ABOUT FREEDOM HOUSE

Established more than 80 years ago on the core conviction that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people, Freedom House is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to defend and expand freedom globally to help secure a world where all are free. Around the world, repressive regimes are preventing billions of people from exercising their fundamental rights. We identify and analyze threats to freedom, mobilize decision makers to respond to those threats and seize opportunities for progress, and support activists and organizations working to defend and expand freedom. We are dedicated to ensuring that the United States serves as a positive model of democratic practice at home and a consistent champion of freedom globally. By gathering authoritative data and leveraging our global networks, Freedom House is an unwavering beacon in protecting human rights and promoting democratic governance.

POSITION SUMMARY

The USAID-funded Protecting Human Rights in Ethiopia (PHR-Ethiopia) is a five-year program to be implemented with the overall goal of increasing respect for human rights in Ethiopia. The program has four specific objectives: i) expand efforts to monitor securely and independently, document, and report on human rights violations; ii) advance accountability for human rights violations; iii) increase the number and capacity of new human rights actors and advocates throughout Ethiopia; and iv) address conflict-related gender and sexual violence. To realize these objectives, the program will engage key state and non-state actors and strengthen the institutional and operational capacity of local CSOs and justice and law enforcement bodies including judges, prosecutors, and police. 

Freedom House is seeking a Program Officer who provides overall implementation support for all aspects of the Protecting Human Rights (PHR-Ethiopia) program. The Program Officer will work in close coordination with the Chief of Party and the program team and will be responsible for the day-to-day programmatic activities including backstopping project implementation and administration; providing input into/feedback on relevant tools, resources, and project deliverables; supporting field staff, consultants, and partners on administrative issues; contributing to monitoring, evaluation, and learning; and identifying further funding opportunities and participating in proposal development.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support all aspects of program implementation, including work plan development.

• Identifying and managing consultants and sub-grantees. 

• Participating in communications with donor counterparts.

• Plan and implement project activities and compile reports, as necessary.

• Plan and organize workshops, meetings, and events, as well as arrange logistics for trainings and other interventions.

• Manage, track and report on all project expenses, ensuring that financial reports and expenditure sheets are completed, verified, and promptly forwarded to the finance department.

• Monitor and evaluate implementation of project activities and draft program reports.

• Develop and maintain up-to-date files of program information and materials.

• Assist in the facilitation of trainings, workshops, roundtables, and other capacity building events supported by Freedom House.

• Provide weekly updates on project activities to team members and bi-weekly updates to FH headquarters staff in consultation with the Chief of Party.

• Participate in monitoring and evaluation processes, and track and document program activities and impact to ensure project objectives are met.

• Develop effective professional relationships with a range of external actors in Ethiopia, including peer organizations, donors, the diplomatic community, partners, and grantees. 

• Represent Freedom House to external audiences at meetings and events; speak articulately about Freedom House's mission and regional programming as necessary.

• Collaborate with the MEL Director and monitor key developments related to democratic governance in Ethiopia and in the Horn of Africa region, including political developments, elections, status of relevant legislation, and adherence to human rights norms. 

• Contribute to Freedom House research, analysis, and advocacy efforts, including drafting blogs or other analytical pieces.

• Participate in identifying new funding opportunities and conduct research to enable the Ethiopia/Africa program team to develop new programs. 

• Support proposal development process for programs including drafting of elements of proposals. 

• Undertake other duties as maybe assigned by the Chief of Party. 

Work Location Type: On-site

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:     

• Bachelor's degree; master’s degree preferred - in human rights, political science, international relations, law, international development, or other social sciences.

Experience:    

• A minimum of 5 years of experience working with civil society and democracy institutions in Ethiopia related to human rights and advocacy.

• Sound understanding of political and human rights context on the ground and knowledge of governance, rule of law, and accountability issues and trends in Ethiopia. 

• Proven technical experience in dealing with multiple stakeholders including the media, CSOs, and human rights defenders and other actors.

• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with local partners, government officials, media houses, as well as in-country and foreign experts.

• Demonstrated experience in developing activity work plans, budgets, implementing programmatic activities, and providing short-term technical assistance.

• Understanding of political, social and rights dynamics in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa region.

• Understanding of USG funding processes, budget forms, rules, and regulations; at least two years’ experience working on donor-funded programs including creating and managing budgets and implementing monitoring and evaluation plans strongly preferred.

• Experience in developing and drafting funding proposals strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience in managing M&E systems including target setting, data collection, and reporting.

Technical Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced and multicultural environment.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with strong writing ability at a donor project reporting level. Fluency in Amharic while knowledge of other local languages is a plus.

• Ability to use productivity software such as MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Excel.

Personal Attributes and Characteristics: 

• Promote and exhibit strong and sustained commitment to the vision, mission and strategic goals of Freedom House.

• Show good stewardship in the use of Freedom House resources. 

• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work with a diverse team of individuals.

• Respond promptly to stakeholder needs and solicit stakeholder feedback to improve service quality.

• Exhibit excellent phone etiquette, pleasant demeanor, and ethical conduct. 

• Consistently use good judgment when dealing with all contacts and constituents.

• Exhibit high work standards, adherence to procedures, and responsibility for assigned tasks.

• Assess own strengths and weaknesses; pursue training and development opportunities; strive to continuously build knowledge and skills.

• Work as an effective team member, successfully balance individual and team responsibilities.

• Comply with all policies and procedures.

• Eagerness to think creatively about complex challenges. 

• Willingness to reflect, learn, and adapt.

• Display cultural, gender, religion, ethnicity, and age sensitivity and adaptability. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• Diversity makes our work stronger. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all background to apply. Diverse backgrounds relevant to the countries in which we have programming are a welcome asset.

• Applicants are required to complete our online application form and to submit a resume and a cover letter that outlines interests and qualifications for this position. 

• Travel to some countries, for business or in some cases personal reasons, while a Freedom House employee, may not be advisable or even possible due to high security risks.  

• Candidates must possess authorization to work in Ethiopia independent from Freedom House sponsorship.   

Working Conditions: 

• Generally conducive working office environment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Disability-friendly accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform their essential functions.

• Some evening and weekend hours to complete tasks or attend events.

• Travel within Ethiopia outside of Addis Ababa.

• Exposed to outside weather conditions when required to complete assigned tasks outside the office.

• May involve work in regions that are remote and lack basic modern infrastructure, and in regions under U.S. travel advisory due to threats of armed attacks, civil unrest, kidnappings, disease outbreaks, etc. 

Work Environment and Physical Demands: 

• Essential functions are typically performed in an office setting or remote work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply through THIS LINK

Freedom House is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.