OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM – LAW AND HEALTH INITIATIVE F/T POSITION AVAILABLE PROGRAM OFFICER, EAST AFRICA NAIROBI-BASED DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 10, 2006 START DATE: JANUARY 2007 OR SOONER I. JOB SUMMARY

The Program Officer, East Africa will work with the Law and Health Initiative (LAHI) of the Open Society Institute Public Health Program (PHP) and the Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA) in Nairobi to advance law- and human rights-based responses to HIV and AIDS and public health in the region. S/he will report to the LAHI project director in New York and collaborate day-to-day with the OSIEA staff in Nairobi. S/he will also be an integral part of the New York-based PHP and will provide periodic assistance to PHP staff undertaking initiatives in East Africa.

Responsibilities will be both grant-related and operational, and will include:

· Strategy Development: The Program Officer will identify opportunities for LAHI to expand its work on HIV-related legal services throughout East Africa. This may include exploratory missions in the region, attending conferences and donor meetings, strategy development, evaluation of existing projects, and leveraging funding from additional sources.

· Policy Analysis: The Program Officer will author reports and advocacy documents on issues of human rights, livelihoods, and HIV in the region. These will include news briefs on LAHI’s work in this area, press statements on issues affecting grantees and sub-
grantees, human rights analysis of legal and legislative developments related to HIV in the region, and if appropriate, joint reports with other national, regional, and international organizations.

· Advocacy: The Program Officer will conduct advocacy on behalf of grantees and sub-grantees with government and donor agencies. This will include advocating for a human rights approach to HIV and AIDS policy and law in the region, identifying funding opportunities for grantees working in this area, and representing LAHI and its grantees at national and regional forums relevant to HIV and human rights.

· Grant management: The Program Officer will help to oversee the work of a portfolio of LAHI grantees and sub-grantees providing HIV-related legal services in Kenya. This will include development of grant competitions, conducting monitoring visits, preparing reports for the LAHI project director, identifying technical assistance opportunities for grantees and sub-grantees, ensuring quality and consistency of programs, and assisting grantees with monitoring and evaluation.

II. QUALIFICATIONS § Advanced degree in public health, law or social sciences related to international development.

- At least five years of experience in advocacy related to HIV and AIDS, at least three of which in Kenya or other countries in East Africa.

- Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to human rights approaches to combating HIV and AIDS.

- Experience working on HIV/AIDS-related programming, grants management, program design, monitoring and evaluation with grassroots organizations in East Africa.

- Experience in community- based participatory planning and GIPA a plus.

- Excellent oral and written communications skills in English. Demonstrated skills in public speaking, presentations, research, writing, and editing for publication, as well as communications and media work. Kiswahili strongly desired.

- Strong organizational and management skills with attention to detail.

- Ability to listen and communicate clearly and effectively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

- Ability to work effectively both independently without detailed daily supervision and as a member of a team, on a wide range of tasks.

- Ability to distill program experience into compelling advocacy messages for governments and international institutions.
- Discretion and ability to handle confidential issues.

- Willingness to travel both within the East African region and internationally.

- Knowledge of the following issues highly desired: gender and development; public health best practice, livelihood programming, micro-credit, micro-finance and vocational training programs; children’s rights; PLHA rights, rights of the elderly; and rights of sex workers.

III. COMPENSATION

- Competitive salary commensurate with experience and ability.

- Medical benefits.

IV. APPLICATION PROCESS

- To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and salary history to:

[email][email protected] [2]
-or-

Open Society Institute ATTN: Sai Jahann 400 West 59th St. New York, NY USA 10019 Fax: +1 (646) 557-2550 V. ABOUT OSI The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens.

Open societies are characterized by the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; market economies in which business and government are separate; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media.

At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information.

OSI places high priority on protecting and improving the lives of marginalized people and communities.

The Open Society Institute’s Public Health Program aims to promote health policies based on scientific evidence, social inclusion, human rights, and justice. Broadly, the program works with civil society organizations within two fields: promoting the participation of socially marginalized groups in public health policy and fostering greater government accountability and transparency through civil society monitoring efforts. Program areas focus on addressing the human rights and health needs of marginalized groups, facilitating citizen access to health information, and advocating for a strong civil society role in public health policy and practice.

For further information on the Public Health Program, please visit our website: > The Public Health Program’s Law and Health Initiative (LAHI)
promotes legal and human rights-based approaches to public health worldwide. LAHI supports legal assistance, litigation, and law reform efforts on a range of health issues, including HIV and AIDS, harm reduction, palliative care, Roma health, and sexual health.

Through partnerships with both public health and human rights organizations, LAHI seeks to build a broad movement for law-based approaches to health and for the human rights of socially marginalized groups.

For further information on the Law and Health Initiative, please visit our website: > The Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA) supports and promotes public participation in democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights in Kenya by awarding grants, developing programs, and bringing together diverse civil society leaders and groups.

For further information on the Open Society Initiative for East Africa, please visit our website: > The Open Society Institute is an equal opportunity employer.