Position: Grants Officer

Aug 26, 2025

Employment Type: Full-Time

Number of Positions:  One (01)

Duty Station:  Addis Ababa

Application Deadline: September 5, 2025

  Background:

The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is implementing a multi-year project aimed at enhancing citizens’ engagement in human rights, democratic processes, civic rights, duties, and peacebuilding; improving the implementation of best practices among civil society; and strengthening women’s leadership in local governance. The project will be implemented in partnership with CECOE, Bright Future, and Ethiopian Women Rights Advocates (EWRA) across multiple regions of Ethiopia, through civic engagement hubs, digital learning platforms, sub-grants, training, and advocacy initiatives.

Position Summary:

The Grants Officer will be a critical member of the Program and Admin Team, reporting directly to the Finance and Admin Manager. The Grants Officer will also serve as the system administrator for the CECOE’s grants management database and as the project lead for system migrations.

Job Description and Responsibilities:

Grant Management:

• Maintain working knowledge of the CECOE’s programs and priority funding areas and remain abreast of current research, activities, and trends in the CSO sector.

• Monitor grants for legal, financial, and program compliance including but not limited to ensuring that grant requirements are correctly documented in the grant files and database.

• Monitor and document the grant making workflow processes, forms, templates, reports and data to assure full compliance with internal controls and legal requirements.

• Generate reports and data analysis for the program and finance&Admin team or board.

• Problem-solve complex grant scenarios; consult/liaise with finance and/or legal counsel.

• Work with finance to generate reporting required for compliance and financial statement audits.

System Administration:

• Manage implementation of a new grants management system and other technology improvements, including development plans and timelines, staff communication, testing and troubleshooting, documentation, training, and release cycles.

• Administer the current and future grant making database system, including managing data hierarchy, data quality, data retrieval, coding and reporting, particularly with respect to compliance, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

• Ensure all staff are aware and knowledgeable of grants management processes and technology to the degree their functions require. This includes designing dashboards and training staff of all departments formally and informally.

• Implement and maintain protocols for testing and reconciling data accuracy, and making timely and accurate database changes.

• Manage system upgrades, troubleshooting, and roll-out of updates including staff notifications and training.

 • Develop training materials and standard operating procedures.

 • Maintain electronic manuals and update the program section of policy and procedures manual.

• Document system procedure changes and trains users on any updates.

 Grant Monitoring and Evaluation Responsibilities:

• Improve the way staff capture, access, and use grant making information to enhance programmatic and operational decision-making, produce accurate reports of grant making results, enhance grantee/grant seeker relationships, and enable learning; enhance supporting systems and tools.

Requirements and Qualifications:

 Education: MA/BA in Management, Economics, Accounting& Finance, or related fields

 Experiences: 4+ years of experience for MA and 6 years of experience for BA (NGO experience is a must)

Skills, Attitudes and Attributes:

Good skills in written and spoken English,

Understanding of basic financial management,

Good computer skills,

High level of interpersonal communication and negotiation skills.

Strong work ethic and ability to meet deadlines.

Project Officer

Aug 26, 2025

Position Title: Project Officer

Duty Station: Addis Ababa with frequent travel to project regions (Tigray, Harari, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, and other target areas)

Reports to: Project Manager/Program Coordinator

Contract Type: Full-time (Project-based)

Duration: 1 year with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding

1.  Background

The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is implementing a multi-year project aimed at enhancing citizens’ engagement in human rights, democratic processes, civic rights, duties, and peacebuilding; improving the implementation of best practices among civil society; and strengthening women’s leadership in local governance. The project will be implemented in partnership with CECOE, Bright Future, and Ethiopian Women Rights Advocates (EWRA) across multiple regions of Ethiopia, through civic engagement hubs, digital learning platforms, sub-grants, training, and advocacy initiatives.

To support the effective implementation of the project, CECOE seeks to recruit a qualified Project Officer who will be responsible for day-to-day coordination, implementation of activities, monitoring, and reporting.

