Purpose of Job:

This role leads the delivery of Comic Relief’s transformative, long-term civil society strengthening programme, co-funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This exciting, strategic programme, with the overarching aim of shifting greater power to civil society, invests in organisational strengthening of civil society organisations in Ghana, Zambia and Malawi, and offers training and support in local resource mobilisation. Learning from the programme will influence Comic Relief’s funder practice, and it will also intentionally seek to disrupt ways of working in the wider funder ecosystem.  Together with the Head of the FCDO Shifting the Power (StP) Programme, with support from the rest of the small FCDO Shifting the Power team, and through quality relationship management with a diversity of stakeholders within and outside of Comic Relief, the Shifting the Power Lead will ensure deliverables for the programme are completed on time, to a high quality, and driven by the programme’s values. This role will work closely with the Shifting the Power Project Manager, currently being recruited, which will be based in either, Malawi, Zambia or Ghana. Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership: Together with the Head of the FCDO StP Programme, provide leadership of Comic Relief’s flagship civil society strengthening programme, co-funded by UK Aid, in line with the approved FCDO business case, MoU and budget.

• Leadership: Develop and maintain strong relationships with the three programme Anchor Partners in Ghana, Zambia and Malawi.

• Approach: creatively find ways to unlock the inherent power of communities and organisations by ensuring that people with lived or learnt experience are intentionally: engaged in how the programme is designed, delivered, and monitored.

• Project management: Work with the Shifting the Power Project Manager to ensure that appropriate plans are developed, key milestones are hit, and reporting is completed against .

• Reporting: Work with the Shifting the Power Project Manager, the FCDO Grant Accountant, and the StP Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager to design and manage programme reporting requirements including the portfolio log frame, partner reporting and financial management and reporting. Develop community and partner-led reporting processes and ensure synergy with communications strategy.

• Design and develop key programme components: including grant-making cycles; and in country governance and decision-making processes.

• Organisational Strengthening Framework: work in partnership with the three anchor partner(s) and other technical partners to complete the design of the framework to define, track, measure and understand the process of organisational change and strengthening communications.

• Strategy: working with African creative agencies, Comic Relief’s Strategic Comms team, the Shifting the Power Advocacy and Communications Manager,  FCDO’s Communications team and anchor partner(s), support delivery of the communication strategy for the programme and identify draft outcomes.

• Learning and Influencing Strategy: working with Comic Relief’s wider Funding team, the Shifting the Power Advocacy and Communications Manager, and anchor partner(s), support development and delivery of the learning and influencing strategy for the programme, with a focus on generating evidence on how funders can best support African CSOs to strengthen their organisations and generate more sustainable forms of income locally.

• Network building and sector learning: connect with existing networks and fora engaged in the #ShiftThePowerdiscourse, as well as other funders who share Comic Relief’s intention to shift greater power to Southern civil society, to ensure the programme contributes to, and benefits from, existing rich experience, knowledge, and perspectives.

• International travel will be required with this role).   The post holder for this role will be based in Malawi or Zambia, with regular travel to Ghana and London.

 Person Specification:

 Essential Criteria:

• A strong interest in and commitment to creating a more equitable development system and shifting power.

• Proven leadership of complex, high value partnerships or programmes.

• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Proven experience in close collaboration with internal colleagues and external parties.

• Significant experience within social change and international development, with experience of working closely with national CSOs on organisational sustainability in an African context.

• Demonstrable knowledge of, and experience of, organisational strengthening and/ or local philanthropy in an African context.

• Experience of working in partnership with a bilateral donor, ideally FCDO or other large institutional funders.

• Effective relationship builder with strong emotional intelligence and political awareness to proactively challenge and persuade senior stakeholders and partners.

• Experience of working in partnership at a distance/ remotely.

• Strategic and analytical thinker with the ability to see the bigger picture, adopt a positive and solution-orientated approach and make appropriate and effective decisions.

• Strong communicator and planner with a flexible, engaging and inspirational style.

• Strong budgetary and financial management skills.

Desirable Criteria:

• Strategic and analytical thinker with the ability to see the bigger picture, adopt a positive and solution-orientated approach and make appropriate and effective decisions.

• Strong communicator and planner with a flexible, engaging and inspirational style.

Salary Range:

• 42,500,000 MWK – 59,750,000 MWK (This salary is only applicable if you are based in Malawi)

• 806,000 ZMW - 1,032,000 ZMW (This salary is only applicable if you are based in Zambia)

Benefits

Malawi:

• Payroll Tax

• Social Security Contributions

• Life Insurance Contributions

• Vacation Entitlement

Zambia:

• Social Security Contribution

• National Health Contributions

• Skills Development Levy

• Housing Allowance

• Transport Allowance

• Lunch Allowance

• Education Allowance

• Vacation Entitlements

Interview Dates:

Round 1- 29 January 2024

Round 2- 6 February 2024

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Comic Relief we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Why work at Comic Relief

There are lots of good reasons to join us at Comic Relief. You can read more about our employee benefits, such as our commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We ask staff to come to the office twice a week, normally on agreed team days, so that we can do all those things that are difficult to do online. Our office is based in Whitechapel, London,. There are lots of opportunities to develop your skills and experience at Comic Relief, including opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider or to participate in our Employee Network Groups that focus on making Comic Relief a more inclusive place to work.

Disability Confident employer

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we take positive action by providing first-round interviews to candidates who have a registered disability, provided they meet the minimum criteria for the role, as demonstrated on their CV and application questions.

We ask that candidates that wish to be considered for this scheme email j.scott@comicrelief.com to discuss further. Please do not email CV's/cover letters