Senior Secretariat Manager at African Coalition for Research and Communication on Abortion (ACORCA): (Deadline 2 May 2025)

Senior Secretariat Manager at African Coalition for Research and Communication on Abortion (ACORCA): (Deadline 2 May 2025)

Job Title: Senior Secretariat Manager – African Coalition for Research and Communication on Abortion (ACORCA)

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Duration: 7 months full-time, with potential for extension into a fixed-term role for 2 years.

Salary: Competitive remuneration

Background

The African Coalition on Research and Communication on Abortion/Coalition Africaine pour la Recherche et la Communication sur l’Avortement (ACORCA-COARCA) is a newly-formed collective of institutions and individuals dedicated to advancing research, communication, and advocacy on safe abortion in Africa. The Coalition was formed in late 2024 and is currently comprised of 16 Founding Member institutions from across East, South, Central, and West Africa, including universities, research and training institutions and non-governmental organizations (see here for details). The Coalition is fully bi-lingual in English and French, ensuring engagement from different sub-regions.

The mission of the Coalition is to advance policy-relevant research, evidence-based advocacy and partnerships that drive transformative policies, practices and societal change for equitable access to safe abortion across Africa. Activities are managed through four working groups, each with a specific aim that supports the achievement of this vision:

1. SUPPORT and EMPOWER abortion researchers: Build an enabling environment for high-quality, context-specific and policy-relevant abortion research in Africa.
2. Strengthen abortion RESEARCH CAPACITIES: Build a critical mass of skilled and empowered researchers in Africa who generate and effectively communicate high-quality, policy-relevant evidence on abortion.
3. COMMUNICATE & ADVOCATE for safe abortion with evidence: Increase engagement of researchers and advocates with policy-makers, health practitioners, the media and community to shift public perceptions and influence policy and practice on abortion.
4. Build PARTNERSHIPS and mobilize RESOURCES: Establish strategic partnerships and diversified funding streams that empower African researchers and advocates to advance evidence-based policy and programmes for sustained impact.

The Coalition is governed and managed by an 11-member Executive Committee representing its members, and the majority of internal communication is in both English and French.

The daily operations of the Coalition will be managed by a small Secretariat, hosted by Health Development Initiative (HDI), a Rwandan NGO dedicated to the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). HDI is a research, advocacy and service delivery organization, and also an affiliate member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. In its first year of operations, the Secretariat will be comprised of a Senior Secretariat Manager and a part-time administrative support from HDI. In its inception phase, the coalition and its Secretariat are also being supported by the Guttmacher Institute (US), who have provided seed funding for the coalition’s launch and providing technical advice; and Options Consultancy Services (UK) who are facilitating coalition engagement and design in its first year.

The role

The Senior Secretariat Manager (SSM) will coordinate and manage the work of the newly formed Secretariat. The SSM will lead Secretariat operations and serve as the main coordinator for ACORCA-COARCA’s activities. Reporting directly to the Executive Committee’s three Co-Chairs (based in Nigeria, DRC and Malawi)—with line management jointly provided by a Senior Manager at HDI Rwanda and one of the Executive Committee Co-Chairs—the SSM will ensure efficient implementation of the Coalition’s work plan, fundraising initiatives, internal and external communications, membership engagement and management, and any necessary events management.

This role focuses on enabling coalition member institutions to execute any funded activities while managing the Coalition’s administrative and operational backbone. It will not implement ACORCA technical activities directly.

Key Responsibilities

The post-holder will be responsible for the following deliverables, either implemented by themselves directly, or with support from the part-time (50%) HDI administrator.

Strategic Coordination and Planning

• Work Plan Management: Oversee the Coalition’s work plan, ensuring that tasks are effectively delegated to and completed by Executive Committee representatives, Working Groups, and member institutions.
• Working group support and coordination: Support Working Groups in the formulation and implementation of their activity workplans, and ensure coordination (and no duplication) between the four groups.
• Board & Stakeholder Relations: Serve as the primary administrative liaison between the Secretariat and the Executive Committee, facilitating regular progress updates and implementing decisions.
• Advisory council engagement: Communicate with the Coalition’s external Advisory Council, on behalf of the Executive Committee, to ensure inputs and continued engagement.

Coalition systems

• Systems development: Manage the development of key systems in the Coalition’s first year, including a new coalition website; a platform and payment systems for new member registration; an application, contracting/payment system and management system for small grants; email distribution lists, and a shared digital workspace for joint member working.
• Database & record-keeping: Establish and maintain comprehensive databases for membership, potential funders, and other critical operational data.

Fundraising

• Funder tracking: Regularly review and update the funder database, including tracking of any relevant application deadlines and coalition engagement.
• Fundraising: In coordination with the Coalition’s ‘partnerships’ working group (group 4), lead strategic fundraising initiatives to secure sustainable, continuous resources for Coalition activities, including preparation of pitch decks, concept notes and funding proposals, obtaining relevant inputs from coalition members, to ensure funds for continued coalition activities from December 2025.
• Multi-country research: Support coalition members in fundraising for multi-country research studies and policy engagement activities, including though prioritization of research questions, communication of research funding opportunities and identification of research partners/sites.
• Manage donor relationships: Coordinate the Coalition’s engagement with key funders, ensuring representation of the Coalition’s interests within engagement by individual members.

