JOB DESCRIPTION AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT JOB TITLE PROGRAMME LOCATION Regional Youth and Activism Coordinator Americas Americas Regional Office Mexico City, Mexico JOB PURPOSE To lead, facilitate and implement Amnesty International s youth engagement and activism strategies, plans and projects regionally and, when needed, nationally. To contribute to the development of global, tactical, regional and national engagement strategies, campaigns and projects. Coordinate the integration and implementation of activism and youth mobilization dimensions of the global and regional campaigns. Provide advice and capacity building support to Amnesty International (AI) entities within the region: to strengthen their youth engagement, campaigning capacity and activist structures; to ensure activism is aligned to global and regional campaigns; to enable active participation of rights holders in campaigning; to increase the participation, engagement and leadership of young people as a contribution to growth in youth constituency for human rights impact. DEPARTMENT PURPOSE N/A AIIS PURPOSE The IS, which operates from a number of sites around the world, gathers and communicates accurate and action-oriented human rights information globally. We campaign for meaningful human rights change; enable effective human rights activism and work to persuade governments and other actors to uphold universal human rights standards. We provide strategic leadership, support and advice to the AI movement globally, fostering AI s contribution, presence and public accountability throughout the world. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Reporting to Regional Deputy Director (Movement Engagement) Posts this job manages Relevant project coordinators, such as Defending the Defenders Project Coordinator and other project coordinators as needed, consultants, volunteers Other key relationships Regional campaigns roles and teams, human rights education and movement engagement roles and teams; global campaigns and activism roles; Campaign, Youth and Activism staff in regional AI entities; Global Youth Manager, members of relevant networks/ community of practice (e.g. Regional Activism and HRE platform; Activism Network, Active Participation Practitioners Community, Youth Coordinators Network), young people, their communities and their leaders within and outside AI. Also relates to experts in the field USEFUL INFORMATION Activism and youth engagement is key to the achievement of AI s human rights goals. This role is key in ensuring that the Amnesty movement integrates and champions these areas, pioneering campaigning and activism approaches, tools and tactics to strengthen activism communities and diversify the AI movement for human rights impact. Through mobilizing people to take action online and offline, engaging and empowering young people, building
campaigning capacity including training, developing online and offline activism techniques and tools for the IS and Amnesty entities, sharing learning and good practices, working in partnerships and promoting active participation and action-oriented organizing. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Planning i) Monitor and analyze political, and civil society developments and trends within the region in relation to activism and youth mobilization for campaigning and make recommendations for campaign development and actions ii) Contribute to strategic analysis and coordinate the development and implementation of regional activism and youth strategies to ensure a regional relevance and alignment with other tactics, priorities and programs iii) Support Amnesty entities in developing and implementing national level campaigning, activism and/or youth strategies, plans and projects for human rights impact iv) Advise Regional staff and Amnesty entities on the active participation of activists, including young people, and rights holders in campaign planning, implementation and evaluation v) Contribute to movement wide vision for youth engagement and activism going forward. 2. Campaigning, Activism and Youth Mobilization i) Contribute to the organization, coordination and implementation of regional actions in collaboration with regional movement engagement and campaigns colleagues ii) Contribute to the research, development and delivery of effective activism techniques based on an analysis of current trends in activism, social change and public engagement iii) Manage and communicate, as appropriate, the activism and youth related information at the regional level for effective decision making at regional and global level iv) Liaise between global, regional and national levels and with interdisciplinary teams, in order to promote an integrated approach to youth engagement and activism v) Represent AI to membership, activists, other NGOs, partners, networks and at regional campaigning, activism and youth meetings. 3. Advice and Capacity Building Support i) Provide professional advice and active promotion on: mobilizing young people, members, supporters and activists and on strategic campaign planning and participatory approaches and tools in campaigns development, to campaigners, researchers and other colleagues at the Americas Regional Office, and other Amnesty entities ii) In conjunction with the Activism Unit, lead on the design and delivery of campaigning and activism capacity building events for IS staff and Amnesty entities iii) Share and promote good practice in youth mobilization and leadership development, activism and campaigning techniques amongst the IS and Amnesty entities campaigners and activism staff
4. Project Coordination i) Coordinate and lead on the development of regional level campaigning, activism and youth projects, including contributing to institutional fundraising, reporting and budget management ii) Contribute to and assuring regional relevance and alignment of regional priorities in global projects iii) Coordinate or directly implement project activities against agreed objectives and budgets iv) Coordinate monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment of agreed projects applying the planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning framework guidelines at the IS v) Provide timely and effective reports on these projects to peers, management and other movement partners that contribute to a culture of learning and innovation. 5. Network/ Community of Practice Maintenance Working in conjunction with regional campaigns, movement engagement, governance and youth engagement teams, the global Activism and Youth teams, service and support the regional segment of the global networks and/or regional networks related to campaigning, activism and youth e.g. Activism Network, Regional Youth Network, Global Youth Coordinators Network, and Active Participation Community of Practice. 