Gulmakai Network Programme Manager

Job Description

About the role: The Gulmakai Network Programme Manager is responsible for expanding and curating a vibrant network of education advocates and activists (“Champions”). Along with other staff, the successful candidate will lead efforts to select new Champions, strengthen Champions’ individual technical, advocacy and leadership capacities, and enhance Champion profiles and influence. They will also support work to create advocacy agendas for national chapters of Champions and curate the global Gulmakai Network to increase its cohesion and effectiveness for change, particularly around funding for education, education quality and shifts in social norms preventing girls from completing their education. The Programme Manager is an integral member of the Programmes Department and also liaises regularly across other Malala Fund teams.

About the Gulmakai Network: Launched in 2017, Malala Fund’s Gulmakai Network supports advocates and activists who work towards 12 years of quality, safe and free education for every girl. Local education champions understand challenges in their communities and are best placed to identify, innovate and advocate for policy and practice solutions. However, these champions often lack the funding, support networks and opportunities to collaborate that can increase their impact. The Gulmakai Network seeks to fill this gap by investing in and connecting girls’ education advocates to each other and to the tools, training and partners to spark social and systemic change. At present, the programme consists of approximately 40 Champions organised in country “chapters” (Afghanistan, Brazil, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey). The programme has ambitious growth plans, with a target of expanding to an additional 10 countries in the next five years, including Ethiopia in early 2020.

Responsibilities and tasks

Oversee the day-to-day management of the Gulmakai Network, coordinating with staff across the organisation, particularly Malala Fund’s in-country representatives, advocacy, communications and fundraising colleagues. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Work with Malala Fund’s in-country representatives to identify and recruit new Champions, orient them into the programme and establish and develop chapters at the national level.
• Curate the Network to ensure effective communication, cohesion and a sense of identity; heighten the profile of the Network and produce regular internal and external updates and reports.
• Organise regional and thematic convenings of the Network as well as an annual global convening.
• Support the Capacity Building Officer in implementing a tailored capacity building component of the programme.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to identify global and national media opportunities for Champions to enhance their profiles and to showcase their work.
• Collaborate with the Development team to facilitate Champion engagement with high-level Malala Fund donors.
• Collaborate with the Advocacy team to identify advocacy opportunities and support Champion preparation and attendance at key meetings and events.
• Coordinate with Malala Fund’s Girl Activist Programme Manager on joint advocacy and peer learning opportunities between Champions and girl activists.
• Collaborate with Malala Fund’s MEL Officer to refine and implement the programme’s MEL framework.

Qualifications and experience

• A minimum of five years of related work experience, ideally in network development and coordination, programme design and/or advocacy for a similarly focused organisation.
• Programme planning, budgeting and management experience required.
• Prior experience building cross-cultural partnerships in one or more of the countries where Malala Fund is currently working and experience working with people from diverse backgrounds and countries is strongly preferred.
• A background in international education and/or gender issues preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated relationship management experience and acute networking skills.
• Solid judgement and problem-solving skills with proven attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
• A demonstrated commitment to gender and racial equality.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally (approximately 20%).
• Legally authorised to work in the United Kingdom or the United States.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and your resume to hiring@malalafund.org, indicating “Gulmakai Network Programme Manager” in the subject line of your email.

Please note that due to the high number of applications we receive when a position is posted, we are only able to respond directly to candidates with whom we wish to move forward in the interview process. Malala Fund is committed to safeguarding children and employment with our team is conditional upon successfully completing a background check.

About the Organization

Registered as a public charity in the United Kingdom and the United States, Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn for 12 years and lead without fear. We advocate for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves — and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in developing country education leaders and frontline organisations — the people who best understand girls in their communities — in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We amplify girls’ voices. Malala Fund is building a movement of young education activists who, like Malala, speak truth to power around the world.