2.  Purpose of the Position

The Project Officer will ensure the smooth execution of project activities, working closely with consortium partners and regional civic engagement hubs. The officer will contribute to citizen education, capacity development of civil society organizations, women’s leadership initiatives, peacebuilding interventions, and documentation of best practices.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Officer will perform the following key tasks:

Project Implementation and Coordination

  • Support the implementation of activities, including digital civic education, establishment of civic engagement hubs, peacebuilding initiatives, women’s leadership programs, and civil society capacity building.
  • Coordinate with consortium partners (CECOE, Bright Future, and EWRA) to ensure timely and effective delivery of activities.
  • Facilitate trainings, workshops, and civic engagement events in target regions.
  • Provide technical and logistical support for sub-granting processes and mentorship initiatives.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

  • Track progress of project activities against work plans and results framework.
  • Collect and compile data, case studies, and success stories from project regions.
  • Contribute to outcome-level monitoring on citizen engagement, civil society best practices, and women’s leadership.
  • Assist in organizing lesson-learning workshops, peer-to-peer forums, and conferences.

Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Collaborate with civic engagement hubs to enhance the capacity of CSOs, women’s groups, and youth networks.
  • Support mentorship, training, and grant management for emerging CSOs and community-based initiatives.
  • Facilitate dialogues, forums, and campaigns to promote civic education, peacebuilding, and women’s rights.
  • Establish strong working relationships with local government bodies, CSOs, media, and community leaders.

Reporting and Documentation

  • Prepare periodic progress reports, activity briefs, and updates for internal and donor reporting.
  • Ensure proper documentation of activities, financial compliance (in collaboration with finance staff), and lessons learned.
  • Support the dissemination of communication materials, including policy briefs, commentaries, media campaigns, and advocacy content.

4. Required Qualifications and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Law, Political Science, Human Rights, Development Studies, Gender Studies, or related fields (Master’s degree is an advantage).
  • Minimum of 3–5 years’ relevant experience in project coordination, civic engagement, human rights, or peacebuilding.
  • Demonstrated experience working with CSOs, women’s rights organizations, or governance initiatives.
  • Knowledge of civic education, peacebuilding, and women’s leadership programming in Ethiopia.
  • Strong skills in organizing trainings, workshops, and community dialogues.
  • Experience with sub-grant management, capacity development, and monitoring & evaluation.
  • Excellent report writing, communication, and facilitation skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a diverse team.
  • Proficiency in English and Amharic; knowledge of additional local languages is an asset.

5. Competencies

  • Strong organizational and coordination skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity.
  • Commitment to human rights, democratic values, gender equality, and peacebuilding.
  • Strong problem-solving, analytical, and adaptive learning skills.

6. Deliverables

  • Timely implementation of activities in line with work plans.
  • Monthly/quarterly progress reports and documentation of activities.
  • Effective coordination of civic engagement hubs and CSO partners.
  • Contributions to project outcomes on citizen engagement, civil society best practices, and women’s leadership.

7. Duration and Duty Station

The Project Officer will be based in Addis Ababa, with frequent travel to regional hubs (Tigray, Harari, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, and others). The contract duration is 12 months, renewable based on performance and availability of funds.

Social Media Manager

May 29, 2025

About CECOE

The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is a coalition of over 175 local civil society organizations engaged in democracy and electoral activities across Ethiopia. CECOE obtained a certificate of registration from the FDRE Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) in 2019 with the registration number 4748. CECOE was established to coordinate civic engagement, increasing citizen participation in voter education, election observation, research, and advocacy with the view to bolstering long-term civil society engagement in Ethiopia’s electoral process in a sustainable manner.

CECOE is currently implementing a project titled “Civic Education for Better Civic Engagement and Political Participation in Ethiopia.” This project is financed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the “Support to Good Governance (S2GG) in Ethiopia” program, Focused on digital civic education, the project will engage in the design and provision of a nationwide and localized civic education campaign using interactive audiovisual (radio spots and video ads) and printed materials.

