Protection Officer to Civil Rights Defenders in Addis Abeba

We are in an expansion phase, which has opened many interesting job opportunities. Are you passionate about human rights and want to be part of a global movement of human rights defenders? Do you want to work in an international environment with colleagues all over the world? Then you might be one we are looking for.

About the role

As Protection Officer your main responsibilities will be to contribute to the planning, monitoring, and reporting of project activities based on targets, agreements and Civil Rights Defenders’ standards and procedures. You will also be expected to monitor trends affecting the safety and security of human rights defenders and civil society; identify best practices to respond to their immediate and long-terms needs; provide knowledge and support to partners. You will have the possibility of identifying, assessing, and proposing new activities and partnerships relevant for the local and regional context.

The Protection Officer reports to the Africa Department Director.

Your day-to-day duties include:

• Stay up to date on trends and news related to safety and security of human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society

• Identify urgent needs relevant to ensure enabling and secured environment for human rights defenders online and offline

• Coordinate with colleagues in Civil Rights Defenders and other partners to provide suitable response, including emergency support, to partners needing assistance

• Monitoring and reporting the results of support given under the Emergency Fund

• Work together with colleagues within the Security and Innovation department to identify flexible approaches to rapidly changing human rights challenges

• Build and maintain a good relationship with key actors in the local, regional, and international human rights community

• Write concept notes, and develop proposals tailored around effective prevention of risks and mitigation of impact on human rights defenders, civil society

• Establish and maintain contacts with relevant decision-makers and stakeholders

About you

As a person, you prefer to collaborate and lead, motivate, and empower others to effectively reach common goals. You focus on the long-term significance and consequences of your activities. Furthermore, you like to engage in teamwork and contribute constructively and through clear communication, you ensure that messages are reached and that expectations are clear to all parties involved.

We assume that you share our values.

To be suitable for this role you have:

• 1-3 years of relevant working experience in human rights in Ethiopia,
• Experience in monitoring and analysing the human rights situation in Ethiopia, and the region
• Experience or interest in working with community-based organisations, charities and NGOs, non-profits, media, human rights and/or civil society groups
• Documented experience in project/grant management
• Knowledge about and full commitment to promote universal human rights
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, level C1, and Amharic
• Knowledge of other local languages is a strong asset
• Skills to use Microsoft tools, especially Word, Excel, and Teams effectively

If you have a bachelor’s degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, or similar fields, including education on international human rights mechanisms, we believe you are the one we are looking for.

Merits

• Understanding of the situation of human rights defenders, living, and working in challenging environments
• Experience of working in stressful situation
• Proficiency in languages spoken in the region

About the employment

This is a full-time employment (one-year contract) with the possibility of extension, starting in April 2022 or according to your employment contract. As an organisation, we strive for diversity, and we see your background, experience, and personality as a contribution to the organisation. You will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Please apply as soon as possible as we recruit on an ongoing basis, but no later than March 20, 2022.

About us

Civil Rights Defenders is a politically and religiously independent international human rights organisation. We defend people’s civil and political rights in some of the world’s most repressive regions. We partner with and support human rights defenders in more than 300 organisations in 50 countries on four continents. Together with our partners, we hold those in power accountable when people’s civil or political rights are violated. We also act as Sweden’s civil rights watchdog.

Civil Rights Defenders has around 100 staff members working in various functions towards our vision – a world of democratic societies in which we all enjoy our civil and political rights. Our headquarter is located in Stockholm, and we have eight branch-offices around the world. Learn more about our work at crd.org.