[procaare] ICASA 2005: VACANCY FOR THE POST OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMME COORDINATOR

["ICASA 2005 Secretariat" <afrepton@yahoo.com>]

ICASA 2005: VACANCY FOR THE POST OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMME COORDINATOR 
*********

The Children's Conference Steering Group for the 14th International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA 2005) scheduled to hold 4th - 9th December 2005 with the theme 'HIV/AIDS and the family' is recruiting staff for the post of Children's Conference Coordinator towards ensuring a successful Children's Conference in December 2005.

The ICASA 2005 Children's Conference Coordinator will report to the Children's Conference Steering Group and will be responsible for planning, coordination and logistical support for children's conference during ICASA. 
 
This is a temporary post running from August to December 2005.

Context and Purpose:

Children, and issues which concern them, are under-represented at international HIV & AIDS conferences. This is partly because conferences are not appropriate or interesting events for children to attend, and partly because children's issues are not addressed adequately by those organizing and attending conferences.  Often, when children's issues are discussed, they promote the view that children are passive and helpless. This can then lead to inappropriate programming. Children have much to offer the HIV & AIDS community in terms of their own ideas, experience and enthusiasm. However, they need an opportunity to meet in a setting which is appropriate and interesting to them, and to discuss issues that concern them. This setting can also provide a forum for them to engage with adults working in HIV & AIDS, whether those from the scientific community or those involved in other aspects of HIV prevention, care and impact mitigation. 

Holding a 'parallel' conference, alongside the main ICASA (International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa) conference at Abuja is an ideal opportunity for children affected by HIV & AIDS to have this forum. Current organizations involved are: VSO, SCUK Nigeria office, Mothers Welfare Group, Hope Worldwide.

The post of the Children's Conference Coordinator has been developed to liaise with the different organisations and children's groups involved; support them in working with children to identify who will attend; enable information sharing between the different groups around identification of the issues affecting them and how they would like to explore/share these within the children's conference and the main ICASA conference. A working group in Abuja will be set up, which will meet 3-4 times before the conference to give technical and practical input and create a platform for taking things beyond ICASA.

Key Responsibilities:

1. To liaise with ICASA conference organisers, specifically with the youth coordinator, to ensure effective integration of the adult and children's conference.

2. To chair and convene a working group in Abuja which would meet 3-4 times before the conference to give technical and practical input and create a platform for taking things beyond ICASA.

3. To plan and co-facilitate a workshop for adult and child representatives to develop an outline for the conference; ensure a common understanding of core principles of child participation and gender and share methodologies for problem identification and analysis.

4. To liaise with the representatives from the children's groups to support them in identifying appropriate children to attend.

5. To work with relevant ICASA staff and handle logistical arrangements of venue:

6. To work with lead facilitator around planning the children's conference.

7. To work with the children to prepare a short report for circulating in print and electronic form including evaluation of the conference.

8. To write a final report outlining the experiences of the adults, children and organisations involved in the children's conference highlighting challenges and successes

9. To continue to work with the children's groups following the conference to enable them to take forward activity plans they make during the meetings.

10. To manage the project budget undertaking routine monitoring exercises to ensure that expenditure does not supersede received income.

Qualities/Experience

A degree in any of the social sciences 
Two years experience in working within at least one of the following areas of HIV/AIDS/ Gender/Development 
Excellent understanding and proven experience in the use of participatory approaches 
Experience of working with children using participatory approaches 
At least two years experience in managing projects 
Excellent facilitation skills 
Experience of event coordination/management 
Experienced in budget setting and management 
Proven negotiation and interpersonal skills at all levels. 
Excellent analytical and conceptual skills and the proven ability to translate these into concise high quality reports 
Proven experience and commitment towards ensuring and promoting diversity. 
Typing and computer skills including proficiency in Excel
 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All applicants should send by email (attachment) a one page outline with their contact details detailing how they fulfil the job specifications and the qualities required for the job.  Please note that outlines more than one page will not be considered. Please do not send in your detailed CV.

The one page outline should be sent by e-mail to:
c.nicolson@scuknigeria.org  
on or before the closing date of 
Monday 11th July, 2005

[*Mod note: We note that the deadline date is only a few days away - but only received this posting today to be considered for the forum.]

Forwarded to ProCAARE by Dr Adirieje <afrepton@yahoo.com>