Capacity Strengthening Officer – VNG International
Development and Project Management, Social Sciences and Community
VNG International
Background:
Vereniging Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG) is the Association of Municipalities in the Netherlands. VNG International was founded in 1993 by VNG to carry out projects and programs outside of the Netherlands with the aim to strengthen democratic local government. VNG International is represented globally through 18 local project offices, amongst which is Ethiopia. Our Ethiopia office runs various programs, such as ESAP (Ethiopia Social Accountability Program funded by the World Bank and We Are Able! Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
VNG International partnered with Creative Associates International to implement the USAID-funded Ethiopia Civic Engagement Activity (ECE). Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions, and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.
Program Description:
The USAID-funded Ethiopia Civic Engagement Activity is a four-year activity (2023-2027) with the overall goal of strengthening Ethiopia’s civic fabric in support of more inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. The project aims to strengthen civic and community-based actors’ capacity to engage in policy analysis, advocacy, dialogue, and collective action for peaceful, democratic change; and foster multi-stakeholder civic partnerships in support of inclusive dialogue, respect for human rights, and advancing more effective, citizen-responsive, and accountable governance.
Position Summary:
This position will be based on Dessie (1 expert) and Dire Dawa (1 expert). The applicants are required to clearly indicate the preferred location.
The Capacity Strengthening Officer will be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the planning and provision of a broad range of technical support and capacity-strengthening activities to civic actors and civil society organizations with a mandate for working on human rights, democracy, peacebuilding, and governance to ensure civic engagement, in the geographic area she/he is responsible for. Hence, she/ he will be responsible for the implementation of capacity strengthening activities of the program in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Responsibilities
- Conduct a capacity needs assessment of the assigned Hub and communicate findings to the supervisor for action. Based on findings from the capacity needs assessment, develop a capacity strengthening plan and ensure its timely implementation.
- Actively participates in outreach activities together with the capacity building team, with a view to sustainability and meaningful impact for civic engagement
- Conducts capacity building interventions to build capacities of all related stakeholders together with the Civic Engagement officer.
- Assist in program documentation, monitoring, evaluating, and periodic reporting related to capacity building
- Provide mentorship for the CLOs and Civic Incubators
- Develop ECE’s capacity strengthening methodology and processes based on USAID’s Local Capacity Strengthening policy.
- Work to strengthen civic actors to articulate interests through evidence-based research and policy analysis and to constructively engage with government.
- Work to enhance civic actors’ capacity to articulate their constituencies’ interests through evidence-based research and policy analysis and constructively engage with government and advocate for more inclusive governance. The Capacity Strengthening Officer also provides a broad range of technical assistance and capacity strengthening to civic actors to improve, including for service delivery, budgeting and planning, domestic resource mobilization, and citizen engagement.
- Conduct and facilitate capacity assessment(s) and design need-based capacity strengthening interventions the clusters and the hubs
- Provide advice and guidance to partners about technical, human, and financial matters and reporting requirements.
- Support civic actors to institutionalize collective action as a practice and culture for civic engagement in governance and peacebuilding.
- Strengthen the capacity of citizens and civic actors to demonstrate mutual trust and accountability in addressing governance issues and resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.
- Work with the MEL team to collect indicator data specific to capacity strengthening.
- Establish and organize a proper documentation system to collect and hold substantial information about the project and more specifically capacity strengthening-related activities.
- Conduct continued monitoring of capacity strengthening related activities and budget utilization status of partners and ensure that CD activities are done.
- Strengthen the capacity of broad-based coalitions to galvanize action and civic-government partnerships to enhance inclusion, respect for human rights, and accountable & responsive governance.
- Assist project partners in strengthening their capacity to engage women, youth, and excluded groups in public and political dialogue, budgeting and planning, and other civic activities.
- Contribute to the development of the project strategic framework and work plans for the program implementation to ensure the achievement of the program goals.
- Assist the program team to facilitate interaction, collaboration, and collective action between diverse stakeholders and leverage stakeholder networks to develop strategies advocating citizen priorities.
- Deliver technical presentations on program achievements to implementing partners, civil society organizations, government officials, donors, and other organizations. Contribute to the preparation of reports quarterly and annually.
- Document implementation successes, challenges, and lessons learned and share them with the hub office and CD team as stories and also through regular program reports. Also contributes to quarterly reports of the hub office/ the program.
- Other duties as assigned by the management team.
Reporting:
This position reports to the Hub Manager and the Capacity Strengthening Manager regarding program implementation. Similarly, the capacity strengthening officer works under the guidance of both the Hub Manager and Capacity Strengthening Manager for program implementation towards the achievement of program objectives and coordinates with VNG International for administrative purposes.
Qualifications
- Minimum bachelor’s degree in relevant field; master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience with capacity strengthening of civil society and/or other civic actors and organizations, with a preference for experience with civic actors working in governance, social accountability, and engagement initiatives.
- International development programs experience is plus, preferably with USAID or a U.S. Government-funded program.
- Demonstrated capability to work with a broad range of local actors including civil society, private sector, and other local stakeholders and partners. Knowledge of challenges and opportunities on CSO (Civil Society) institutional capacity building, lobbying, advocacy, and articulating citizen interests is required.
- Strong experience in coalition building and collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including civil society, and government.
- Demonstrated leadership, management, and strategic thinking.
- Demonstrated experience facilitating capacity assessments and providing and coordinating technical assistance and training.
- Able to work effectively and professionally with various stakeholders including civil society actors, the private sector, project staff, and other stakeholders.
- Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated track record of working effectively in a teamwork environment.
- Experience with providing technical assistance, including organizing and conducting workshops and trainings; and
- Excellent speaking, writing, and reading skills in English. Knowledge of local languages is an advantage.