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Grants Officer for the EU HRD

Front Line Defenders

Brussels, Belgium

The EU HRD Mechanism

A consortium of 12 international NGOs have won the contract to establish and implement an EU Human Rights Defenders Mechanism. The members of the Consortium are: Front Line Defenders, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Network (ESCR-Net), International Gay and Lesbian Association (ILGA), Urgent Action Fund for Women Human Rights Defenders (UAF), Protection International, Peace Brigades International (PBI), Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF), Forum Asia and East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP). Front Line Defenders, RSF, OMCT and FIDH will form the Board of the Consortium. In order to implement the EU HRD Mechanism the Board will recruit an independent Secretariat for the project which will be managed by a Head of Secretariat. The EU HRD Mechanism will begin operations on 1st October 2015 with a contract for 36 months.
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
Under the supervision and management of the Head of Secretariat and with the assistance of the other personnel employed for the purposes of HRD Mechanism coordination: he/she ensures the follow-up of grants allocated within the project. He/she is responsible for effective coordination of temporary relocation grants for HRDs at risk. The HRD Mechanism will allocate grants to support the temporary relocation of HRDs at immediate risk as well as for those HRDs who have been working for a prolonged period in a hostile environment and who would benefit from rest and respite. Applications for temporary relocation grants must be made in the name of specific HRDs and may be submitted by members of the EUTRP, by other potential hosts or by HRDs themselves. In addition, the grant officer is in charge of following up grants allocated directly by partners within the project, either as emergency support to HRDs or as support to local HRDs organizations.

Tasks & General Responsibilities:

  • Develops and implements a process for the coordination, verification, approval and delivery of temporary relocation grants including the development of an emergency response mechanism, under the guidance of the Head of Secretariat, and in consultation with EUTRP members;
  • Supports the decision-making of the HRD Mechanism Board with regard to temporary relocation grants and organises the secure delivery of approved grants;
  • Coordinates directly with beneficiaries where appropriate and manages the documentation and reporting on the beneficiaries of temporary relocation grants as well as related follow-up at the end of their temporary relocation;
  • Gathers and maintains all appropriate financial reporting information with regard to temporary relocation grants;
  • Keeps a general overview of grants allocated directly by partners as emergency support to HRDs or as support to local HRDs organizations; creates necessary guidelines and monitoring tools, ensures sharing of good practises and lessons learnt with the partners;
  • Reports issues faced in the grant allocation system to HoS and suggests proactively solutions;
  • Ensures that all grant information is reflected adequately in the data base;
  • Ensures that all grants available within the project are advertised and promoted by all partners and on the mechanism website;
  • Is responsible for the reporting related to grant allocation within the project.

Experience:

  • Excellent financial and organizational management experience;
  • Experience in managing grant programs;
  • Deep understanding of the needs of human rights defenders at risk;
  • Experience in working with people from diverse backgrounds.

Skills:

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Skills in the use of software applications;
  • Database management skills.
The HRD Grants Officer will be based in the HRD Mechanism's secretariat in Brussels. The post-holder will receive a gross annual salary of €38 380. Applications comprising a CV with at least two references and a cover letter should be sent by email to recruit@frontlinedefenders.org by Monday 19th October. Interviews will be held in the week of 26th October in Brussels. The successful candidate will be expected to start work in November if possible. The initial contract will be for 36 months.

Overview of the EU HRD Mechanism

Objective

Human rights defenders at high risk and facing the most difficult situations in third countries, and the local actors who strive to promote and defend them, are supported by means of a worldwide, stable, comprehensive and gender-sensitive EU mechanism.
Over a period of 36 months the consortium will deliver the following activities, outputs and results with a particular focus on HRDs working in the most difficult countries and/or those who are particularly targeted including women human rights defenders, defenders of LGBTI rights, land rights and environmental rights defenders, HRDs defending the rights of indigenous peoples, minorities, people with disabilities, migrants and stateless persons, trade unionists promoting labour rights, lawyers, journalists, bloggers and others promoting fundamental freedoms, and HRDs challenging violations of economic, social and cultural rights.

Support to HRDs in the field

The Mechanism will deliver a faster and permanent EU response to support HRDs including through a 24/7 helpline and emergency grants ensuring that HRDs can access and implement urgent security measures to protect themselves, their family and their work. An EU temporary relocation programme will be established and HRDs at risk will be able to relocate inside their country, in the region or in Europe in case of urgent threat. HRD organisations have the means to implement activities adapted to changing local developments in order to advance a human rights agenda or to counter violations (including contesting laws, restrictions, sanctions and administrative provisions restricting their work).

Training, monitoring and advocacy

HRDs will receive support with capacity building including with regard to security and protection, digital security, stress management and financial and organisational management. The EU, the international community, other NGOs, the media and the public are more knowledgeable on the situation of HRDs collectively and individually. Intergovernmental institutions, international, regional and national human rights Mechanisms, influential states take action on individual cases and on legal, political and administrative provisions affecting HRDs;

Coordination and synergies

HRDs can better network and coordinate between themselves and with EU and international organisations and the coordination between HRDs initiatives and actors supported by the EIDHR is strengthened and there is greater sharing of lessons.

Outreach and visibility

The EU Mechanism will be promoted in such a way that it has high visibility and HRDs who are less well connected are able to access practical support. The HRD Mechanism will ensure the security of communications and information with regard to beneficiaries who may be at additional risk because of international support.