WIAN Mentors Application -2021

 

WIAN | The Women in International Affairs Network is a digital platform that seeks to change the conversation about gender, youth equality and career development in the international sector. Their 7-month mentorship programs were established to help students, graduates and early career professionals with limited work experience navigate the international sector through provision of practical support, guidance and empowerment.

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Through WIAN mentoring, experienced professionals, managers and leaders share their skills and experiences to build the confidence and capability of entry level women. Mentoring provides the opportunity for a learning experience for both mentor and mentee, and demonstrates their focus on information and knowledge sharing at a practical level.

Why they do it.

Entry level candidates receive little support in getting their foot in the door, with qualified students and graduates often left with little guidance, information and even less confidence. WIAN aims to remedy this by uniting experienced and early-career women from across disciplines in international affairs. Using their platform, participants spend 7 months engaging with one another and sharing their experiences within a safe space. With particular attention on connecting women and facilitating relationships, their programme aims to foster a culture of information sharing, encourage and empower the next generation of female leaders, and create a vital network of women from different backgrounds, capability, interests, sectors and generations.

Apply to be a mentor here

Applications for their 2021 mentees cohort open on December 18^th 2020. Find out more here

 

On Feminist Leadership during a Pandemic

 

Leadership is never an easy task. Add the current pandemic situation and very easily feelings of being overwhelmed, and things spiraling out of control become unmanageable. As a woman in leadership position, and a self-proclaimed feminist, I have been reflecting on what ‘‘feminist leadership’’ can look like during these uncertain times and want to offer the following principles for both leadership and followership alike.

Self & Collective Care

Working remotely more often than not means you are clocking more than your 40 hours quite easily. Burn out is therefore more eminent amongst teams than before and women especially report feeling guilty about taking time off for themselves. We all know that if you are exhausted, your performance and productivity levels can be affected, so take time off if you need to. Practice your boundaries, log on and off work for the hours you need to, take lunch and health breaks, exercise and model this behavior for yourself and for others. If your company can afford it, consider taking collective time off work together or institutionalize game nights or other fun ways of meeting virtually as a team to collectively care for each other and yourselves. A great resource we are utilizing as a team at my workplace is the Shine App for our daily self-care and meditation.

Empathetic Leadership

The strongest way to build relationships is to be genuinely curious about the people you lead and work with. I call this seeing people! In these difficult times as a leader you must truly see people. Your colleague may be going through a loss in the family, a partner being laid off or uncertainty in their employment status. These circumstances will evoke emotional and mental responses and will ultimately affect how they show up to work. Empathetic leaders are trusted leaders.  

Heaven knows you cannot lead teams if people don’t trust you, and in any crisis trusted leaders are the best bet to keep the boat afloat! So, before you get started with that kickoff meeting, check in with how your colleagues and peers are doing. Truly be present, be flexible, listen and ask how you can be of support to those who need it. Encourage ‘‘camera-on’’ practices to help people feel more connected and get comfortable with holding space for yourself and others. Encourage 1-1 meetings with teams and consider peer support groups. At WIAN, we recently introduced a buddy system and we are excited to practice holding space for our colleagues in this way.

Transparency

As a rule of thumb, keep all teams informed and in the loop. In a crisis, any good leader will increase the cadence of team briefings to ensure anxiety levels are kept in check and that the teams’ trust in the leadership and in their employer is unwavering. This is not the time to make false promises, update on what you know and check in for team concerns which you should address when you have more clarity. Be believable, be credible, be trustworthy and be clear. A truly feminist leader will check in with both core and support teams. Many organizations have cultures that often leave interns, junior roles and support staff out of the conversation. This is not the time to keep updates classified, but rather lead with transparency, compassion, and humility.

We are living through unprecedented times. As a leader you may be called upon now more than ever to make hard decisions at this time. I leave you with Maya Angelou’s words ‘I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel’. I trust that you will be a feminist leader as you navigate this crisis.

 First Published by The Women in International Affairs Network- By Kate Kiama

Panel of Young Advisers

Description

In 2020, Chatham House is founding a Panel of Young Advisers to guide the institute on a wide range of new and existing initiatives that aim to engage upcoming generations internationally. The Panel will be invited to review our strategy as well as broader opportunities for the next generation, and share their ideas with key people at the institute, such as the Chair of Chatham House, members of our governing Council, and Executive Leadership Team. Panel sessions will be convened remotely via video conferencing so panel members can be based anywhere in the world.

