Program Officer

About Hivos and Free to be me

Hivos is an international organization that seeks new solutions to persistent global issues. With smart projects in the right places, we oppose discrimination, inequality, abuse of power and the unsustainable use of our planet’s resources. Counterbalance alone, however, is not enough. Our primary focus is achieving structural change. This is why we cooperate with innovative businesses, citizens and their organizations. We share a dream with them of sustainable economies and inclusive societies.

Context

Free to Be Me is an ambitious, daring and innovative program that will help support and maintain a vibrant movement among marginalized groups that is confident and capable to lobby and advocate for their human and economic rights. The program is led by an alliance of three consortium members – Hivos (the lead party), ILGA World and Positive Vibes – and three technical partners – Sogicampaigns, The Global Interfaith Network (GIN) and Workplace Pride. Together the alliance will coach, accompany, fund and train organizations to influence norms and attitudes, generate (public) support, and promote laws, policies and regulations that recognize, respect and protect marginalized people’s human and economic rights.

The program will be implemented in 14 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The program start on April 1st, 2021. The program is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the Power of Voices program, which is part of the Strengthening Civil Society subsidy framework. The five-year program has a budget of EUR 37 million.

Aim of the job

The project officer (PO) is responsible for the program delivery in two MENA countries and supports the setting up and functioning of the Communities of Action (CoAs), as well as the participatory grant-making mechanisms of Free to be Me. They facilitate the development, assessment and implementation of organizational-level and joint project proposals, and ensure these processes are developed in line with agreed procedures. They ensure contracts with local organizations are signed and checks on progress and deliverables.

They are responsible for upholding Free to be Me values and principles and translating them into practice. The Program Officer coordinates the delivery of sound country-level narrative plans and reports, which visualize activities and results of local organizations, joint CoA-activities and Hivos’ own implementation. These contribute to the overarching Free to be Me plans and reports. In doing so, they will closely work together with the Hivos financial officer, the Design, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (DMEL) officer, as well as with the CoA facilitator, amongst others.

They are part of the regional management team and play an active role in coordinating activities in the field of capacity strengthening, lobby and advocacy, learning, etc. with consortium partners and local organizations, as well as with the relevant Hivos staff. Next to that, the Program Officer will share progress and results of the program to both the global program management team as well as Hivos colleagues in other countries and offices. They are also responsible for the preparation of stories and content for the website, media and other channels and the organization of internal and external events. The Program Officer will assist the Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (DMEL) officer in outcome harvesting, narrative assessment and other reporting needed. The Program Officer will work as a team with the DMEL officer, the financial officer, the linking and learning specialist, amongst others.

Your responsibilities

Programdesign

• Supports the CoAs in developing their localized ToC, plans and (in coordination with the financial officer) budget, in line with guidelines
• Supports and guides local organizations in the development of their individual or joint plans and proposals for lobby and advocacy, and including activities on capacity strengthening.
• Contributes to the development of Hivos’ overarching Free to be Me planning, and particularly to the design of innovative elements of the program, the functioning of the CoAs, as well as the design of a participatory grantmaking mechanism.

Implementation of work plans

• Realizes successful implementation in accordance with the specific goals, working methods and budgets of the projects.
• Supports and guides local organizations in the development of their individual or joint plans and proposals.
• Supports and takes part in participatory grantmaking mechanisms.
• Ensures contracts with local organizations and host organizations are established.
• Coordinates with CoAs, with consortium members and with Hivos’ staff around capacity strengthening and advocacy activities.
• Ensures Hivos’ own activities are implemented according to plan.

Monitoring & control

• Monitors progress towards established goals in CoAs, and in the organizational level or joint project plans, and flags in the Hivos overarching management team when problems arise.
• Relates progress to the overarching Free to be Me plans.

Coordination and collaboration

• Throughout the process of project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, the Program Officer plays a proactive role in coordinating with the CoA facilitator, with the organizations that participate in the CoA, CoA working groups, with the host organization, with consortium members and with the regional and global Hivos team.
• Actively contributes to and supports activities at the national and regional level, such as research, advocacy campaigns, learning events, etc.

Sharing, learning, and quality improvement

• Identifies, analyses and highlights success and good practices, as well as potential risks and problems.
• Proposes solutions for identified problems and follows-up on those.
• Contributes to identifying and sharing positive stories.
• Collaborates with the CoAs, the consortium members, and Hivos’ capacity strengthening officer, in the design and realization of exchange and learning events.
• Contributes to reflection and learning on both the national and regional level, as well as on the wider programmatic level.

Other tasks

• Inducts, trains and mentors other program staff as requested.
• Supports on other programs when there is work overload and covers absences for other program staff within MENA as needed.
• Supports non-program related tasks as may be requested.
• Other tasks as requested by Program Manager and Regional Director.

Your profile

• Relevant university degree, and professional level of working and thinking.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience in the area of Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Work experience with civil society on development programs, in project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and working in international teams.
• Expertise in working on related rights and/or economic development.
• Keen on ensuring ownership by local organizations, and in finding innovative and creative solutions to realize goals.
• Work experience in an international environment.
• Flexible attitude, creative, supports Hivos and Free to be Me values, has a progressive and positive view on related rights and the leadership of rightsholders.
• Demonstrates high level of professionalism, entrepreneurial and result oriented, flexible, well-organized, reliable, independent, decisive and strong team player with excellent communication and coordination skills.
• Positive attitude and energy
• Excellent verbal and writing skills in Arabic and English. Candidates who are not fully fluent in Arabic will not be considered
• Experience in the field of economic and social development is an asset.

What we offer

An inspirational work environment in a value-driven international organization with dedicated staff and a great team to work with.

We offer a national contract based on Hivos local labor conditions, with a remuneration commensurate with the experience and expertise. Contract renewable depending on performance.

Period: One-year contract, renewable pending funds and performance

Location: Beirut, Lebanon

Hours: 3 days per week

Start date: ASAP