CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is one of the leading and most diverse international civil society networks, with members and partners in more than 100 countries and a staff of 40 people from over 20 countries. It implements a range of programmatic activities focusing on strengthening civil society and its role in governance and development worldwide. CIVICUS is recruiting for a Participatory Governance Project Coordinator to lead a multi-country project in Africa involving a range of country-level and international partners. The project seeks to enhance the capacity of citizens and their organisations to make use of evidence-based participatory approaches in engaging with governments to promote greater transparency, responsiveness and accountability. Besides contributing to project design and providing technical assistance in participatory governance to country-level partners, the incumbent will be responsible for project administration, including budget and reporting; supporting country-level partners in networking and institutional development, and organising regional and global learning events. Specific tasks and responsibilities include the following: * Take the lead in coordinating the overall project activities; * In conjunction with key partners, develop operational plans for the project based on the overall project strategy; * Provide technical support to country-level partners in capacity; development for participatory governance, establishing and maintaining effective national networks and convening participatory governance skills-building events; * Facilitate the involvement of country-level networks in a global network of practitioners; * Organise regional and global learning events; * Contribute to the identification, analysis and dissemination of participatory governance practices around the world; * Oversee the project expenditures and budget and take the lead in project reporting. Required qualifications and skills: * Proven track record of at least three years working experience in participatory governance; * Commitment to principles of participatory governance; * Proven track record in coordinating initiatives, networks or projects; * Excellent organisational, analytical, and management skills; * Experience with budgeting and financial reporting; * Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (skills in French and /or Portuguese are an added advantage); * Experience working in Africa and knowledge of African civil society; * A university degree in an appropriate discipline of the social sciences; advanced degree preferred. Other desirable skills: * In-depth knowledge of a variety of participatory governance methods and tools; * Experience in conducting training; * Experience in institutional development or capacity-building; * The desire and ability to work in a dynamic and multi-cultural civil society organization; * Extensive experience in project management, preferably to include events management; * Strong ability to develop plans and strategies and to work toward their realization and improvement under demanding performance schedules. Start date: 1 November 2008 Duration: initially a 12 month contract will be offered. Submit a cover letter, a detailed CV and the contact details of 3 referees to humanresources@civicus.org by Monday 15 September 2008. Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.