What you can expect

Being a member of Chatham House’s Panel of Young Advisers will provide you the opportunity to:

·       Play a part in shaping Chatham House’s next generation engagement strategy.

·       Gain exposure to a diverse network of individuals who take a proactive interest in global affairs.

·       Join selected events exclusive to Chatham House members.

·       Gain unparalleled insight into industry opportunities and issues.

·       Further your professional and individual development.

What we need from you

The term for advisers is two years and by being invited to join the Panel you agree to:

·       Attend (at Chatham House or via video conference) at least three sessions per 12-month period, the first of which will be held in September 2020.

·       Participate in discussions about the future of international affairs and the opportunities and challenges facing the next generation.

·       Provide feedback on Chatham House’s next generation objectives and the institute’s related activities and outputs.

·       Support us in our mission to help governments and societies build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world.

Requirements

Who we are looking for

We are looking for engaged individuals who are active in their field and/or community. You will be encouraged to bring new ideas to help the institute adapt our next generation aims and objectives as we step into our second century. We welcome applications from people who represent the diversity of the countries we work with and who can bring different perspectives to our work.

You will be:

·       Between 18-30 years old.

·       A young professional or student.

·       Proficient in English.

You have:

·       A great track record of entrepreneurship in any field.

·       Experience of delivering projects and improving strategies within your area of expertise.

Benefits

Please fill out the application form that includes a few questions about you and your ideas and preferences. We are not asking for a full CV so there is no need to send this to us, but of course mention any achievements that you think we should know about. We will be in touch as soon as possible, please note that applications are evaluated continuously and the posting may close at any time.

Pay

This is an opportunity to join the Panel of Young Advisers to Chatham House, as an unpaid Advisor.

Apply for this role here 

Apply for this job

Digital Content Manager - THE WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS NETWORK

Digital Content Manager

Deadline: Friday 14th August 2020

THE WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS NETWORK

Dear applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the post of Digital Content Manager with the Women in International Affairs Network. Please ensure you read this application pack in its entirety before submitting your application.

Who we are

WIAN is a digital platform disrupting the way society talks about career development, gender and youth inequality in the international sector. We’re a social enterprise, and act as a resource hub and mentoring initiative for the next generation of female professionals through our programmes and tailored career and lifestyle content. Whether it be a career in international development, foreign policy, human rights or politics, our mission is to prepare and equip women with industry relevant skill sets and knowledge to secure international job opportunities. We provide tailored career advice, connect our members with career opportunities, and through mentorship, nurture the necessary skills for a sustainable international career.

Our members have access to industry experts, forums to get answers to their burning career questions and a platform to build lasting connections. We are the number one destination for women in international affairs and have built a powerful community that spans the globe and connects women of all experiences.

About the role

We are looking for a Digital Content Manager with passion, experience and skills to join our team. The primary responsibility of the Digital Content Manager is to create, edit, and manage all WIAN’s original content and resources. WIAN is made up of 3 teams, Operations, Programmes and Communications. Sitting in the Communications team, the Digital Content Manager will work closely with the Social Media Manager, Content Editor and Communications Officer to lead the production and management of original content. The Manager will also play a vital role in developing WIAN’s brand voice.

Key priorities for the next 12 months:

•   Lead the recruitment and management of a team of content contributors

•   Work with the CEO to manage WIAN’s website and disseminate the organisation’s impact

•Manage the publication of WIAN’s original content including editing, proof reading, publishing, and monitoring and evaluation of conten

 Help to design, develop, and manage creative online content including video production, animation content and video ads.

• Oversee and manage social marketing initiatives, digital outreach, and partnerships with 3rd party video publishers.

Volunteering at WIAN

WIAN is a remote start-up, with staff volunteers based around the world, including in Africa, North America, Asia as well as the UK. Our staff are home-based, and most are in full-time employment whilst working for WIAN. Each volunteer is motivated by their passion to dismantle gender and youth inequality in the international sector, and we accommodate their schedules through flexible working hours. Although guidance and support are provided to all volunteers from the whole team and from line managers, successful candidates will need to have a can-do attitude, with the ability to build from the ground up, good time management skills, a strong ability to take ownership of their role and thrive under a macro-management culture. Working in a start-up you will be comfortable being involved in all aspects of the business.

