Deputy Observer Coordinator for Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE)

Job Title: Deputy Observer Coordinator for Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) Duty Station: Addis Ababa/Ethiopia Duration: 24 months Organizational Context ECES is a not-for-profit private foundation headquartered in Brussels with a global remit. ECES promotes sustainable democratic development through the provision of advisory services, operational support and management of large projects in the electoral and democracy assistance field. ECES works with all electoral stakeholders, including electoral management bodies, civil society organisations involved in voter education and election observation, political parties, parliaments, media, security forces, religious groups, and legal institutions confronted with electoral dispute resolution. Since February 2012, ECES has signed over 70 contracts in support of transparent, credible, and cost-effective electoral processes and the strengthening of democratic institutions in more than 35 countries, mainly, but not only, in Africa and the Middle East. In addition, the founders and personnel of ECES have acquired extensive field experience, and, taken together, ECES can count on a specific knowledge and a well-established network in over 70 countries. The EU is by far the largest ECES donor; however, the organization has also signed contracts and partnered with many other organizations. Project’s context Actions in support of democratisation and respect for human rights, including the right to participate in the establishment of governments through free and fair elections, can make a major contribution to the peace, security, prosperity, and well-being of people. In that regard, the EURECS I project was implemented in Ethiopia from 2019 until March 2024, with funding from the EU in Ethiopia and Germany. The EURECS was crafted as an innovative and alternative delivery mechanism to implement electoral and democracy assistance activities that are consistent with the EU's values and policies, and targets to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the EU election observation mission (EOM) in Ethiopia that national authorities agree to strive towards. The action has a built-in election conflict prevention, mitigation, and management aim in nearly all activities prescribed by this approach. Recognizing the high expectations of the 7th general elections of 2026 for the consolidation of a well-functioning democracy in the country, the EURECS II project seeks to contribute by strengthening the transparency, credibility, and public confidence in the election process and in the NEBE, as well as in the capacity of the civil society to be a major and credible actor in the electoral process. The project will support NEBE in fostering the inclusion of all segments of the electorate, including marginalised and vulnerable groups. In continuation of past efforts, the project will also strengthen the CECOE platform and other CSOs in electoral observation, civic and voter education, and awareness-raising targeted at disenfranchised groups, including youth and first-time voters. The EURECS II project in Ethiopia is built around the three main specific objectives as follows: Empower NEBE to hold all levels of elections and implement lessons learned from 2021 for the 7th General Election in 2026; Strengthen CSOs in their election observation and support them in extending it to mid-cycle elections (municipal, referendum, and reruns) as well as voter and candidate registration.; Support civic and voter information to vulnerable groups, including IDPs, PWDs, the illiterate, women candidates, youth, and first-time voters. Election observation, both national and international, is widely recognised as a cornerstone of electoral integrity. It contributes to transparency, accountability and credibility across all phases of the electoral process, from voter registration to the announcement of results, and reinforces public trust in the conduct and outcomes of elections. Media monitoring and analytical reporting constitute essential complementary tools for assessing the quality of the electoral environment and identifying emerging risks. Civil society organisations are entitled to engage in electoral processes through non-partisan election observation, in accordance with international norms and standards. Such engagement contributes to enhanced transparency and accountability and plays an important role in building public trust in the credibility and legitimacy of elections. Civil society organisations may also support electoral processes through complementary activities, including civic and voter education, promotion of codes of conduct for electoral stakeholders, auditing of voters’ lists, media monitoring, facilitation of public debates, and formulation of technical recommendations for electoral reforms. The Declaration of Global Principles for Non-Partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations recognises the right of non-partisan citizen election observation organisations to cooperate with other organisations, both domestic and international, and to receive technical and financial support for the purpose of conducting professional and independent election observation and monitoring activities. Access to such support constitutes a key condition for ensuring the effectiveness, professionalism and sustainability of domestic election observation efforts, in line with applicable legal frameworks. Functions / Key Results Expected Under the guidance of the ECES Representative in Ethiopia, the Deputy Observer Coordinator will be entrusted with the following specific responsibilities along with the corresponding deliverables: Key Responsibilities The Deputy Observer Coordinator supports the Observer Coordinator in the planning, implementation, and supervision of observer operations, ensuring efficient deployment, data collection, and communication across all levels of the observation mission. Support to Observer Coordination Assist in the coordination of LTOs and STOs across regions. Support the development and execution of observer deployment plans. Maintain observer databases and tracking systems. Recruitment, Accreditation, and Deployment Support recruitment processes for observers in collaboration with regional focal points. Facilitate accreditation procedures with relevant authorities. Assist in organizing observer deployment logistics. Training and Capacity Building Contribute to the preparation of training materials (manuals, checklists, tools). Support the delivery of training sessions for LTOs and STOs. Ensure observers understand reporting tools, methodology, and code of conduct. Data Management and Reporting Support the implementation of data collection systems (digital and manual). Monitor incoming observer reports and ensure completeness and quality. Assist in data cleaning, validation, and preliminary analysis. Field Operations and Support Provide operational support to LTOs and STOs during deployment. Assist in troubleshooting logistical and technical issues in the field. Support communication between field teams and the Core Team. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (M&E) Assist in tracking observer performance and operational indicators. Contribute to evaluation of observation activities and lessons learned. Support preparation of operational and M&E reports. Risk and Incident Management Support monitoring of security and operational risks affecting observers. Ensure timely reporting of incidents from the field. Assist in implementing contingency measures. Administrative and Logistical Support Assist in organizing meetings, briefings, and coordination sessions. Support budget tracking and logistical planning. Ensure proper documentation and filing of observer-related activities Deliverables Updated observer database and deployment tracking tools Training materials and training support reports Daily/weekly operational updates Data quality control summaries Post-election operational and lessons learned report Duration The assignment covers the full electoral cycle*, including: Pre-election phase Election day Immediate post-election period *The full electoral cycle included the 7th General election (possibility of staggered elections over several months/years), possible bi-elections, referendum and local elections. VALUES Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of ECES. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability. Demonstrates integrity by modelling ECES’ values and ethical standards. About You Recruitment Qualifications Education: A bachelor's degree in law or electoral policy or Human Rights or governance Experience/competencies: Professional Experience At least 3–5 years of experience in: Election observation support or coordination Project coordination and field Operations Civil society or governance programs Minimum 2 years’ working experience for CECOE in position of program officer and/or project manager would be an asset Technical Skills Knowledge of : Election observation processes and tools Data collection and management systems Proficiency in : Data analysis tools and reporting platforms Project management methodologies Experience with digital data collection tools (e.g., mobile reporting systems) Organizational and Coordination Skills Strong logistical and operational coordination skills Ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines Attention to detail and problem-solving capacity Language Requirements: Excellent working-level proficiency in Amharic and English, both written and spoken.