Job Overview/Summary:

We are looking for a creative, proactive, and tech-savvy Social Media Manager to lead CECOE’s digital engagement efforts. This role blends social media strategy, community engagement, graphic design, and video editing—perfect for a versatile communicator who is passionate about civic education and digital storytelling.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Create, design edit, and publish engaging content (text, images, infographics, short videos).
  • Design eye-catching print designs, visuals and video content for social media, ads, and informative campaigns.
  • Monitor trends, track performance, and adjust strategies based on insights and analytics.
  • Engage with CECOE’s online community and respond to comments/messages in a timely manner.
  • Coordinate with the communications and project teams to align messaging and timelines.
  • Generate performance reports for internal review and improvement.
  • Support additional communications and campaign tasks as needed.

Job Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications/Journalism, IT , political science or law.
  • Must have skills in multimedia design, graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite) and video editing (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro).
  • Minimum of 4 years of proven experience in social media management, digital content creation, online communications or related roles.
  • Strong understanding of social media trends, audience engagement, and digital storytelling, particularly for civic or nonprofit audiences.
  • Proficiency in using analytics tools (e.g., Meta Business Suite, Google Analytics) to assess and enhance content performance.
  • Excellent communication, writing, and editing skills in Amharic and English.
  • Familiarity with or interest in voter civic education, elections, or governance in Ethiopia is highly desirable.

Project Officer/ Election Observation and Monitoring 

Oct 23, 2024

Background of CECOE

The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is a coalition of over 175 local civil society organizations engaged in democracy and electoral activities across Ethiopia. CECOE obtained a certificate of registration from the FDRE Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) in 2019 with the registration number 4748.  CECOE was established to coordinate civic engagement, increasing citizen participation in voter education, election observation, research, and advocacy with the view to bolstering long-term civil society engagement in Ethiopia’s electoral process in a sustainable manner.

Following its establishment, CECOE observed the Sidama referendum which laid the groundwork for significant projects during the 6th Ethiopian general elections, reshaping the role of Ethiopian CSOs in electoral processes. During the Sixth National and Regional Elections, CECOE deployed over 3,500 observers across nine regional states and two city administrations for the June and September 2021 elections, including the South West Ethiopia referendum. The Coalition also initiated a media monitoring project, tracking election-related information across seven media outlets, political party social media accounts, and CSOs. Moreover, CECOE coordinated voter education campaigns in various regions. In February 2023, CECOE successfully observed a referendum in six zones and five special woredas of SNNPR, deploying 434 stationary and 76 mobile observers. CECOE has also observed the outstanding and reelections of the Sixth General elections which were organized on June , 2024 in Benishangul, Afar, Central Ethiopia and Somali regions. Based on its observation findings, CECOE issues statements and final observation reports which are later on used to engage stakeholders in electoral reform activities, organizing forums, workshops, and producing policy briefs and advertisements.

Job Overview/ Summary

CECOE is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Election Observation and Monitoring Officer to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral and political processes. The successful candidate will be responsible for observing election procedures, monitoring compliance with electoral laws, and reporting findings to enhance the democratic process.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Observation and monitoring of electoral and political processes
    • Oversee and document electoral and political processes at a regional and national level
    • Ensure adherence to legal and procedural guidelines throughout the electoral and political processes.
  • Data Collection and Reporting
    • Gather and analyze data related to voter turnout, election irregularities, and procedural compliance.
    • Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations on findings for stakeholders.
  • Capacity building and stakeholder engagement
    • Collaborate with election officials, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to promote transparency and accountability.
    • Participate in briefings and debriefings to share observations and recommendations.
    • Assist in training volunteers and staff on political process monitoring techniques and best practices.
    • Provide guidance on ethical standards and reporting procedures.
  • Crisis management 
    • Identify and respond to potential issues or irregularities during the election process.
    • Recommend corrective actions to improve electoral practices.

Job  Requirements

  • BA, LLB, LLM degree in human rights, Constitutional law, Political Science, International Relations, Law, or other related fields.
  • At least 6 years of work experience for BA/LLB and  4 years experience for LLM or MA
  • Experience on election and related roles 
  • Proven experience in election monitoring, civil service, or a related area.
  • Strong analytical and observational skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Knowledge of electoral laws and regulations is preferred.

Skills and Competencies Required

  • Strong attention to detail and critical thinking skills.
  • Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines under pressure.
  • Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work in diverse environments.

