Deputy Executive Directress – Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association(EWLA)

Legal

Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association(EWLA)

The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) is a non-profit women's advocacy group founded by Ethiopian women lawyers. It was legally registered in 1995 and began operation in 1996. EWLA is headquartered in Addis Ababa and has six branches in Bahir Dar, Assosa, Hawassa, Adama/Nazareth, Diredawa and Gambella. The branch/regional offices are supported by 53 trained voluntary committee members organized at woreda and zonal levels; these offices provide structures to reach women at grass root level in Ethiopia.

EWLA’s vision is to see a country where women are equal to men and articulates its mission as promoting the economic, political, social and legal rights of women and assist them to secure full protection of their rights under the Constitution of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and other international human rights conventions. 

 

The Association, to achieve its mission, works through three core programs:

Under its Legal Aid Program EWLA assists women, particularly disadvantaged women, who are victims of gender-based violence free of charge. The service includes legal advice/counseling, writing court briefs (court charges and affidavits) as well as representing clients in courts.  

The second program, Public Education and Capacity Building Program works on raising awareness on women's rights. This program conducts training and advocacy workshops on the legal, social and political rights of women for students, government, and civil society organization (CSO) employees.

Through the third program, Research and Law Reform Advocacy, EWLA conducts various researches on women's rights issues and findings are used as a major resource for law reform advocacy and public education. 

Job Description

The Ethiopian Women Lawyers’ Association (EWLA) invites competent and qualified candidates to apply for the vacant post of Deputy Executive Directress of which the detail requirements are mentioned here below.

Brief Highlight of EWLA: Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association has been established at the federal level in 1995 by Women lawyers and re-registered as Local Organization in accordance with the Civil Society Organization. It has been working for more than 25 years to promote women’s social, economic, political and legal rights to help women exercise their constitutional and other rights.

The aim of the association is to promote equal participation of women in all sectors and to prevent sexual violence against women and create a safe environment for women through its three programs: Legal Research and Advocacy, Public Education and Capacity Building, and Free Legal Aid service.  

The association is head quartered in Addis Ababa and has opened its regional offices in seven regions  and one city administration namely Adama, Hawassa, Bahir Dar, Gambella, Asosa, Jigjiiga, Semera regions and city administration of Dire Dawa. In order to make the service accessible to all, the association is working to continue its service in the zones and woredas under its regional and city administration branches and has so far established 55 volunteer committee centers across the country. Besides, it has established a hotline service (7711) which operates in 3 local languages: Amharic, Afan Oromo and Tigrigna.

Job Summary

Under the immediate supervision of the Executive Directress, the Deputy Executive Directress will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of EWLA’s varied program of projects and interventions. Whilst some of these are long-term, others require flexibility and speed to respond to short-term developing situations. She must be able to work independently and will have strong administrative and project management skills to support the activities of EWLA’s Executive Directress as well as the delivery of programs by its wider membership. Experience in fundraising is essentials since the role involves relationship-building and applications with present and potential funders. The Deputy Executive Directress must have strong communication skills with the members of the organization and represent the organization in various platforms while maintaining professional interpersonal skills. The Deputy Executive Directress with the direction given by the Executive Directress will also be the contact person for EWLA members, donors, partner organizations and supporters and also has the responsibility to develop proposal support new and current partnership engagements including identifying and building relationships with prospective collaborative partners and development of concept notes and proposals.

Duties and responsibilities

  • The Deputy Executive Directress will have the following duties and responsibilities:

Specific duties and Responsibilities:

