Regional Coordinator

Description:

The Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is currently inviting women from the Asia Pacific Region with relevant experience and skills to apply for the position of Regional Coordinator. The successful applicant must be able to relocate to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

APWLD is a regional network of organisations from the Asia Pacific region, committed to enabling women to use law as an instrument of social change for equality, justice and development. It is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization and has consultative status at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). The network has a Secretariat based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (For more information about APWLD, visit our website at www.apwld.org)

The membership body, is composed of activists from a variety of different fields of expertise and professions, women lawyers, academics, social scientists and grassroots women among others in the region, is represented in the Regional Council, which is APWLD’s policy-making body. The Programme and Management Committee supervises and monitors the Secretariat. A Women Human Rights Working Group (WHWG) and five Task Forces operate as a consultative mechanism for issue-based interventions and the planning of APWLD’s six programmes: Women’s Human Rights; Violence against Women; Women’s Participation in Political Processes; Labour and Migration; Rural and Indigenous Women and Women and the Environment.

The Secretariat operates to coordinate the implementation of the organisation’s activities. APWLD’s activities are focused on promoting women’s human rights and using human rights as an analytical and strategic framework for engaging the legal system to empower women and has engaged primarily in advocacy, education, training, policy research and other activities to address and undertake actions on critical issues and concerns related to women’s human rights particularly in Asia Pacific.

The Regional Coordinator (RC) will lead, manage and coordinate the programmes and operations of the secretariat, including fundraising, contribute to the development and implementation of related programmes in close collaboration with the Regional Council (RegC), Programme and Management Committee (P & M), the WHRWG and 5 task forces. The position provides an exciting opportunity to lead and coordinate APWLD’s representation and advocacy in international and regional formations, conferences and other fora, including the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Special Procedures mechanisms; maintaining relationships with the network, NGOs, partners, civil society, intergovernmental organisations among others.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Regional Coordinator comes under the supervision of and shall be directly accountable to the P & M and RegC.

• Sits as an ex-officio member in the RegC and P & M;
• Keeps the P & M and the RegC informed of important developments relevant to the programmes and concerning the organisation;
• Performs other functions that may be assigned by the P & M and RegC.
• Provides strategic direction, leadership and management of the programmes and the operations of the Secretariat and other organizational matters;
• Supervision of the work of the Secretariat staff (including interns, volunteers and consultants of the programmes); and to oversee the preparation for governance meetings, and coordination of work related to the programme activities carried out by the WHRWG and Task Forces;
• Lead and facilitate the development of a fundraising strategy, including the writing of funding proposals, including maintaining close links with donors, reporting on funding; including monitoring programme expenditure against approved budgets;
• Lead and facilitate the development and preparation of the APWLD work plans, budget in consultation with the WHRWG and Task Forces for the review and approval of the P & M and the RegC; including the programme reports on the implementation of programme activities and monitor and assess achievement against APWLD’s overall and programme objectives;
• Research and write APWLD reports, statements; review, revise and approve publications prepared by staff, network members of the programmes;
• Lead and coordinate APWLD’s representation and advocacy in international and regional formations, conferences and other fora, including the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Special Procedures mechanisms; maintaining relationships with the network, NGOs, partners, civil society, intergovernmental organisations;
• Monitor the activities of the relevant UN Bodies and other international and regional events and inform members and network of outcomes and opportunities for advocacy.

Qualifications:

• Must have a degree in social sciences; degree in law or advanced degree in field of social sciences, human rights or women's studies/feminism or similar experience is an advantage;
• Minimum of 10 years experience in human rights, women’s rights, legal and development issues at the regional and the national level in the Asia Pacific;
• Minimum of 5 years experience of staff management, programme and financial management;
• Experience in public relations including advanced advocacy skills, national, regional, international;
• Demonstrated commitment to the women’s movement and working on women’s issues in non governmental organisations, at national, regional and international levels;
• Must have knowledge and skills in conceptualisation and planning of programmes as well as coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes;
• Must have excellent command of the English language, both oral and written;
• and be able to write funding proposals and programme reports;
• Must have good interpersonal skills, with ability to work, network and liaise in a multi-cultural environment, through various avenues (i.e. face to face and emails);
• Must have literacy in basic computer programmes such as word and excel;
• Must be able to travel as required.

Remuneration:

Salary will be commensurate with the successful applicant’s qualifications. Other benefits include health, accident and travel insurance; contributions to employment pension fund; housing and relocation allowances if necessary.

The contract is for three years, with a probationary period of six months.

How to apply?

Interested applicants Must be from the Asia Pacific region and should submit the following:

1. Resume and cover letter that addresses the required qualifications
2. Names and contacts of two referees

These documents are to be submitted to:

Sachee Vilaithong
Liaison Officer
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
Girl Guide Association Compound
189/3 Changklan Road
Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Tel: (66 53) 284856, 284527
Fax: (66 53) 280847
Email: sachee@apwld.org, apwld@apwld.org

The applications for the Regional Coordinator position will remain open until the position is filled.
Please appreciate that only short listed applicants will be notified.
Position re-advertised.