PAUNG KU JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Transcription

1 PAUNG KU JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Paung Ku is assisting the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) to recruit one staff for a peace building program based in Yangon: Job Title: Place of work: Myanmar Quaker International Affairs Representative Yangon 1. JOB PURPOSE The AFSC program is looking for a Myanmar Quaker International Affairs Representative based in Yangon. Under the supervision of the AFSC Asia Regional Director, s/he is responsible for programmatic work that focuses on inter- and intra-religious peace, strengthening and supporting capacity of partner organizations and coalitions in advocacy, conflict transformation and reconciliation. Additionally, the MQIAR will organize meetings, exchanges, study tours and write analytical reports on regional developments focused heavily on documenting alternatives to current violence and conflict. The AFSC worldwide community works to transform conditions and relationships both in the world and in ourselves that threaten to overwhelm what is precious in human beings. We nurture the faith that conflicts can be resolved nonviolently, that enmity can be transformed into friendship, strife into cooperation, poverty into well-being, and injustice into dignity and participation. Compensation: AFSC offers a competitive salary depending on qualifications and experience. Further details including a copy of the job description are available from AFSC at II. Qualifications required include: Master s degree or Bachelor s degree with equivalent experience in lieu of a Master s degree in one of the following critical areas: international affairs/relations, policy formulation and advocacy, peace and conflict resolution, Development Studies, Asian Studies. Have at least 5 or more years working experience in informal/quiet diplomacy, pluralism and religious tolerance expertise, conflict analysis, conflict resolution and transformation, mediation, and multi-party dialogue. Ability to listen creatively and to communicate effectively with people of diverse perspectives. Fluent in oral and written English and preferably in Burmese. Experience in strategic thinking, program planning and implementation. Ability to travel frequently, to cope in situations of high risk and to comply with security measures and policies. III. Application Process: Applications in the English language including 1) Curriculum Vitae, 2) Cover letter addressing each of the required qualifications, 3) Names of at least two referees, should be submitted via the Apply Now link on the AFSC recruitment website. Application deadline: 10 July 2016.

2 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action. Drawing on continuing spiritual insights and working with people of many backgrounds, we nurture the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems. POSITION DESCRIPTION TITLE: Myanmar Quaker International Affairs Representative (MQIAR) DEPARTMENT: International Programs JOB CATEGORY: Exempt STATUS: Full-Time, Specific Term (2 years) SUPERVISOR: Regional Director, Asia REGION/UNIT: Central Office LOCATION: Yangon, Myanmar DATE APPROVED: June 2016 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The MQIAR will work under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Director, Asia, spending half of their time managing the Myanmar programme of work, and the other half undertaking the role of Quaker International Affairs Representative (QIAR) i in Asia, with a focus on pluralism and having expertise in addressing inter and intra religious conflict at a regional level. AFSC plans to hire QIARs in the four international regions and at the Quaker United Nations Office in New York. Based on deeply held Quaker values, QIARs adapt their work to the special needs and opportunities in the places where they work and seek to develop strong, trusting relationships with those who may be in positions to influence positive and peaceful change. QIARs may also bring forward the stories and voices of the disenfranchised into policy-making forums and support participation of people in promoting peace and social justice at national, regional and international levels. The programmatic work in Myanmar includes the Myanmar Pluralism program, the Myanmar Business and Peace Program, which is managed by the East Asia Quaker International Affairs Program based in Beijing, and the Monastic Schools program. With respect to the Myanmar Business and Peace Program, the MQIAR will play an advisory role to Business and Peace staff based in Myanmar, and cooperate closely with Beijing staff on the program. The MQIAR will also be responsible for Dialogue and Exchange Program activities, sourcing funding and acting as the main contact for planning, monitoring and reporting on programs, and playing an active role as a member of the AFSC Asia Leadership Team.

