Open call: Cultural rights and artistic freedom consultant in Zim

The successful candidate will work on contract basis for a one-year period, extendable based on performance and budget availability. This role is remote and based within the Nhimbe Trust Secretariat, and falls under the Nhimbe Trust’s Comprehensive Programme on Artistic Freedom (COPAF).

Nhimbe Trust, established in 2003, is a non-profit non-governmental advocacy organisation working at the intersection of culture and development to foster political, social and economic justice. Through research and advocacy that engages regional and international human rights instruments, the organisation advocates for the establishment, implementation and review of policies, administrative measures, constitutional provisions and legislative frameworks that implicitly or explicitly have a bearing on the exercise and enjoyment of cultural rights and their concomitant leverage rights.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Develop and organise advocacy to influence policy outcomes in favour of urgent measures that will reduce violations on artistic freedom and cultural rights in African countries covered by COPAF.
• Establish and nurture alliances and enhance collaboration with initiatives like the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and PANAF, an initiative seeking “to establish an inclusive voice for organisations, artists and culture producers; to demand for safe and enabling environments for artistic creativity in society.”
• Participate in the National Steering Committee and Global CSO Coordination to enable their convergence at the UNESCO 2005 Convention (on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions) Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) – CSO Forum, for improved outcomes in favour of the UNESCO Africa sub-region.
• Organise regular virtual and face to face stakeholder (with a primary focus on artists and Cultural Rights Defenders - CRDs) meetings to enable information and experience sharing and coordination.
• Coordinate and amplify the needs and voices of CRDs and artists at risk regarding the additional challenges created by global geopolitical conflicts.
• Create and disseminate intersectional messages across Africa, Brussels, Geneva and Paris for global impact.

Role requirements

Strategy development and policy analysis skills:

• Knowledge of and analytical skills relating to cultural rights and artistic freedom within the broader human right architecture and discourses.
• The ability to apply and assert relational governance capabilities to contribute to crucial campaigns to challenge public service and political power.
• Able to respond and adapt quickly to processes and structures involving complex geopolitical, socio-economic and cultural diversity in countries at risk of conflict, countries in conflict or countries engaged in post-conflict reconstruction.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, and the ability to steer the process of developing new policy positions (agenda-setting), in close cooperation with allies.
• Extensive experience in policy analysis/research and human rights through cultural rights policy knowledge and advocacy at a high level.
• High proficiency in English; other UN language(s) is an added advantage.

Relationship building and networking skills

• Build strong internal and external relationships and trust to facilitate ways of working in a globally networked organisation that enables policy and advocacy initiatives to thrive and produce significant impact.
• Main internal relationships are with other Secretariat members, plus regional partners, working groups and other spaces for dialogues we participate in.
• Contribute to strengthening key external relationships with committed partners and other INGOs, allies and CSO spaces for dialogue – acting globally, with UN bodies, other global, bilateral and multilateral development agencies.

Required qualifications, experience and attributes

This position requires a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast-paced environment.

Education

• At least a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Work experience

• Legal/human rights background, preferably in an INGO/NGO, in a similar role/with similar responsibilities.
• Some documented cases may contain detailed descriptions including violence, torture, sexual violence. The willingness to read through such content and the ability to recognise its effect on oneself and take steps for self-care is required.

Skills

• High proficiency Knowledge of MS Office applications and extensive experience with archiving systems, coupled with proficiency in utilising various online software platforms.

Language skills

• Fluency in English and French (written and spoken) essential and required.

Independence and deadline management

• Ability to work under minimal supervision.
• Consistently delivers on set objectives within specified deadlines.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and in high-pressure situations whilst maintaining a calm and positive attitude.
• Demonstrated capability to manage confidential information, with a requirement to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
• The applicant should have work authorisation in Zimbabwe (applications with Zimbabwean citizenship will be preferred).

How to apply

• Applications (resume/CV) and cover letter in languages other than English will not be reviewed.
• Nhimbe Trust organisation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Nhimbe Trust reserves the right to close this advert before the confirmed closing date when they receive sufficient applications.
• Prospective candidates are invited to submit their resumes and cover letters via email at vacancies@nhimbe.org, ensuring the inclusion of the designated job title in the email subject.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.