About Akashinga:
Akashinga, formerly the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF), was founded in 2009 by Australian-born, Zimbabwean-based environmentalist Damien Mander. In 2023, we rebranded as Akashinga, meaning "the Brave Ones" in Shona, to reflect our mission of empowering women and communities in conservation. Our innovative model transforms traditional conservation by focusing on local development, advancing women’s leadership, and creating nature-based economies.
By working with indigenous and local communities, we protect biodiversity, safeguard migratory pathways, and foster interconnected habitats to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. Akashinga is dedicated to building resilient ecosystems where wildlife and people thrive together for a sustainable future.
Position Details:
As the Director of Programs, you will manage and consolidate Akashinga’s operations in Africa with the aim of empowering local communities and protection and restoration of biodiversity in our project areas. You will support and lead Akashinga senior management for our expanding areas of work, leading strategy development and mobilizing the entire organization around it and ensuring Akashinga programs deliver against clear and measurable goals.
You will support and lead Akashinga in identifying, documenting, and using evidence-based interventions and generating new evidence (systems) to achieve both internal and external positive change for people, planet and the future. You will work collaboratively with country programs, landscape partners, and other stakeholders to ensure the effective rollout of Akashinga programs and represent our organization with funders and international partners. This is a fully remote role, requiring the ability to travel.
Strategic Leadership, Initiatives and Partnerships:
-Oversee the development, management, and evaluation of new strategic initiatives, projects, and partnerships, including expansion into new areas, with a focus on landscape, scale, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
-Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with program initiatives, ensuring proactive management aligned with organizational resilience strategies.
-Stay updated on and integrate best practices and innovations in biodiversity conservation and community engagement into program strategies.
-Oversee any regional or special projects and project partnerships as required.
Program Development and Management:
-Collaborate with the steering committee to develop and implement organizational strategies, frameworks, plans, and procedures aligned with the organization's mission and goals.
-In collaboration with the Director of Operations, establish mechanisms for prioritizing program resources to align with the organizational mission, responding adaptively to changing landscapes and community needs.
-Implement an accountability system that ensures all team members contribute to program objectives with defined responsibilities, timelines, and evaluation mechanisms.
-Monitor and ensure program compliance with local and international regulations.
-Development and Implementation of M&E Framework:
-Lead the development, implementation, and periodic evaluation of a robust M&E framework across all locations, incorporating feedback from diverse stakeholders to refine program implementation.
-Drive the development and use of standardized data collection tools, templates, guidelines, and dashboards for tracking progress and optimal decision-making across all field sites in Africa.
Stakeholder Engagement:
-Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders, using tailored engagement strategies for various groups (e.g., community leaders, government officials, donors) to enable long-term collaboration and support.
-Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of partnerships in achieving conservation and community goals, adjusting approaches as needed to strengthen collaborative outcomes.
-Represent Akashinga in local and global meetings, congresses or fundraising events when relevant
Team Leadership and Collaboration:
-Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of professionals and encourage professional growth, including the Chief Scientist and Director of Operations.
-Cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring all team members feel empowered to contribute to program success
Reporting and Communication:
-Collaborate with the fundraising team to ensure input and reporting on grants related to program initiatives.
-Provide regular reports, ensuring timely technical and financial reporting to the Steering Committee.
-Represent the organization in global forums, congresses, or fundraising events when relevant.
Resource Management:
-Oversee running of Akashinga programs, assessing the programs performance and taking steps to address and remedy areas of concern.
-Oversees development and implementation of annual work plans and budgets with clear priorities and KPIs programs and ensures their efficient implementation.
-Ensures timely closeouts of donor and other external grant activities
-Oversees budgeting, financial forecasting, and reviews, ensuring budgets are accurately managed and funds are allocated to maximize impact and ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
Capacity Building and Training:
-Establish clear professional development pathways for Akashinga staff, encouraging skills development aligned with both individual career goals and organizational needs.
-Collaborate with training providers and HR to ensure relevant staff receive necessary orientations, training, and resources for effective work.
-Promote a culture of knowledge-sharing within and across teams, ensuring best practices are shared and implemented throughout all Akashinga projects.
-Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred but not mandatory with equivalent experience.
-Proven experience working with government stakeholders is essential, particularly in the implementation and management of government grants.
-International experience is required.
-Exceptional multitasking skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities effectively.
-Demonstrated initiative and proactive approach to achieving goals.
-Excellent problem-solving skills with a strong focus on delivering innovative, solutions-oriented results.
Compensation:
The compensation range for this position is $120,000 - $140,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
Harare
Expires
UNDP International
Harare
Full Time
20 Dec 2024
04 Dec 2024