3 Myanmar Quaker International Affairs Representative Page 2 SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES The MQIAR will liaise with Asia Leadership Team, the Global QIAR, QUNO (Quaker United Nations Office), OPPA (Office of Public Policy and Advocacy) and other units including International Programs and Communications to determine the policy priorities and opportunities in Myanmar and the region. The MQIAR will build new partnerships with a specific focus on inter and intra religious peace, strengthen and support the capacity building of partner organizations and coalitions in advocacy, conflict transformation and reconciliation on issues arising from regional strategic planning priorities. Additionally, they will also organize meetings, exchanges, and study tours, and write analytical reports on regional developments focused heavily on documenting alternatives to current violence and conflict. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES: The key responsibilities of the MQIAR include the following: QIAR Responsibilities 1. Participate with AFSC colleagues in the international programs and regional strategic planning processes; develop QIAR regional priorities, annual program plans and regular reports. 2. In collaboration with the Asia Regional Director, Global QIAR and program staff in the region and International Programs as a whole, maintain awareness of peacebuilding and conflict transformation methodologies and faith networks in the region. 3. Develop a robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework that illustrates the effectiveness and efficiency of the QIAR inter and intra religious peacebuilding and conflict transformation interventions for the region. 4. Maintain up-to-date analysis of trends in the region, particularly related to conflict and its underlying causes, to be shared with the Asia Regional Director, the Asia Leadership Team, the Global QIAR, International Programs Unit, and the Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, in order to develop policies and advocacy work in the US, and with QUNO as relevant to its work at the United Nations. 5. Produce periodic updates on issues relating to the region and shared security Produce and assist in the creation of reports, white papers, and policy briefs on trends, issues, and developments in the region related to shared security for internal use and/or for publication. 7. Develop contacts with religious and faith based networks, become familiar with local institutions and organizations and establish appropriate partnerships that are strategic in efforts to promote peace and influence policy change and practice. 8. Foster dialogue to bridge divides and support cooperation of peace and nonviolent solutions to inter and intra-religious conflict and exercise quiet diplomacy that may be required to advance and secure the various peace dialogues in the region. 1

4 Myanmar Quaker International Affairs Representative Page 3 9. Promote and organize national, regional, inter-regional, and international gatherings and meetings as appropriate. 10. Maintain periodic contact with Quaker groups in Asia. Program Development and Management 1. Continually develop the program strategies in Myanmar, in alignment with the Asia Region Strategy. Articulate within the strategy clear theories of change, identify baseline information for the selected indicators, and ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the program work in relation to the indicators. 2. Collaborate regionally with other AFSC programs in ways to increase the impact of AFSC s work beyond the country of implementation, building the knowledge and influence of partners and networks AFSC engages with. The cross-regional engagement will primarily be with the China and the Indonesia Program. Coordinate outside the Asia region on common shared security 2 themes as appropriate. 3. Participate in periodic program assessment with the Asia Leadership Team, the Global QIAR, the Associate General Secretary and with oversight Committees as part of formal evaluations. 4. For supervised programs, develop country-relevant staffing or partnership arrangements, personnel and administrative policies and procedures; establish salary structure and benefits; oversee registration of the offices with government agencies as needed, consistent with AFSC guidelines and in consultation with the Asia Regional Director. 5. Recruit, hire, and supervise program and support staff, including staff development, performance planning and review. Ensure that all staff are familiar with and work toward the long-term vision and strategic goals of AFSC and incorporate the organization s values and principles in their work. 6. Ensure fiscal management of supervised programs including oversight of budgeting and accounting procedures defined by AFSC and donor partners; preparation and timely processing of monthly financial reports; oversight of contracts and materials. 7. Prepare annual and semi-annual narrative reports, reports to appropriate government authorities, and regular correspondence and written reports to the Asia Regional Director. Stewardship of Resources 1. Explore opportunities for program funding and either lead on proposals or support development of funding proposals and annual budgets with the Development Department in Philadelphia. 2. Ensure timely reporting to support funding applications; ensure compliance with donor funding requirements and accurate reporting on use of funds to donors. 3. Ensure that accounts are kept in a way that permits ready identification of the use of funds from specific sources, and is compliant with AFSC procedures and auditing requirements. Diversity and Inclusion 1. Consider accessibility and inclusivity in all program planning and program activities. Ensure no groups are excluded on the grounds of gender, sexual 2