In this application pack, you will find the following:

  I. Job Description and Person Specification

 II. Terms and Conditions

III. Application details

You will be joining a dedicated team of women who are committed to the career development of women in international affairs. You can find out more information about WIAN on our website, at www.wianetwork.com. For any further information or questions on this vacancy, please contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@wianetwork.com.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This is an unpaid, voluntary, part-time position which will be performed remotely, and we actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders and level of experience. We anticipate that volunteers will spend a minimum of 5 hours per week on their work for WIAN, although this may be more at peak times. This will also include regular attendance to meetings with your supervisor, direct reports and teams. All volunteers are subject to a 3-month trial period, upon completion and passing, you will become an official volunteer. Commitment to this role is an expected minimum of one year.

The duties set out in the job description are not extensive, and this role will, on occasion, involve some out of hours communications and work. This role may also require the volunteer to undertake other responsibilities not outlined above which are commensurate with a role of this nature, and which have been discussed and agreed with the line manager and/or Chief Executive and Operations Officers.

The post holder must be, and remain committed to WIAN’s mission, vision and values as we support, empower and equip women and female professionals at all stages of their careers.

How to apply

To apply for this position, please send a CV, one page covering letter and writing sample (2 pages max) in the field of international affairs / development / women’s empowerment to us via email at: recruitment@wianetwork.com, with your name and [“Content Manager”] in the subject line. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with the deadline to apply at 11:59pm BST on August 14th, 2020. The position will be filled as soon as a well-qualified person is identified. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

Kindly read more about this role here

Women in International Affairs Network.

Influencing How We Lead

I was born a feminist! Having grown up in an all-girls household and then later in a catholic boarding school for my secondary school, my formative years were generally christened with girl power and lyrics to boot! I do recognize how privileged I am to have been born a feminist now. When I did stumble upon this mammoth of a word in my early 20s, I was happy to owe the badge which I still adorn with pride.

This is largely because I was socialized from an early age to know that we are all equal regardless of those little boxes human beings like to confine and describe others as. If you ask people today whether they consider themselves feminist or not, you will likely get a variation of reactions. If you probe further, you may realize that they could be more feminist that they are willing to admit more often than not! In other instances, they are in a bit of a denial. We would rather not take on the title for lack of deeper analysis of the worldview. However the fear of backlash for going against the very core of patriarchy is very real.

In our African setting, publicly labelling yourself as a feminist may lead to rebuke and ostracization at the very minimum from both genders. Even in the West, women are cautious about when to openly identify as a feminist. In the Women20 Summit in Berlin last year, when some of the world’s most influential women leaders were asked point blank if they considered themselves  feminists, it was sadly not a surprise that not all hands went up. In relation to the contributions women make to the feminist movement. The women who didn’t raise their hands are in most feminist eyes obvious feminist.

A few weeks ago, Akili Dada was honoured by the presence or Dr. Hilda Tadria, the founder of Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for young Women (MEMPROW)at our offices. A practical feminist and force to reckon with in the gender and social development space on the continent and beyond, she graced us with an informal brown bag meeting one afternoon and shared her lessons and insights on her feminist journey. Dr. Tadria reiterated that in this day and age, we must be feminist and be bold about it.

This is because societies continue to be patriarchal. We have a ripe opportunity to change the oppressive and unequal dynamic between men and women. She further expounded on the need to question the privilege that men have by virtue of their gender and how we ought to disrupt this for a more equal world. She also articulated that living a feminist life is not a something we should throw around like a fashion trend; it is a way of being. Our feminist living should influence how we lead and relate with others.

Dr. Tadria taught us that regardless of whether we are ready to take on the big F word or not, women all over the world over and especially in our very own communities are making strides in the quests for gender equality and parity. Young African women today must acknowledge that a lot of these gains are as a direct result of previous generations carrying the feminist mantle. We now have the onus to fan this flame because a few battles may have been worn in this quest, but the war is still far from over.

First Published by Akili Dada

Educating & Keeping Girls Safe in a Pandemic

Prior to the current COVID- 19 pandemic, Sub – Saharan Africa was reported as the region with the highest out-of-school rates for all age groups. According to UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Fact Sheet No. 48[1] of the 63 million out-of-school children of primary school age, 34 million, live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The region also accounts for the 27 million out of school adolescents. It is trite that due to poverty levels, cultural and social beliefs, more girls are likely to be excluded from education than boys.  For every 100 boys of secondary school age out of school there are 123 girls denied the right to education in the said region[2].

Three years ago, Akili Dada started programming for girls in Turkana County of Kenya. Turkana is the poorest region in the country and has a population of 926,976.[3] It has also been home to the Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement hosting over 58,000 refugees. Through our Young Changemakers program, Akili Dada has been providing scholarships to adolescent girls in the region as well as hosting residential leadership academies for over 300 girls as well as teacher and parent engagements. Akili Dada’s partner school in the region, also doubles up as a shelter for its student population. Predominantly a boarding high school, the school is also a source of refuge for students who cannot go home during the holidays due to violent seasonal rivers ,bandits, tribal clashes, harmful cultural practices such as beading which is often a precursor to early and forced marriage as well as severe famine and extensive drought.

