Protection Officer – Eurasia (remote)

Job Title: Protection Officer – Eurasia

Location: In the Eurasia region

Duration: 1 year fix-term contract

Starting date: ASAP

Line manager: Head of the Policy, Research and Training Unit

Technical referent: Head of Programme Unit

About PI

Protection International (PI) is an International NGO that contributes to the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) throughout the world. PI provides tools to develop HRDs’ capacities to manage their own security as their struggle against impunity and work in favour of human rights and democracy in their respective countries or regions. PI seeks to contribute to a situation where HRDs are recognised as legitimate actors for social change and to an environment where they can exercise their right to defend universally accepted human rights.

Protection International has its global office in Brussels, but primarily works where protection of HRDs is needed. PI has long-term presence in several countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Under its Global Strategy 2019-2023, PI is gradually transforming into a network of Hubs, establishing regional offices that work in a flexible manner across several countries.

PI is aware that there has been a progressive erosion of democratic values and a proliferation of discourses of hatred and discrimination worldwide in recent years. Europe and its neighbouring regions are not an exception to this global “anti-human rights” trend. Recent political developments in the European Union and its neighbouring countries, show that human rights are increasingly being questioned, civic space is progressively more narrowed and even repressed, and those who defend human rights are delegitimised, harassed, criminalised and even physically attacked.

Following an initial internal assessment and country analyses, PI intends to initiate operations in European countries with a first focus on Eastern Europe and Caucasus region.

General Objective of the position

The post holder will be based in the Eurasia region and is expected to visit Brussels every quarter for periods of 1-2 weeks during her/his tenure. As part of the induction and on-boarding process, the post holder will be required to be in Brussels for 1-2 weeks at the start of the contract. The post holder’s objectives are to:

• develop a sound Eurasia regional analysis about PI’s presence in the region;
• build and retain relationships in the region;
• strengthen and retain PI’s current Eurasia programme;
• build a robust and sustainable funding base for the next 2-3 years; and
• coordinate cohesion and complementarity of PI’s programme work and services provided.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assess PI’s presence in Eurasia and submit a report and recommendation about PI’s presence and approach in the region;
• Act as the liaison and network/partnership builder with organisations and HRDs in the region;
• Apply MEAL principles to measure impact of PI’s activities and overall strategy;
• Support the collection of data necessary for the drafting of proposals for funding partners and supporters as well as for preparing/drafting reports;
• Support in collecting information about national legal/administrative requirements to implement our activities in the different Eurasia countries.
• In coordination with PI’s Policy, Research and Training Unit (PRTU):
  • provide programmatic capacity-building support to HRDs and their civil society organisations (CSOs) on security and protection management, in countries in Eastern Europe and Caucasus region;
  • prepare, deliver and report on consultancy services (i.e. ad hoc requests of support) assigned by PI, in coordination with PRTU;
  • support the development and/or adaption of PI tools according to needs and requests by partners (e.g. translation into locally used languages, etc.);
  • adapt PI’s distance learning tools and e-learning course to regional context and conduct e-learning course as Tutor (regional language skills required).

Job Requirements

Experience

• Comprehensive experience on protection and security management for CSOs and HRDs (ideally in the Eurasia region) that includes aspects of physical protection, well-being and digital security.
• Solid understanding of organisational dynamics, profound knowledge on capacity building approaches and HRDs’ needs with a proven track record delivering capacity-development sessions to diverse audiences using adult learning and popular education pedagogical principles and tools.
• Experience in grant management and proposal writing.
• Relevant working experience in the Eurasia region.
• Expertise in or experience with psychosocial approaches highly desirable.
• Expertise in or experience with monitoring and evaluation tools is a strong asset.

Skills & Knowledge

• Candidate’s knowledge of PI methodologies (or on adult and popular education) is highly desirable.
• Demonstrable capacity to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing in English and in Russian to a wide range of – expert and non-expert – audiences.
• Knowledge on fundraising strategies and ability to identify potential funders and partners.
• Familiarity with gender equality and intersectional issues (gender, age, social class issues) is a strong asset.
• Attention to detail, ability to work under pressure and solution oriented.
• Able to work in teams as well as to take initiative and work autonomously.
• Availability to travel regularly to different Eurasia countries is required.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Russian (written and oral) is essential.
• Capacity to work and communicate (orally and in written) in other regional languages is an important asset; knowledge of French and Spanish is a plus.

What we offer

• The possibility to gain first-hand experience and knowledge on strategies to support human rights defenders and grassroots movements globally.
• An open, friendly and multicultural work environment.
• A great deal of respect for autonomy, room for creativity, innovation, and learning.
• A people focused and collaborative way of working both within the unit the post sits under and with other teams.
• Depending on experience, a gross salary between 2.900 – 3.200 EUR/month.
• Benefits will be paid according to the National Labour Law applied in the country of residence of the successful candidate.