5 Myanmar Quaker International Affairs Representative Page 4 orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion and so on, unless an event or activity is deliberately designed for a specific group i.e. Muslims, women etc. 2. Ensure all internal policy and practice in the office reflect a commitment to inclusion, in terms of accessibility, recruitment and other policies and benefits. Continue to educate staff on AFSC s commitment to inclusion. 3. Encourage partners to adopt inclusive policies, practices and considerations in all the activities they implement with AFSC support, and beyond, if possible. 4. Raise awareness in the Mekong Region of AFSC s commitment to equality, inclusion and respect for diversity. External Representation, Outreach and Communication 1. Articulate AFSC s basic philosophical and faith-based principles, as appropriate, with staff and partners, including the organization s commitment to a nonviolent approach to conflict and long term strategies for peacebuilding. 2. Coordinate visits by representatives of donor agencies and other AFSC related programs or partners. Provide quick and timely information to AFSC and to donor representatives on key developments or events in the Mekong region as they are related to or affect AFSC work. 3. Assist in the outreach, collaboration and sharing of information with Quaker partners, donors, and other stakeholders in cooperation with the Assistant Regional Director. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION: Master s degree or Bachelor s degree with equivalent experience in lieu of a Master s degree in one of the following critical areas: international affairs/relations, policy formulation and advocacy, peace and conflict resolution, Development Studies, Asian Studies. EXPERIENCE: Five or more years of senior-level experience in peace practice, preferably in Myanmar; experience in informal/quiet diplomacy, pluralism and religious tolerance expertise, conflict analysis, conflict resolution and transformation, mediation, and multiparty dialogue. Understanding of the history, politics and cultures of the region; experience with regional and global political and economic institutions and their roles in peace, conflict prevention and resolution and development in in Asia. OTHER REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 1. Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual. 2. Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations, of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff. 3. Demonstrated knowledge of Asian political and socio-economic history, an understanding of the causes of conflict and divisive issues in Myanmar, and more broadly in Asia. 4. Knowledge of, respect for, and sensitivity to context-relevant ethnic cultural and religious diversity and various approaches to problem solving.

6 Myanmar Quaker International Affairs Representative Page 5 5. Fluency in written and oral communication in English and preferably in Burmese. 6. Demonstrated self-motivation, proactive and able to work with minimum supervision, to deadlines. 7. Ability to listen creatively and to communicate effectively with people of diverse perspectives. Demonstrated ability to build trust across lines of conflict and in exchanges with high-level leadership and community-based groups and individuals. 8. Experience in strategic thinking, program planning and implementation. Ability to work independently in an unstructured setting yet within a framework of careful communication, consultation, and decision-making. 9. Experience in organizing events and conferences, producing materials for publication for diverse international audiences. 10. Ability to travel frequently, to cope in situations of high risk and to comply with security measures and policies. COMPENSATION: Salary Range 17 Exempt Comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan; term life, accident and salary continuation insurances, defined benefit pension plan, plus fringe benefits; participation in unemployment and worker s compensation and social security. The American Friends Service Committee is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. AFSC s Central Office and some of its offices in the U.S. are unionized workplaces. This position is not represented. The American Friends Service Committee is a smoke-free workplace. i Background: AFSC QIARs engage in peace, justice, and reconciliation work around the world, representing an AFSC approach to peacebuilding and conflict transformation, drawing upon deeply held Quaker values. While all of AFSC s international programs are designed with peacebuilding and conflict transformation as their underlying purpose, the Quaker International Affairs Program is designed to link programmatic work to policy, specifically utilizing methods of quiet diplomacy, bridging societal divides, and creating safe space for dialogue among those who would not normally be able to come together around serious differences. QIARs should be adept at linking the local to the regional and global in order to bring about policy change related to AFSC s shared security program and to prevent or resolve violent conflict. QIARs are expected to be alert to new or unattended strategic issues and to be a vanguard in bringing these to the appropriate fora within AFSC and externally. QIARs seek to develop strong, trusting relationships with those who may be in positions to influence positive and peaceful change. They seek to promote understanding of the causes of violence and conflict, to create opportunities for discussion, joint problem solving, and the development of alternative policies and practices. Working at the local, national, and international level, the role of the QIARs is to open doors so that processes of dialogue and conflict transformation can take place and to facilitate movement towards sustainable and just peace.