With the Government Directive to unilaterally shut down all institutions of learning across the country as a way to curb the spread of the Corona virus, we are deeply concerned about the social, physical and psychological cost of these decision especially as relates to  underserved girls such as those we program for in Turkana. We do know that the number of adolescent girls who will remain out of school after this pandemic will greatly surpass the over 132 million girls globally who were already out of school. At the date of writing this article[4], there has been no reported COVID-19 case in Turkana County. While we applaud the Government’s efforts to address the pandemic and reduce further infections, we call for a more pragmatic response for adolescent girls and other vulnerable groups of people. Indefinitely closing schools that also act as shelters is a counter productive measure that may see very few girls return back to school. Even if they do return, we will be plagued with a further alarmingly high national teenage pregnancy rate as well as an upsurge in harmful cultural practices. The e-learning and radio programming as a stop gap measure to mitigate the massive disruption to education access is also a far to reach option for most households in Turkana. There will be a real risk of regression of studies in the region for both girls and boys.

Continuing education through the primary pathway of an in school set up must be considered an option and a priority in this region. Keeping students in school in this region will mean that they are safe from cross fires and bandit attacks. Keeping students in school in Turkana will also mean that they are afforded at least three meals a day. Keeping girls in school will also ensure they are safe from being beaded, from getting pregnant and with access to sanitary towels. Keeping girls in school will also mean that they are guaranteed a right to gain an education despite being living in a pandemic!

First Published on 1st May on  Akili Dada's webite

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[1] http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/fs48-one-five-children-adolescents-youth-out-school-2018-en.pdf

[2] UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) and Global Education Monitoring Report (GEMR) (2016). “Leaving No One Behind: How Far on the Way to Universal Primary and Secondary Education?” GEMR policy paper 27/UIS fact sheet No. 37. Montreal and Paris: UIS and GEMR.

[3] 2019 GOK Census Report

[4] 11^th May 2020

Remarkable girls in Turkana and Kilifi Counties.

Approximately three years ago at Akili Dada we started the conversation of scaling our programs and being more intentional to serve the most underserved girls and young women in our communities. For the Young ChangeMakers Program, scaling our scholarship program meant venturing into new territories where few other scholarships funds were present and where the need was dire. After a year of extensive research, site visits, learning and unlearning what works for girls in these geographies we finally settled on two pilot schools: St. Daniel Comboni Secondary School and St. Thomas Girls Secondary School in Turkana and Kilifi counties respectively.  In 2019, we successfully awarded scholarships in both schools.

According to the Ministry of Health - Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Report, the net enrollment rate of children in primary school in Turkana County is 59%. Only 12% of girls in this region transition to secondary school. Many girls in the region are at risk of dropping out of school due to poverty, harmful cultural practices such as FGM and early and forced child marriage. In Kilifi, on the other hand, only a quarter, (26%) of children in the official secondary school-age are enrolled in secondary school. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2014 shows that 1 in every 4 girls aged 15-19 years in Kilifi has delivered a child. Alarming high rates of teenage pregnancy, low illiteracy, poverty and poor parenting plague the region.

Yet with these shocking statistics, barriers and huge impediments there are always outliers. In our humbling and fulfilling experience programming in both these regions we have met them! Not one girl but many of them! We have seen firsthand perspective how girls with a will and an opportunity can soar. For instance, we have met the fantastic four; Dzidia, Susan, Swabra and Safina from St. Thomas Girls who invented an IED Detector for the Kenya Defense Force as part of their science project! We have met the pioneer KCSE candidates from St. Daniel Comboni who despite lack of proper infrastructure in their school were able to send a dozen girls to public university later this year. We have met girls who are hungry to learn, who want a seat at the front row of their class and who want the same for their sisters, cousins and neighbors! We have met girls who are challenging lack of implementation of the back to school policy and who refuse to accept that they cannot be a teenage mother and a student at the same time. We have met girls who have spoken up and who have convinced their parents and guardians that education is truly their key and their right to life. We have met girls who are hopeful for the future and who want to change the narrative for girls in Turkana and Kilifi. We are excited to be part of their journey and can’t wait to see how their stories unfold….

First Published By Akili Dada on 24^th March 2020