Financial and Grant Management

• Contracts and grant management: Work with HDI to manage any contracts and grants including those being received by the coalition, or those being granted by the coalition to its members for agreed activities or honoraria payments.
• Deliverable completion: Ensure the delivery and completion of funded activities, including in its first year a small grants program for junior researchers, online training webinars on research methods, and launch of the coalition at conferences.
• Grant reporting: Ensuring timely reporting, including activity and financial reports, adhering to donor requirements.

Communications and Networking

• External communications: Manage and enhance the Coalition’s external communications—including donor and partner engagement, website updates, and public relations efforts—to boost coalition visibility.
• Internal communications: Facilitate effective communication among Coalition members including organisation of bi-weekly executive committee members, quarterly all-member meetings, and Annual Coalition meeting, coalition whatsapp groups, and quarterly newsletters.
• Networking support: Assist the Coalition in building and strengthening networks with researchers, donors, advocacy groups, and potential strategic partners.

Membership Management

• Membership expansion: Oversee the communication and engagement activities required to expand coalition membership in 2025, in collaboration the allocated Executive Committee leads.
• Membership administration: Oversee the management of Coalition membership processes, including fee collections and engagement strategies.

Events Coordination

• Annual Coalition Meeting (ACM): Organize and manage the planning and execution of the ACM, including the nomination and voting processes.
• Regional partner forums: Support the organization of the coalition’s first virtual regional partner forums, in collaboration with regional leads.

Human Resources management

• Secretariat administrator management: Supervise the HDI administrator (50%) to support the achievement of the Coalition workplan. Delegate activities to him/her as needed, and manage their timely delivery. Monitor performance and provide feedback to the senior HDI supervisor for their organisational performance management.
• Recruitment: Depending on funding, manage processes to recruit any additional secretariat staff, such as a dedicated communications manager.

Reporting and Accountability

• Direct Reporting: Accountable to the Coalition’s Executive Committee.
• Line Management: Joint oversight by one of the Executive Committee Chairs (technical direction & performance management) and a Senior Manager at HDI (administrative).
• Performance Monitoring: Regular performance reviews based on the timely execution of work plans, financial integrity, effective fundraising, robust communications, and overall administrative efficiency.

Desired profile

A dynamic, intelligent  self-starter with extensive project or programme management experience, who is able to juggle multiple deliverables and activities simultaneously. They must be an excellent communicator, in both French and English, and confident in engaging and managing senior researchers and directors represented on the Coalition’s Executive Committee. They must be able to motivate and engage a diverse senior team while ensuring collective team-work that delivers the Coalition’s mission.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: A masters degree in public health, public administration, international development, or a related field is required.

Experience:

• Proven senior management experience in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment (preferably within NGOs, international organizations, or research administration).
• Experience with sexual and reproductive health programming or research is highly desirable; experience with abortion programme management or research is desirable.
• Expertise in grant management, financial reporting, and fundraising is essential.
• Experience in coordinating multi-country/regional initiatives and working with diverse coalitions, particularly in the context of health or advocacy (knowledge of safe abortion programming is a plus) is highly desirable.

Skills:

• Proficiency in English and French is essential; bilingual is desirable.
• Strong project management and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent financial acumen with experience managing dedicated accounts and stringent reporting.
• Superior communication skills (both written and verbal), with proficiency in managing both internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Superior digital skills, with demonstrated competence in the use of various digital technologies and platforms including Excel, Powerpoint, cloud sharing, and use of AI for facilitation of work processes.
• Proficiency in manoeuvring within a matrixed organizational structure with multiple lines of accountability.
• Ability to adapt to dynamic environments and engage with diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.

Key Attributes

• Pro-choice: Must be unashamedly supportive of the right to safe abortion.
• Leadership: Proven capacity to lead teams, coordinate across diverse stakeholder groups, and drive results.
• Strategic vision: Ability to translate strategic priorities into actionable tasks while managing a complex work plan.
• Organizational skills: Highly organized with keen attention to detail, able to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Relationship management: Adept at fostering trust-based relationships with colleagues, donors, and partner organizations.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV to [email protected] by COB Friday 02^nd May 2025, demonstrating their relevant experience and outlining their vision for managing a dynamic Coalition and its Secretariat. Applications will be evaluated based on experience, strategic vision, and capacity for administrative and diplomatic excellence required to support a diverse, multi-regional and multi-lingual coalition.

Short-listed candidates will be interviewed by HDI, selected members of the Coalition Executive Committee and by Options. They may be asked to undertake tests to demonstrate competencies in spreadsheet & data management, presentation skills and bi-lingual English-French working.

This role is a unique opportunity to support groundbreaking work in abortion research, communication, and advocacy across Africa by ensuring the smooth and strategic operation of the Coalition’s administrative backbone. Should you be ready to shape the operational future of this influential network, we’d like to hear from you.