Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Organization: Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE)
Deadline: May 18, 2026
- Position Title: Project Officer
- Duty Station: Addis Ababa, with frequent travel to project regions (including Tigray, Harar, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, Afar, Somali, Amhara, and Oromia)
- Reports to: Project Manager
- Contract Type: Full-time (Project-based)
- Duration: 1 year (with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding, aligned with the 36-month project duration)
1. Background
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is the lead partner in a consortium alongside Bright Future and Ethiopian Women Rights Advocates (EWRA). Together, we are implementing a multi-year project titled “Promoting Democracy, Civic Engagement, and Human Rights in Ethiopia through Strengthening Civic Actors”. This comprehensive initiative aims to enhance citizen participation, support grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs), promote peacebuilding, and elevate women’s leadership in local governance.
To ensure the successful delivery of these strategic goals, CECOE is seeking a highly qualified Project Officer. This role is critical for the day-to-day coordination, implementation, and monitoring of project activities across our target regions.
2. Purpose of the Position
The Project Officer will ensure the seamless execution of project activities by working in close collaboration with consortium partners and regional stakeholders. The officer will be instrumental in operationalizing the “Bqu Zega” civic engagement hubs, supporting the e-learning platform, facilitating the Inter-Regional Peacebuilding Initiative (IRPI), and advancing women’s leadership and CSO capacity-building efforts.
3. Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Officer will perform the following key tasks:
Project Implementation and Coordination
- Facilitate the establishment and daily operations of the 6 regional “Bqu Zega” civic engagement hubs and the digital e-learning platform.
- Coordinate seamlessly with consortium partners (Bright Future and EWRA) to ensure the timely and effective delivery of all joint activities.
- Organize and facilitate capacity-building workshops, “Innovate for Democracy” marathons, and local civic engagement events across the target regions.
- Provide logistical and technical support for the sub-granting processes, particularly for the civic engagement seed funds and joint peacebuilding projects.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
- Track the progress of project activities against established work plans, budgets, and the broader results framework.
- Collect data, document success stories, and compile case studies from the regional hubs to measure impact.
- Assist in organizing bi-annual roundtable discussions, lesson-learning summits, and the annual Civic Education Conference.
- Contribute to outcome-level monitoring focusing on citizen engagement, peacebuilding efficacy, and the advancement of women’s leadership.
Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborate with hub representatives to enhance the organizational and advocacy capacities of emerging CSOs, journalists, and youth networks.
- Support mentorship programs and peer-to-peer networking forums tailored for young women leaders and civil society actors.
- Build and maintain robust working relationships with local government entities, human rights commissions, community leaders, and media outlets.
- Facilitate inter-regional dialogues and campaigns that promote human rights, civic duties, and conflict resolution.
Reporting and Documentation
- Prepare high-quality periodic progress reports, activity briefs, and operational updates for internal use and donor compliance.
- Ensure meticulous documentation of all field activities and assist the finance team with financial compliance monitoring.
- Support the development and dissemination of project communication materials, including policy briefs, radio/TV spots, and advocacy campaigns.
6. Expected Deliverables
- Timely, high-quality implementation of project activities in strict alignment with consortium work plans.
- Comprehensive monthly and quarterly progress reports, complete with actionable insights and detailed activity documentation.
- Effective and responsive coordination of the “Bqu Zega” civic engagement hubs and regional CSO partners.
- Measurable contributions toward the project’s targeted outcomes regarding citizen participation, peacebuilding, and gender-responsive policy advocacy.
4. Required Qualifications and Experience
- A Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Law, Human Rights, Development Studies, Gender Studies, or a related field (A Master’s degree is a distinct advantage).
- A minimum of 5+ years of relevant professional experience in project coordination, civic engagement, peacebuilding, or human rights advocacy.
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with grassroots CSOs, women’s rights organizations, or democratic governance initiatives.
- Strong familiarity with Ethiopia’s current civic education landscape, peacebuilding methodologies, and women’s leadership programming.
- Proven expertise in organizing large-scale training sessions, community dialogues, and stakeholder workshops.
- Hands-on experience with sub-grant management, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and capacity development.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of producing high-quality reports.
- Proficiency in English and Amharic; knowledge of additional local languages (such as Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Af Somali, or Af Afar) is a strong asset.
5. Competencies
- Exceptional organizational and coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
- High cultural sensitivity and excellent interpersonal skills for working with diverse inter-regional groups.
- A deep commitment to democratic values, human rights, gender equality, and sustainable peacebuilding.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and adaptive learning skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a diverse consortium team.
● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
● Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
● Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
● Fluency in English and Amharic; an additional local language (Tigrigna, Oromiffa, Somali, etc.) is a plus.
Closing Date: May 18, 2026