Job Responsibility #1: Planning and Management

  • Responsible for the day-to-day EWLA’s Programs, projects and interventions.
  • Support the Executive Directress  as well as the completion of programs deliverables;
  • Ensure overall operational management of the projects and delivery of results in accordance with the project documents and work plans; and other joint agreements between EWLA and project partners;
  • Provide substantive input to the project activities, ultimate in-project quality assurance for achieving the overall project outputs,
  • Ensure timely implementation of project activities, and reporting on the progress and expected outputs;
  • Oversee and supervise the work of the Free legal Aid, capacity building and public education as well as the research and advocacy programs.
  • Represent the organization during the public events, PR and media activities, ensure the proper communication of project results through EWLA communication channels; in consultation with the director
  • Ensure coordination with relevant departments, working groups and information on EWLA activities are shared;
  • Ensure availability of an up-to-date information on all critical issues related to EWLA;
  • Ensure compliance with respective donor’s project management policies and procedures;
  • Provide guidance for research publications and educational materials development also review consultant reporting.
  • Provide personnel training for project-related activities
  • Chair the monthly meetings of the program teams with the programs manager.
  • Develop and support the development of concept notes and proposals as appropriate in collaboration with Finance and Program teams, contributing to technical proposal development and budgeting, and developing new interventions in line with EWLA’s strategy;
  • In close guidance and supervision of the Executive Director, develop and manage positive and constructive relationships with potential funders and internal and external stakeholders, including meeting stakeholders and funders on own or with program staff.

 Job Responsibility #2: Resource Management

  • Ensure that appropriate manpower required for project implementation is properly planned and available;
  • Oversee and track project funds in collaboration with the finance manager to ensure that projects are implemented in line with the budget;
  • Ensure that other resources are used efficiently and effectively for the best interest of EWLA;
  • Manage and support the implementation of an overall fundraising strategy and plan;, and  Writing proposals for donors and reporting to secure funding with the other program team of EWLA.
  • With close supervision of the director, Liaising With partners and government officials
  • Budgetary control and financial management skills, Overseeing and tracking project funds.

Job Responsibility #3: Leadership & Staff Management

  • lead, monitor, and supervises staff and consultants to achieve EWLA’s goals and support the program activities of the Organization;
  • Actively manage staff performance, development and collegiality, addressing issues appropriately as they arise;
  • Ensure the staff understand roles, responsibilities and lines of accountability and are provided with the appropriate support and guidance needed Activities of EWLA in consultation with the director

Job Responsibility #4: Monitoring, Evaluation, Networking and Reporting

  • Monitor and evaluate annual plan of projects;
  • Responsible for the timely preparation, review and evaluation of reports;
  • Report to the Executive Director on interim and annual performances;
  • Networking to contribute to the development of new program partnerships and funding opportunities.

 #5: Others

  • Perform other duties assigned by the Executive Director.         

Reporting Relationship:

  • The Deputy Executive Directress is accountable to the Executive Directress and shall report to her.

Competencies

  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Ability to work well under pressure
  • Corporate Competencies
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the EWLA’s values and ethical standards
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of EWLA
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

  • Organizes and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions and deadlines
  • Plans and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing Priorities and competing deadlines;
  • Establishes, builds and maintains effective working relationships with staff and clients to facilitate the provision of support;

Required Number: One

Gender: Female

Location/Place of work:  Addis Ababa

Employment Type: Full time

Salary: As per the Association’s scale

Duration: One-year contract with possibility of Extension

Application deadline:  30 consecutive days from the post of the position

Academic Qualification

  • Bachelor in Law, Master’s Degree in law, or Gender studies and other relevant field of studies

Required Skills and Experience

  • 8 years of experience out of which 2 years are in broad-based senior-level general management experience; directing and overseeing the administration of programs
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills, as well as negotiation, problem-solving, outcome Measurement and analysis skills and ability to handle multiple tasks;
  • Experience in managing diverse, large and multicultural teams of people; embracing diversity and inclusion;
  • Experience and judgment to strategically identify and implement initiatives;
  • Must demonstrate very high levels of integrity, ethics and respect for others. NGO/CSO areas experience

Desirable Trainings

Women right, Leadership and managerial skills development; emotional intelligence; finance for non-finance people; project design and implementation; good governance; strategic plan and change management, and e.tc.

Technical and other skills

  • Passion and dedication for the respect of Gender equality, human rights and justice
  • Trainings on Women Rights and leadership
  • Computer skills including Microsoft office applications
  • Excellent alternate communication skill
  • Visionary leadership.
  • Ability to motivate a workforce.
  • Effective management and delegation.
  • Communication and negotiation.
  • PR and presentation skills.
  • Understanding of a multi-faceted civil society operation.
  • Strong financial acumen.
  • Planning and forecasting skill
  • Implementation capability
  • Strong organizational, analytical and quantitative skills
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks/ projects and meet tight deadlines
  • Proven team player with strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ICT skills
  • Strong ability to communicate effectively in English

As per the Association’s scale

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