two Pan-African projects, the Pan African Network for Artistc Freedom (PANAF) and Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) and one national project in Ethiopia.

The CfCA initiative, implemented by Selam in partnership with the African Union (AU), aims to promote and develop the culture and creative sector within the AU member states. One key objective of the initiative is to lobby for increased public funding in the culture sector from government sources. 

To support the CfCA project in achieving its objectives, Selam is seeking to hire a more senior Project Officer based in Nairobi, Kenya or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

SCOPE OF WORK

The successful candidate will have a central role in the project and will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring all activities within the CfCA program, including partner activities, online engagements, the advocacy campaign, and capacity building initiatives. The Project Officer is expected to have the strategic overview of the project and responsibility for coordinating work both internally and externally to meet project deadlines and ensure that implementation is impactful and contributes to the program’s objectives. Since CfCA is a larger program aiming to achieve several outcomes and spanning across various countries and contexts, we are looking for someone more senior to take on this role with at least five years of prior experience in project management (see qualifications for details). 

The Project Officer will work closely with Selam’s team in Addis Ababa and Nairobi, as well as the support team at Selam’s head office in Sweden. Responsibilities include:

Project Planning and Coordination

  • Implement and follow up on detailed project plans based on project applications and donor agreements in collaboration with key stakeholders and partners, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met.

  • Coordinate and oversee day-to-day project activities, including logistics for meetings, workshops, and events.

Online Engagement and Community Building

  • Support with coordination of online discussions, webinars, and other digital activities that foster engagement with partners and stakeholders across the African continent.

  • Ensure consistent communication and interaction with project participants and audiences through online channels.

Partner Collaboration

  • Liaise with partners to develop projects and advocacy activities. Support other team members as needed to follow up with partners to achieve objectives and implement activities.

  • Scout for new partners and facilitate contact to establish partnerships with key actors within the CCIs across the African continent. 

Advocacy Campaigns

  • Support the Advocacy Program Officer in planning, implementing, and following up the CfCA advocacy campaign. Provide strategic advice to align the advocacy activities with the broader CfCA objectives. 

  • Support with crafting messaging, monitoring campaign effectiveness, and gathering feedback from target audiences.

General Administrative Support

  • Provide administrative support for project-related activities, including documentation, record-keeping, and budgeting.

  • Ensure compliance with organisational policies and donor requirements throughout the project cycle.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERTISE 

The eligible candidate is expected to have the following qualifications:

Educational Background

  • A degree in project management, cultural studies, arts management, international development, or a related field. A postgraduate degree is an advantage.

Project Management Experience

  • At least 5 years of experience managing or coordinating projects, ideally in the culture, arts, or creative industries sector OR in the development cooperation or human rights sector. 

  • Proven ability to plan, execute, and monitor projects, ensuring timely delivery of outputs and effective management of resources. Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (M&E) is an asset. 

Experience in Advocacy and Partnerships

  • Experience in conducting advocacy campaigns, especially those focused on cultural rights, artistic freedom, human rights or related areas.

  • Experience working with partners, including NGOs, government agencies, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.

Event Coordination

  • Demonstrated experience organising and managing events, workshops, or conferences, especially within a cultural or artistic context.

  • Strong logistical and coordination skills, with the ability to manage both in-person and virtual events.

Communication Skills

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Proficiency in additional African languages is a plus.

  • Experience managing online engagements, including webinars, social media interactions, and digital forums.

  • Capacity to generate clear, insightful reports and presentations for both internal and external audiences.

Cultural and Regional Awareness

  • Familiarity with the cultural and creative sectors in Africa, including the challenges and opportunities related to the CCIs. 

  • Ability to work in a diverse, multi-cultural environment, with an understanding of the socio-political context in different African countries.

Organizational and Time Management Skills

  • Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

  • Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Technology Proficiency

  • Proficiency in project management tools, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and online collaboration platforms (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams).

  • Experience with social media platforms and online engagement tools for community building is an advantage.

Personal Attributes

  • Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster relationships and work collaboratively across teams and organisations.

  • A passion for the arts, culture, and promoting artistic freedom and human rights.

The project officer will be expected to have a flexible approach and be ready to accept working tasks outside of the original work description to support the rest of the project team when needed. 

The candidate must be based in either Nairobi, Kenya or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. If based in Nairobi, the candidate must have a licence to work as an independent consultant. 

TIME FRAME

The position is a full time assignment, starting with a six month probation period, with the possibility of extension. The successful candidate is expected to commence in January 2025.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested individuals are invited to submit a detailed CV and cover letter along with any other relevant documentation to apply@selam.se no later than 30 November.  

SELECTION PROCESS

Selam will evaluate the proposals based on the provided information. Only successful candidates will be contacted.