Join Us at Selam: We are seeking to hire a Project Officer!

BACKGROUND 
Selam is a Pan-African organisation with offices in Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Stockholm. The organisation was created in 1997 and has since evolved into an international player, partnering with artists, cultural producers, the private sector, the media, institutions, researchers, and  national and regional governments across the African continent as well in other regions in the world. 
Selam participates in global and African culture networks, as well as annual networking meetings and Pan-African conferences in Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. Selam has implemented several regional and national projects on the African continent. Currently Selam implements, together with partners, two Pan-African projects, the Pan African Network for Artistc Freedom (PANAF) and Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA) and one national project in Ethiopia.

The PANAF project, initiated in 2021, is an initiative advocating for freedom of artistic expression in the creative sector. PANAF seeks to establish an inclusive voice for organisations, artists and culture producers to demand for safe and enabling environments for artistic creativity in the society. Read more about the project on the website: https://panaf.org/. 

PANAF is now moving into its second phase starting in 2024 and ending in 2027, with support from the Swedish Arts Council and the Swedish Institute. To support the implementation of PANAF across African countries, Selam is seeking to hire a Project Officer based in Nairobi, Kenya or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

SCOPE OF WORK

The successful candidate will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring all project activities, including online engagements, partner collaborations, advocacy campaigns, and the annual Panaf Summit—an in-person gathering for stakeholders in Africa’s culture and creative sectors to address issues related to artistic freedom. They will work closely with Selam’s team in Addis Ababa and Nairobi, as well as the support team at Selam’s head office in Sweden.  Responsibilities include:

Project Planning and Coordination

• Implement detailed project plans based on project applications and agreements in collaboration with key stakeholders, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met.
• Coordinate and oversee day-to-day project activities, including logistics for meetings, workshops, and events.

Online Engagement and Community Building

• Manage and facilitate online discussions, webinars, and other digital activities that foster engagement with partners and stakeholders across the African continent.
• Ensure consistent communication and interaction with project participants and audiences through online channels.

Partner Collaboration

• Act as the primary point of contact for partner organisations regarding implementation of activities, ensuring strong collaboration and alignment with project goals.
• Regularly communicate with partners to monitor progress and provide support as needed.
• Facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices among partners.

Advocacy Campaigns

• Support the development and execution of advocacy campaigns aimed at raising awareness of artistic freedom and cultural rights across Africa.
• Work with communication focal points to craft messaging, monitor campaign effectiveness, and gather feedback from target audiences.

Annual Panaf Summit

Coordinate all logistical aspects of the annual Panaf Summit, a physical meeting space for stakeholders in the culture and creative sectors.

Engage with participants, including artists, policymakers, and civil society representatives, to ensure meaningful discussions on artistic freedom.

Collaborate with external vendors, partners, and speakers to ensure the event’s success.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Track and report on project progress, ensuring that milestones are achieved and outcomes are documented.
• Assist in preparing project reports, updates, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

General Administrative Support

• Provide administrative support for project-related activities, including documentation, record-keeping, and budgeting.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies and donor requirements throughout the project cycle.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERTISE 

The eligible candidate is expected to have the following qualifications:

Educational Background

• A degree in project management, cultural studies, arts management, international development, or a related field. A postgraduate degree is an advantage.

Project Management Experience

• At least 3 years of experience managing or coordinating projects, ideally in the culture, arts, or creative industries sector OR in the development cooperation or human rights sector. 
• Proven ability to plan, execute, and monitor projects, ensuring timely delivery of outputs and effective management of resources. Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (M&E) is an asset. 

Experience in Advocacy and Partnerships

• Experience in conducting advocacy campaigns, especially those focused on cultural rights, artistic freedom, human rights or related areas.
• Experience working with partners, including NGOs, government agencies, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.

Event Coordination

• Demonstrated experience organising and managing events, workshops, or conferences, especially within a cultural or artistic context.
• Strong logistical and coordination skills, with the ability to manage both in-person and virtual events.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Proficiency in additional African languages is a plus.
• Experience managing online engagements, including webinars, social media interactions, and digital forums.
• Capacity to generate clear, insightful reports and presentations for both internal and external audiences.

Cultural and Regional Awareness

• Familiarity with the cultural and creative sectors in Africa, including the challenges and opportunities related to artistic freedom.
• Ability to work in a diverse, multi-cultural environment, with an understanding of the socio-political context in different African countries.

Organizational and Time Management Skills

• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Technology Proficiency

• Proficiency in project management tools, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and online collaboration platforms (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams).
• Experience with social media platforms and online engagement tools for community building is an advantage.

Personal Attributes

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster relationships and work collaboratively across teams and organisations.
• A passion for the arts, culture, and promoting artistic freedom and human
  The project officer will be expected to have a flexible approach and be ready to accept working tasks outside of the original work description to support the rest of the project team when needed. 
  The candidate must be based in either Nairobi, Kenya or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. If based in Nairobi, the candidate must have a licence to work as an independent consultant. 
  TIME FRAME
  The position is a full time one-year assignment with the possibility of extension. The successful candidate is expected to commence in November 2024.
  APPLICATION PROCESS
  Interested individuals are invited to submit a detailed CV and cover letter along with any other relevant documentation to apply@selam.se no later than 18 October.  
  SELECTION PROCESS
  Selam will evaluate the proposals based on the provided information. Only successful candidates will be contacted.