Internship

I. Background

CECOE is a non-profit and non-governmental civil society organization with more than 175 member organizations. CECOE was licensed by the F.D.R.E. Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) in 2019 with registration number 4748 under the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation 1113/2019, to enhance and coordinate the role of Ethiopian CSOs in election observation, voter education, preventing electoral conflicts, and providing capacity building and support for its member organizations.

CECOE is a committed member of the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (E-HORN), African Election Observers Network (AfEONet), and a member of the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM), which connects regional networks and individual monitoring organizations across more than 88 countries worldwide. Since 2019, CECOE has observed seven electoral events, deploying both Long-Term Observers (LTOs) and Short-Term Observers (STOs) for referendums and general elections. CECOE is currently implementing a project titled “Enhancing the Credibility, Transparency, and Inclusiveness of the Seventh General Elections of Ethiopia through systematic citizens’ election observation.” This initiative, supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia, is focused on the planning and preparation for observing the upcoming 7th General Election.

II. The Position

CECOE is seeking to hire interns to support its election observation activities for the upcoming 7th General Election. The interns will operate under the auspices of the CECOE Secretariat, working closely with the CECOE staff, Member organizations, Regional Focal Persons, Zonal coordinators and observers. They will assist in processing data from observers to ensure accurate and timely reporting.

III. Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Interns will be responsible for, among other things:

1. Assisting in the recruitment of observers in coordination with Regional Focal Persons and Zonal coordinators.
2. Verifying data accuracy from observer reports, checklists, and forms submitted by Regional Focal Persons, Zonal coordinators, and observers.
3. Performing basic data cleaning, including identifying and correcting errors, duplicates, or inconsistencies in observation data.
4. Supporting the generation of reports by organizing cleaned data, assisting with basic analysis, and preparing summaries.
5. Contributing to the timely processing of observer reports to facilitate the quick dissemination of findings.
6.  Assisting with data entry, digitization, and archiving of information.
7. Providing administrative support for data-related activities, such as maintaining contact management forms and tracking resources.
8. Participating in quality control checks for training materials and simulation exercises as needed.
9. Reporting any critical data discrepancies or issues to the Management Team.
10. Undertake additional tasks as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

IV. Required Qualifications and Experiences

1. Minimum of a diploma or Bachelor’s degree in fields such as law, political science, information technology, statistics, social sciences, or a related area.
2. Basic proficiency in data handling tools such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or similar software; familiarity with data cleaning techniques is an advantage.
3. Amharic and English fluency, both spoken and written, are required. Knowledge of local languages relevant to assigned regions is preferred.
4. At least 3 months of experience or relevant internships in data entry, administrative support, or CSO-related activities; experience in election or rights-related work is a plus.
5. Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to work under supervision in a team environment.
6. Excellent basic oral and written communication skills in English.

V. Duration

The positions are short-term internships for 6 months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and project needs.