Project Manager – Women’s Rights

Position Overview

Femena is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Project Manager to lead and oversee a portfolio of initiatives focused on women’s rights and support for women human rights defenders (WHRDs). The Project Manager will work closely with local partners, activists, and other stakeholders to design, implement, and monitor programs that strengthen the capacity of women activists and their movements, provide protection mechanisms for WHRDs, and advocate for policy changes in favor of gender equality and women’s rights.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management, human rights, and gender equality, particularly in the context of the MENA region. The Project Manager will also have extensive experience as a feminist trainer, including in online and remote learning environments, bring a deep understanding of the challenges facing feminist activists and WHRDs in the region, and a passion for creating meaningful impact.

Key Responsibilities

Project Design & Implementation:

• Develop and implement multi-year projects aimed at advancing women’s rights, supporting feminist movements, and protecting WHRDs.
• Coordinate and oversee the design, planning, execution, and evaluation of online and in-person trainings and other activities, ensuring alignment with program goals and donor expectations.
• Lead needs assessments and situational analyses in collaboration with local partners to tailor programs to the specific context of each country in the MENA region.

Capacity Building & Training:

• Design and facilitate training programs for local partners, WHRDs, and activists to build skills in areas such as gender equality, advocacy, legal frameworks, and gender-sensitive programming.
• Support the creation of training manuals, resources and toolkits on a range of issues related to gender equality and advocacy for WHRDs and feminist organizations in the region, on gender equality and advocacy
• Oversee trainers and consultants to design and carryout impactful training and capacity building activities for experienced and emerging WHRDs.

Advocacy & Policy Engagement:

• Work closely with Femena's Advocacy Specialist, Femena's Protection lead and Femena's ED as well as feminist organizations and WHRDs to design and implement advocacy efforts focused on promoting women’s rights and gender equality.
• Represent the organization at relevant forums, conferences, and policy dialogues, ensuring that the voices of WHRDs and feminist movements are heard.
• Monitor legal and political developments in the region and advise the organization on advocacy strategies that support women's rights and the safety of women human rights defenders.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E):

• Develop and manage monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems to track the progress and impact of projects.
• Conduct regular reviews, data collection, and reporting to ensure that outcomes align with organizational goals.
• Use lessons learned and feedback from partners and beneficiaries to refine project strategies.

Stakeholder Coordination & Networking:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including local civil society organizations, international partners, donors, and governmental bodies.
• Facilitate regular coordination meetings with project partners, ensuring effective collaboration and synergy.
• Act as a liaison between the organization, women’s rights groups, and other key stakeholders in the region.

Fundraising & Resource Mobilization:

• Support the development of funding proposals and grant applications in alignment with organizational priorities and donor requirements.
• Manage donor relationships, ensuring compliance with grant agreements and reporting requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: A degree in International Development, Gender Studies, Human Rights, Law, Social Sciences, or a related field. A Master’s degree is a plus.
• Experience: At least 5 years of experience in project management within the international development or human rights sector, preferably with a focus on gender equality and women’s rights in the MENA region.
• Knowledge: Strong understanding of the socio-political dynamics of the MENA region, with a specific focus on the challenges facing women human rights defenders and feminist movements.
• Skills:
  • Excellent project management and organizational skills, with experience managing multiple, complex projects.
  • Strong understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks.
  • Proven ability to design and implement advocacy strategies that influence policy and practice.
  • Experience in design and implementation of capacity building and training workshops.
  • Strong networking, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Languages: Fluency in English required; Fluency in either Farsi or Arabic strongly desired, Proficiency in French desirable.

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to Women’s Rights: Deep passion for promoting gender equality and the protection of women human rights defenders.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Ability to navigate diverse and complex cultural, political, and social contexts in the MENA region.
• Problem Solver: Creative and strategic thinker with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Resilient: Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances, with a high degree of emotional intelligence and empathy.

This is a remote position. It is is preferred that the applicant is based in the Middle East, Europe or Washington, DC.