How to apply

Interested applicants should apply using this link 

When to apply 

Interested applicants should apply on or before October 31, 2024

CECOE strongly encourages female candidates to apply!

Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusion Expert

Oct 11, 2024

About CECOE

The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) is a coalition of 176 Ethiopian CSOs working in the area of elections, human rights and democracy. Since its establishment, CECOE has observed the 6th general Ethiopian elections, the Sidama and South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Region referendums. Furthermore, the Coalition has been engaged in various advocacy and civic education activities. The I Vote digital voter education campaign which reached several million Ethiopians and an advocacy campaign to reform the electoral legal regime come at the forefront in this regard. 

The meaningful and full participation of women and marginalized groups in the political process is one of the important things necessary for making a fundamental change in Ethiopian politics. In this context, CECOE across its all project implementations aims to ensure the inclusion of gender perspective. The Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusion Consultant will be serving as the lead for CECOE’s analysis and strategy development. This will involve the following tasks:

Currently CECOE in partnership with Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) is implementing a project on enhancing the Participation of Women in Ethiopian Politics.

The scope of the assignment

The Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusion Expert is expected to ensure the application of the gender mainstreaming and inclusion principles across CECOE’s projects. The Expert will contribute to the design, implementation and monitoring of CECOE’s project activities.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Ensure timely and adequate implementation of activities according to the Project Document activity plans; this includes preparing a detailed work plan and performance monitoring plan to implement the gender mainstreaming components as per the Project Document and approved plans
  • Ensure links and synergy with other projects under the overall guidance of the Project Manager;
  • Review all concept notes and project documents prior to submission alongside the program team for donor approval to evaluate the application of the Gender and Inclusion concepts;
  • Provide support to CECOE’s other technical team in developing training materials and providing training;
  • Work closely with the program and M&E team to ensure that Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusion targets, indicators, and learning are considered and captured on a regular basis;
  • Design and implement gender mainstreaming and inclusion strategy and activities at the organizational level;
  • Provide technical guidance, resources, and tools on integrating gender and inclusion in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of international development programs and activities.
  • Conduct gender analyses and assessments to identify gender gaps and develop strategies for addressing them.
  • Contribute to the development, implementation, and monitoring of gender equality policies, guidelines, and frameworks.
  • Design and deliver training programs and workshops to enhance staff and stakeholder understanding of gender issues.
  • Support the development of gender-sensitive tools and resources to facilitate knowledge sharing and learning.
  • Conduct research on gender-related topics, analyze data, and generate evidence to inform decision-making.
  • Stay up to date with current trends, best practices, and emerging issues in the field of gender equality.
  • Develop and implement gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact of interventions and track progress towards gender equality goals.
  • Provide regular reports on gender-related indicators and recommend corrective actions as needed.
  • Prepare high quality reports, technical resources, and other products and deliverables on topics related to gender and inclusive development, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)
  • Maintain effective client relations and coordination.
  • Manage technical teams that deliver quality and timely products.
  • Review and prepare scopes of work for assignments.
  • Write high quality reports designed to effectively respond to client needs.
  • Review draft deliverables and provide constructive feedback.
  • Perform any other appropriate tasks assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in gender studies, sociology, international development, or a related field required.
  • Minimum four years of experience in gender mainstreaming and social inclusion, evaluation and research, and program management required.
  • Experience working as a Gender Specialist or in a similar role, with a strong understanding of gender equality and women’s rights issues, including in-depth knowledge of gender analysis methodologies, gender mainstreaming, and gender-responsive programming.
  • Experience working on gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in the civil society sector is preferred.
  • Experience engaging with community groups, local CSOs, government organizations, and advocacy groups is advantageous.
  • Strong teamwork skills and commitment to collaborate with other staff.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well in a team setting.
  • Creativity and enthusiasm to tackle new challenges.
  • Able and willing to undertake field travel when required.
  • Strong experience working with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required.
  • Strong English speaking and writing skills are required.

Working Condition

  • Based at CECOE Head office in Addis Ababa

Note

  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
  • Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Deadline: October 21, 2023