Vacancy title:
Program Officer for the Health and Rights Program

Jobs at:
The Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA)

Deadline of this Job:
9th June 2017

Duty Station:
Kampala, Uganda

Job details:
Reports to: Director - Learning and Assessment

About OSIEA:
The Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa OSIEA's particular focus will be on pastoralism, land tenure governance, food systems and market access, governance and anti-corruption climate change and a fair investment framework. The Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa promotes vibrant, tolerant democracies in the region by awarding grants, developing programs, and bringing together diverse civil society leaders and groups. The Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) is implementing the health and rights program which advances health rights in the region and current areas of focus include maternal health, harm reduction, palliative care, access to medicines, and health rights of marginalized populations.

Job Summary: The Program Officer’s primary responsibilities include provision of technical support in identification and fostering of effective grant making relations in a dynamic, creative and committed manner with a focus on but not limited to palliative care, governance for health and equality and social inclusion (in health).

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
• Provide a bold vision for innovative work that that advances equity and equality in Health rights access through strategic grant-making, undertaking relevant operational activities including developing and implementing program/project and advocacy strategies to advance health rights of in Eastern Africa.
• Collaborate within and beyond the program team, including building partnerships beyond OSF, to develop knowledge content, identify emerging trends, including conducting strong field assessments employing a rights-based lens.
• The incumbent will advance the concepts of evidence-based and right-based programming through continuous legal and policy analysis on relevant topic in the region for internal and external audiences.
• Support identification of capacity and institutional development opportunities in partner organizations (grantees).
• Support network/coalition building opportunities for joint advocacy with grantees and constituents targeting governments, donor agencies, service providers, and the general public.
• Oversee administrative duties within the program and supervision of consultants.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
• The ideal employee for this job opportunity must hold an advanced degree in a relevant field.
• A minimum of six years of relevant work experience.
• Previous exposure and experience developing and implementing social change strategies through a rights-based approach and substantive knowledge of health rights issues in the Eastern Africa region.
• Prior experience in working with community based groups in East Africa on public health and human rights issues relating to;
• Palliative care and human rights advocacy;
• Governance for health, including addressing how powerful economic and private actors (including the private sector) influence health decisions and impact on the realization of the right to health;
• Design and use of multidisciplinary and innovative approaches and practices at the intersection of health, governance, human rights and law. This may include using strategic litigation, legal advocacy and legal empowerment to secure human and health rights."
• Previous experience or understanding of grant making work.
• Broad knowledge and understanding of Eastern Africa social and economic issues including governance and rights.
• Previous experience working with NGOs (desirable).
• Ability to manage several simultaneous projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• High degree of integrity, team work, diplomacy and professionalism will be essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and one other East African language.
• Willingness to travel frequently as needed.

Job application procedure
All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to send their updated resumes and cover letters to jobs@osiea.org