6. Standards and Quality Control Contribute to the development of policies, global standards, Key Performance Indicators, guidelines, good practices related to activism, active participation and youth work and advice and encourage compliance of these policies, standards and guidelines by sections, structures and other AI entities 7. Other Other responsibilities assigned to according to the grade and nature of the post WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE IN THIS JOB? Activism and youth work at the regional level and with the regional staff, AI entities and the movement, is enabled, resulting in a raised profile and enhanced integration of activism and youth in AI s efforts in the Americas region At least one annual integrated youth empowerment and activism event is supported regionally that contributed to Amnesty s strategic goals. High quality support and empowerment of youth within the movement through Amnesty s entities Growth in youth constituency and youth activism in line with strategies and planning Amnesty uses advanced, impactful and effective online and offline activism techniques that motivate and engage youth audiences and inspire them to take action for human rights change Amnesty entities develop their capacity to promote the active participation of rights holders through the use of participatory approaches and methodologies in campaigning projects The projects initiated and implemented deliver their objectives to time and within budget, and regular reports are made to the management
Campaigning is supported by good quality facilitation and capacity building using accepted methodologies for campaign planning, implementation, evaluation, impact assessment SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL Experience in Youth Work: Strong experience of mobilizing youth, youth leadership and capacity building in transnational settings. The ability to find and mobilize resources to support the building of youth constituency at the regional and national levels. Sensitive to the needs, opportunities and constraints of a worldwide membership organization in relation to youth work. Knowledge and experience of activism and membership organizations: Experience of using online and offline activism techniques to achieve campaign objectives. Direct experience of coordinating networks and organizing events. Ability to use participatory approaches, methodologies and tools in campaigning and when working with others. Understanding of what motivates members to take action and principles of actionbased organizing. Good understanding of the implications of developing campaigning and activism strategies for implementation by membership in many different countries, and sensitivity to different cultures and backgrounds. Strategic and analytical skills: Experience in developing strategic plans and contributing to organisational policies and their application in coordinated work with colleagues and external partners. Demonstrated ability to analyse complex global and regional situations and information in order to make sound judgments, identify and determine the position of potentially influential actors and alternative courses of action. Ability to apply political judgement in relation to content, communication and style of communication, evaluating the pros and cons of options for interpretation and action. Able to strike a balance between operational and strategic responsibilities towards youth and activism. Experience of project coordination: Proven experience of developing and coordinating complex projects and interdisciplinary project teams. Demonstrated experience in planning, tracking and reporting project expenditures. Familiarity with project management methodology including distance management and virtual teams. Ability to draft project plans, progress reports and final reports for organisational and funding requirements as appropriate. Good understanding of PM&E methods and the link between project evaluation and organizational learning within a specific context. Experience in delivering training and presentations: Experience and skills in delivering, organizing and coordinating regional workshops and meetings. Experience in facilitation of workshops and trainings for intercultural groups using participatory approaches. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: Ability to work effectively as a member of a team; Able to establish good working relationships with colleagues from a variety of cultures and backgrounds, both within the organisation and the wider movement. Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish are essential. French and/or Portuguese desirable. Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment: working
DESIRABLE with colleagues and partners based around the world, including the global north and global south. Knowledge and experience of campaigning: Knowledge of strategic campaigning and campaigning methods. Familiarity with other campaign tactics such as advocacy and human rights education. Experience in supporting the development of campaign strategies and the writing and development of motivating and inspiring campaign materials for a diverse range of target audiences HOW YOU WORK COMPETENCIES: Delivering Results: Delivering our strategic objectives by managing workload and developing plans and priorities. Level A Working with Others: Builds and maintains positive trust based relationships internally and externally to increase effectiveness of self, team, programme and IS to achieve goals. Involves understanding and respecting diversity, being sensitive to the needs of others, managing conflict, team- building. Level A Contributing to a dynamic and effective IS: Ability to see change as an integral part of life and to work in ways which facilitate the implementation of change. Level B Making decisions: Ability to gather information, involve others and use judgement to make decisions that are creative, practical and timely. Support others in their decision making. Level A Taking the Initiative: Exercising initiative to change approaches and take responsibility for solving problems and being innovative. Level B Communicating and influencing: Taking responsibility for conveying information, ideas and arguments in a manner that is accurate and timely, taking account of the needs of the recipient and tailoring the approach accordingly. It involves effective listening as much as speaking or writing. Level B EQUALITY STATEMENT Equality and diversity is at the core of our values and staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Public or other activity, affiliation to or support for any group or organization, personal association or other factor which may generate a real or perceived conflict of interest with Amnesty International s principles (specifically independence and impartiality), or raise a security concern, or otherwise prevent the candidate from carrying out key functions of the specific post and would therefore disqualify the candidate from being appointed.