Linking & Learning Officer – Urban Futures

Region: Southern Africa

Office: Harare, Zimbabwe

Hours: Full time

Application deadline: March 27, 2023

Hivos’ Urban Futures (UF) program (2023-2027) aims to contribute to more inclusive, climate-resilient cities and urban food systems, where young people collaborate to voice their priorities, influence decisions, and seize opportunities in the food sector, with shorter value chains providing healthy, sustainable food that is accessible, affordable, and attractive.

We aim to achieve this in 10 cities in 5 countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). Program implementation will be led by local partners in each city, taking a climate justice approach in line with Hivos’ strategic compass. To achieve this, we aim to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Inclusive youth-friendly urban food policies and strategies are developed and implemented, with decision-makers held to account
2. Youth-led narratives on inclusive climate-resilient food systems inspire behavior change.
3. Increased public and private financial flows to inclusive, climate-resilient food systems

As fund and program manager, Hivos will engage partners and innovators (especially young people) and provide grants and demand-led technical assistance, capacity building, and lead on linking and learning, advocacy, and communications, including through the expertise of the RUAF Global Partnership on Urban Agriculture and Food Systems. The inception phase of 2023 further localizes the framework and co-creates city strategies with local partners and experts. Through this, we harness the energy and expertise of partners to stimulate locally-owned innovations and multi-stakeholder collaborations.

About the role

Hivos is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Linking & Learning Officer

The Linking & Learning Officer will undertake linking, learning and communications (LLCO) functions for the Urban Futures (UF) project in Zambia and Zimbabwe ensuring the effective and efficient design and implementation of the Linking & Learning program global strategy and also supporting the program Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Communication strategies in line with the overall program plan and in coordination with local partners. The role will assist in boosting collaboration, exchange, learning, collective intelligence, innovation, and the application and gathering of new knowledge within the UF program network of partners, rightsholder groups (especially young people), and Hivos global and regional teams, as well as beyond the program across Hivos, with the funder, and through relevant external networks and platforms.

Your responsibilities

Linking and Learning (70% LOE)

• Coordinates the development of a global and regional learning strategy, in line with Hivos adaptive management with the support of the Global DMEL officer.
• Effective and timely results for promoting exchange, social learning, capacity-building, innovation, and other L&L actions and opportunities linked to the program’s strategies working in close collaboration with the local partner organizations, the Global Partnership on Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Systems (RUAF), as well as external allies.
• Timely coordination of social learning platforms/workshops and communities related to the program themes, to share and record innovative knowledge to raise awareness, strengthen learning, improve, replicate, and expand strategies among partners and other allies.
• Advises, supports and lead the maximization of leadership development and capacity-building processes among partners and allies, emphasizing virtual ecosystems and distance learning (virtual and non-virtual) in Zimbabwe and Zambia and co-creating regular activities across all regions.
• Coordinates and implements strategies and activities to expand the articulation of networks of youth leaders and organizations that work in climate action and food systems, considering gender and intercultural approaches.
• Provides L&L technical support to partners, reviews technical reports, and works with them on their and other subcontractors’ technical activities.
• Coordinates producing and disseminating high-quality learning products (tools, manuals, publications) with local and regional counterparts, including organizing research.
• Co-facilitates a staff learning community that supports continuous improvement and exchange, including regular online meetings and occasional in-person events.
• Timely submission of concepts or responses to planned or unexpected funding proposals supporting the Regional Coordinator, Global DMEL, and PM.

Monitoring and evaluation (10% LOE)

• Reviews and requests adjustments, and advises the Regional Coordinator on approving all results and deliveries from local partners/subcontractors.
• Ensures timely, high-quality M&E is delivered as part of regular formal and informal donor reporting and updates and facilitates external evaluation.
• Oversee the submission of quarterly progress reports and project management systems (All Solutions) and M&E system (Smartsheet)

Communications (20% LOE)

• Develops and implements the program communication activities and associated projects with the support of the global communications lead.
• Co-creates a communication strategy aligned with the overall program strategy, organizes communication activities, and develops communication materials contributing to the program/project results.
• Maps different international and regional news outlets and communications networks (social media) relevant to the project objectives to promote engagement of the external audience in the project (e.g., engage journalists contest, comms workshops).

Your profile

• A bachelor’s degree in sociology, development studies, monitoring and evaluation, social communications, food systems, or relevant disciplines. A master’s degree is preferred.
• A minimum of 3+ years’ work experience setting up and coordinating communication and learning programs, preferably on Climate Justice
• Added advantage for a candidate with experience in both Zimbabwe and Zambia food systems and Climate Justice space
• Knowledge, experience, and commitment to gender-inclusive climate justice issues, ideally in (urban) food systems, cities, youth engagement, and multi-actor collaboration
• Experience designing and facilitating learning activities, and workshops including participatory (research) methodologies and inclusive facilitation, online (through learning communities) and offline (through occasional in-person events).
• Proven ability and experience to work effectively with a diverse range of people in a multicultural environment and across a decentralized global team, building impact with hybrid and blended methodologies and tools.
• Keen understanding of relevant political and social dynamics; analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to translate these appropriative, timely actions on linking, learning, and communications.
• Ability, experience, and commitment to supporting local ownership of partners, including youth.
• Well-organized, flexible, independent, decisive, and energetic, with an entrepreneurial spirit and working attitude.
• Excellent networking, relationship building and negotiation skills
• Excellent verbal, writing and communication skills in English and local languages per region

What we offer

Hivos offers a challenging position in an international environment.

The Regional office is based in Harare, Zimbabwe. This position will be based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Hivos welcomes International & Regional applicants but can only offer a position to only those with a valid work permit for Zimbabwe. Hivos can only offer employment on local terms and conditions.

How to apply

Please apply before March 27 2023. If you meet the above-mentioned qualifications (please look carefully), you can apply to this vacancy by filling in a digital application form and adding a cover letter explaining your motivation and your CV.

APPLY HERE