Region: Global
Office: The Hague, Netherlands
Hours: 36 hours (full-time)
Application Deadline: Friday, 29 March 2024
We are looking for an enthusiastic Junior Program Officer to support the coordination and implementation of activities for the Global Secretariat for a new Consortium set up to implement an EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE LOT 1). With a budget of EUR 30 million and five global civil society partners, this ambitious new program collaborates with local CSOs to monitor the enabling environment and contribute to early warning and action.
About the program
The EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE) is a six-year program that engages and supports civil society organizations across 86 countries where civic space is under pressure. Through this program, we aim to improve the capacity and ability of civil society partners to detect and respond to situations of a deteriorating or improving enabling environment, and address and contribute to structural and systemic prerequisites for such an environment. The program is currently in its Inception period. This EU-funded project has a budget of EUR 30 million and is implemented over a period of six years, starting in January 2024.
The EU SEE Monitoring Index, a civil society-led monitoring system designed to continuously assess the state of the enabling environment for civil society across all EU SEE partner countries, will be at the heart of the program. It will be complemented by a comprehensive Early Warning Mechanism to support the anticipation and rapid response to emerging threats and opportunities by civil society and diplomatic actors. In addition, the program will develop civil society partners’ capacity to promote an enabling environment for civil society and amplify their voices in national, regional and global fora through knowledge exchange, policy dialogue and advocacy.
Led by Hivos, the program is implemented by a global consortium of civic space and democracy support organizations and networks, including CIVICUS, Democracy Reporting International, the European Partnership for Democracy, Forus and Transparency International. The consortium collaborates closely with EU counterparts at Brussels and EU Delegation level, as well as EU Member States.
As the Global Lead of the program, Hivos is responsible for effective global coordination and oversight over all activities and partners, as well as for managing the EU SEE Secretariat and associated governance bodies.
Job context
The Junior Program Officer provides administrative support, event management and communications support to the Secretariat for the EU SEE Lot 1 to ensure high quality and consistent work. As the Lead Organization for the EU SEE Lot 1, Hivos has the responsibility of hosting the global Secretariat which provides overall coordination of the priorities and activities in line with donor requirements. The Junior Program Officer will be responsible for contributing to the effective performance of the Secretariat providing both technical and administrative support.
You are responsible for ensuring, in close collaboration with colleagues in the Secretariat that the different priorities of the Consortium related to communications, events, administration are fully supported to guarantee the effective functioning of the Secretariat.
You are a core team member of the EU SEE Secretariat and you work closely with and support different colleagues from the Secretariat to implement the activities of the Consortium together with five Hivos colleagues and additional Consortium partner staff. You report to and closely collaborate with the Global Program Manager, who is spearheading the entire program. On operational issues, you work closely with the Program Finance Manager.
Responsibilities
Administrative and technical support
- Supporting the management, coordination and implementation of priorities for the Secretariat.
- Assisting with logistics (including procurement, booking of flights and accommodation) for planning and implementation of internal and external events, meetings and other convenings.
- Assisting the Finance Manager with processing payments, invoices, reimbursements and procurement for partners, consultants and other stakeholders.
- Booking flights, accommodation and meeting venues for the Secretariat ensuring that Hivos internal procurement processes are adhered to.
- Uploading and maintaining details of consortium partners, files, contracts and other relevant information on the Hivos network and information management system in ALL Solutions.
- Supporting the development of annual plans, reports to the donors and in responding to requests from consortium partners and other stakeholders.
- Assist in developing, updating and maintaining data bases for Consortium partners, members and other relevant stakeholders.
- Provide other administrative and technical support as needed.
Communications and outreach support
- Supporting the monitoring and amplification of key milestones/reporting for the different activities of the Secretariat.
- Assisting with outreach, advocacy and communications of key findings from program activities
- Providing communications support for key events and meetings including the launching of platforms.
- Support the effective functioning of the dedicated web platform – the Digital Hub for the Consortium.
- Assist in updating and maintaining databases for media, communications and advocacy contacts.
- Provide other communications and outreach support as needed.
Your Profile
The ideal candidate should be committed to the mission statements and values of Hivos and the EU SEE and possess the following qualities and skills:
Education and experience:
- A bachelor’s degree with at least one year of professional experience in program management/administration, monitoring, and partner relationships.
- Proven experience in organizing events and managing projects and international teams.
- Experience with an international organization
Interest and knowledge:
- Interest in working with an international development organization and in a program that supports civil society to develop early warning systems on civic space issues.
- Knowledge of human right, civic space issues and social development issues
Skills:
- Strong organizational skills: Able to manage and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Flexibility and positivity: Can adapt to different tasks within the EU SEE Secretariat and maintain a positive attitude.
- Able to manage a high and demanding workload, demonstrating excellent multi-tasking skills.
- Attention to detail and time management skills: Meticulous and can manage time efficiently.
- Have excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to work independently and in a team, strong analytical skills, and attention to detail.
What we offer
In this position you will work at Hivos’ Global Office in the city center of The Hague. This is will be the primary location of the EU SEE Secretariat, with most other Hivos program staff to be located there as well.
We offer a contract for 36 hours per week based on Hivos Global Office labour conditions. The gross salary ranges from € 3041,93 to €4169,16 per month based on a 36-hour work week.
We provide a laptop and travel expenses according to our commuting policies, as well as participation in our pension fund. Hivos additionally works according to a 50/50 schedule, which means you may work from home during half of your contract hours.