Project Officer Grants and Contracts for Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

Employment Type: Part time (24 hours per week - consultant contract)

Start date: as soon as possible, ideal start date is November 15, 2024.

Salary:  depends on where the applicant is based.

Location: Remote (must be based outside of the MENA region)

Line Manager: EECCA Regional Project Manager

About the program

Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP) is an international program hosted by Hivos that contributes to strengthening the resilience of human rights defenders (HRDs) by increasing their digital security through funding, digital protection accompaniment and community building from a holistic and sustainable approach.

Our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan will focus on increasing flexible and relevant resources for holistic digital security for HRDs at risk; supporting the digital security knowledge, capabilities, and practices of HRDs; strengthening digital security knowledge, capacities, and practices within networks and communities at the local, regional, and global levels, and strengthening DDP’s infrastructure, resilience and sustainability.

Job context

Grants management; supporting (regional) organizations by responding to emergency requests, assessing proposals, setting up call for proposals, referring (potential) grantees to in and external stakeholders,

Other regional activities; supporting the regional team with administrative and logistical efforts

Cross-regional DDP activities; like the monthly All team remote call, or contribution to a working group

Responsibilities

Grants management

• Assessing grants requests, vetting applicants, checking references, creation of contracts for partners and consultants.
• Referring organizations and individuals to in-and external stakeholders and network
• Partner and contract management (assessment of quarterly reports, payments, communications, etc.).
• Contributing to continuous improvement of overarching grants assessment procedures and standards of practice within the grants team under the guidance of the grants team facilitator.
• Attending the weekly DDP grants team coordination meeting.
• Initiating, designing, and implementing calls for proposals (together with the Regional Project Manager).
• Contributing to create specific outreach to local communities.
• Contributing to the DDP quarterly reports and DMEAL efforts of grants.
• Supporting the management of the team@digitaldefenders.org inbox.

Regional DDP activities

• Attending the (weekly) regional team meeting.
• Attending in-person regional team meeting (1or 2 meetings annually).
• Monthly calls with the Regional Project Manager (personal check in, updates on activities).
• Support with regional team procedures and organizational needs.
• Logistical support to regional events.
• Maintaining connections with other funders in the region to refer/co-fund/exchange best practices.

Cross-regional DDP activities

• Contributing to the ongoing learning, reflecting and collaboration between the different DDP teams. The focus of these tasks will be agreed individually depending on personal interest and skills and as a result of a collaborative assessment within the regional team. The exact distribution of the tasks and committed monthly working time on each task, as well as changes to those agreements, will be subject to approval by the Regional Project Manager, and could involve keeping the DDP procedures updated with regional input, or Contributing to DDP working groups.
• Attending the monthly all DDP team meeting
• Attending DDP in-person meetings (approx. one meeting annually)

Your Profile

• High level of verbal and written fluency in English and Arabic.
• Knowledge of additional languages of the region is a strong asset.
• You have a keen understanding of the political, economic and cultural context and complexities of the MENA region.
• You have substantial experience working in or with MENA.
• You have previous experience working at a fund or being a grants officer.
• You have experience working from a holistic security approach, this can include understanding digital security, physical security, or psychosocial support.
• You are result-oriented and a practical thinker.
• You are able to work in different time zones and with people from different (professional, cultural, religious) backgrounds.
• You have an experience in working remote, in an online organization.
• You worked in an environment that is based on feminist and/or decolonial principles.
• You are an independent team player. You are able to work autonomously on program elements, as well as in collaboration with the DDP team and partners in the field.
• You are strategic, critical, and analytical. You like improving and co-creating project elements together with the DDP team and (local) stakeholders.
• You subscribe to DDP principles: holistic understanding of protection, human rights and Internet freedom, confidentiality and trust, mentorship and partnership, inclusivity and diversity, not-claiming but facilitating, quality and expertise.
• You are an open communicator. You are able to communicate clearly, and you are not afraid to address any ambiguity or insecurity.
• You are able to use encryption and secure communication channels, if not, you are willing to learn.
• You are a Free/Libre and Open Source Software user and, if not, you are willing to learn.
• You are legally able to reside and work in your location without any support required from Hivos.

What we offer

A consultant contract for 24 hours per week is offered until December 2025.

DDP differentiates consultant salaries per region. Consultant rates offer will depend on your location

How to apply

To apply, please submit before October 18th, 2024 by clicking on the ‘Apply here’ button:

• A letter of interest outlining how your experience has shaped you to fit this position? How do you usually approach to work (how you plan, organize, document, etc.)?
• A recent curriculum vitae (CV)/resume (no more than 3 pages)
• A list of 2 references, detailing their names, email address and role/position.

The recruitment process will be carried in October-November 2024, and interviews will take place between October 23rd and November 1st, 2024.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all qualified applicants and creating a work-place where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered. We highly encourage individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, nationality, location, and religion to apply.

About Hivos

Hivos is an international development organization guided by humanist values. Together with citizens and their organizations, we aim to contribute towards just, inclusive and life sustaining societies where people have equal access to opportunities, rights and resources. We work in partnership with others in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America on three impact areas: Civic Rights in a Digital Age; Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Climate Justice.

Keywords

Grants ManagementContractsDigital SecurityHuman RightsMiddle EastNorth AfricaMENA RegionRemote WorkConsultantResilienceHolistic Approach