Programme Officer (Western Balkans)
EED – European Endowment for Democracy
Brussels, Belgium
The European Endowment for Democracy is looking for a committed and experienced
Programme Officer (Western Balkans)
To join its Secretariat in March 2018
Deadline for applications: 18 January 2018
1-year contract renewable depending on performance and funds
Thorough knowledge of the languages of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro required
The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) is an independent, grant-making organisation, established in 2013 by the European Union (EU) and EU member states to foster democracy in the countries of the European Neighbourhood and beyond.
Since its inception, EED has provided over 500 grants and evolved into a vibrant, innovative and respected member of the democracy support community. EED funds a vast array of pro-democracy actors including human rights and political activists, pro-democratic movements, civil society organisations, independent journalists and media.
This is a great opportunity to join EED in a challenging and varied role. As Programme Officer, you will be responsible for coordinating and monitoring EED’s programmes in designated countries in the Western Balkans region (see full job description for details). You will assess applications and provide guidance to applicants, monitor the progress of initiatives supported, engage in outreach activities, monitor political developments in the assigned countries, and develop relations with the donor community.
Applicants should have a thorough knowledge of the languages of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, and of political issues in the Western Balkans region, as well as at least five years of proven full-time professional experience in democracy-related projects and programmes in government, international organisations or civil society.
Reporting directly to the Director of Programmes, the position consists of:
Main functions of the post:
a) Coordinating, administering and monitoring EED’s programmes in the Western Balkans; including related to support to independent media.
b) Assessing applications and preparing recommendations for EED funding; providing programmatic guidance to EED applicants and grantees, including assistance with project development;
c) Engaging in outreach activities in order to identify relevant actors and activities for EED support within the Western Balkans and other designated countries;
d) Developing and maintaining relations with the donor community and like-minded organisations throughout the region.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Programme Officer reports directly to Director of Programmes and shall be responsible for (in addition to the above-mentioned):
a) Monitoring political developments in the assigned countries to inform EED strategies and programming, following developments and assessing the potential impact on the political and civil society environment;
b) Liaising with relevant activists in media, human rights, rule of law, conflict resolution, civic education to keep abreast of the latest developments in the field and to guide EED interventions;
c) Developing programme related documents for assigned countries;
d) Representing EED at public events;
e) Assessing incoming applications and , conducting thorough background checks, identifying the EED added value, communicating with applicants during the review process, providing coaching when needed, and preparing recommendations for funding approval by the EED Executive Committee;
f) Monitoring the progress of initiatives supported by EED, with the support of local Country Consultants when relevant, assessing narrative reports and providing support to grantees when relevant;
g) Travelling to the region to monitor existing grantees and identifying new funding opportunities;
h) Guiding and overseeing the work of local Country Consultants as well as other consultants;
i) Initiating and facilitating programme-related events;
j) Liaising with the Communications team in line with the EED communication strategy;
k) Liaising with the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager in line with the EED monitoring and evaluation plan;
l) Performing other tasks for the Director of Programmes.
