Freedom House promotes the spread of freedom and democracy around the world through research, advocacy, and programs that support frontline activists. We are a leader in identifying threats to freedom through our highly regarded analytic reports, including Freedom in the World, Freedom of the Press, Freedom on the Net, and Nations in Transit.
Position Summary
Freedom House is seeking a Program Officer – Civil Society Engagement for its Strengthening Sudan’s Democratic Transition project. The project seeks to sustain the energy of emerging elements of Sudanese civil society and strengthen civic capabilities to influence existing and future political processes. The Program Officer will work in close coordination with the Project Director, Grants and Finance Officer, and Technical Advisor – Democracy & Governance to support project implementation and monitoring for this 18-month project funded by the U.S. Department of State. This position will be based in Khartoum, Sudan and will report to the Project Director.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide mentoring and coaching to civil society partners and support the development of alliances and coalitions on issues surrounding transitional period priorities;
- Plan and implement project activities and compile reports as necessary;
- Plan and organize logistics for trainings and other interventions;
- Assist in the facilitation of trainings, workshops, roundtables and other capacity building events supported by Freedom House;
- Monitor and evaluate implementation of project activities and draft program reports;
- Provide weekly updates on project activities to team members, and bi-weekly updates to FH headquarters staff in consultation with the Project Director;
- Submit payment requests and reconciliation reports on time and with all required receipts and backup documentation as outlined by Freedom House’s policies;
- Develop and maintain up-to-date files of program information and materials;
- Manage, track and report on all project expenses by, among others, ensuring that financial reports and expenditure sheets are completed, verified, and promptly forwarded to the finance department;
- Coordinate with Project Director and staff to develop risk assessment and mitigation plan including staff and program risks;
- Recruit and supervise interns;
- Assist the Project Director with program design and development as needed; and
- Undertake other duties as assigned by the Project Director.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree; Master’s degree preferred - in human rights, political science, law or other social sciences;
- A minimum of 4 years of experience working with civil society in Sudan related to human rights, youth engagement and advocacy;
- Knowledge of challenges and opportunities that civil society organizations in Sudan face and the sociopolitical context they work within;
- Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with local partners, government officials, media houses, as well as in-country and foreign experts;
- Demonstrated experience in developing activity work plans, budgets, and implementing programmatic activities;
- Knowledge of governance, transitional justice, and human rights issues in Sudan;
- Knowledge of USG rules and regulations, and other donor approaches to civil society development;
- Strong knowledge of human rights principles and mechanisms, and democracy promotion;
- Strong ability to communicate effectively in English and Arabic, both orally and in writing preferred;
- Ability to use productivity software such as MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint; and Microsoft Excel; and
- Experience in challenging environments and in modifying programming to fit evolving contexts.
Attributes and Characteristics:
- Exhibit strong and sustained commitment to the mission of Freedom House
- Show good stewardship in the use of Freedom House resources
- Respond promptly to stakeholder needs, and solicit stakeholder feedback to improve service quality
- Exhibit excellent phone etiquette, pleasant demeanor, and ethical conduct
- Consistently use good judgment when dealing with all contacts and constituents
- Exhibit high work standards, adherence to procedures, and responsibility for assigned tasks
- Demonstrate strong desire for excellence, and desire to inspire others to attain professional excellence
- Assess own strengths and weaknesses; pursue training and development opportunities; strive to continuously build knowledge and skills
- Work as an effective team member, successfully balance individual and team responsibilities
- Comply with all policies and procedures
Primary Contacts:
- Internal: U.S. and Sudan-based employees at Freedom House
- External: Local partners, U.S. Embassy, Government of Sudan, consultants, other implementers and donors, media, vendors, members of the general public, etc.
Working Conditions:
- General working office environment in Khartoum, Sudan;
- Some evening and weekend hours to complete tasks or attend events;
- Travel within Sudan outside of Khartoum;
- Exposed to outside weather conditions when required to complete assigned tasks outside the office;
- May involve work in regions that are remote and lack basic modern infrastructure, and in regions under U.S. travel advisory due to threats of terrorist attacks, civil unrest, kidnappings, disease outbreaks, etc.
Disclaimer: This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in the job description and that other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. Freedom House may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.
Qualified and Interested Applicants
We invite qualified candidates to complete an online application and submit a resume, and cover letter, with salary history and desired salary.
Candidate cover letters should specifically address how their previous experience relates to the duties and qualifications listed above.
Only candidates who respond to these as well as the salary requirements will be considered for the position. Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.
This vacancy is open to those candidates with relevant permits to work in Sudan.