The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Its core mission is helping young people, influencers and future leaders in the UK and worldwide realize their potential by connecting them with each other and the UK through arts and culture, education, and the English language.

The Civil Society Support Program 2 (CSSP2) is a £16.7 million capacity development program designed to support Ethiopia’s civil society and its contribution to the country’s national development, poverty reduction and advancement of good governance. The program, which manages a fund of more than £9 million, has a strong emphasis on ‘hard-to-reach’ civil society and citizens, through regionally-led programming. CSSP2 has identified three strategic themes for engagement and support, based on contextual analysis and needs: Gender transformation, Young people and Citizen-state engagement. (These focus areas have been chosen to respond to the needs of the context in which CSSP2 is operating, and they may evolve in time in line with contextual changes). The program is winding down its originally agreed implementation phase and about to commence an extension phase. The thematic and geographic focus of the program remains unchanged.

CSSP2 is led by the British Council in consortium with Social Development Direct and Pact, and is supported by multiple donors (Ireland, Sweden and Norway) led by the FCDO. CSSP2 is delivered through a central program office and regional hub based in Addis Ababa, and four further regional hubs in Dessie, Assossa, Hawassa, and Dire Dawa, to facilitate grassroots implementation throughout the country. The program works to build effective relationships that foster collaboration between civil society actors, citizens and the government in order to support hard to reach communities and often overlooked development issues. Ultimately, government, CSO and public trust and confidence in each other will help to create an enabling environment in which there is increasing space for constructive dialogue and requisite action on issues of concern.

We are seeking a consultant who can serve as Tigray Hub Officer for the British Council in Ethiopia CSSP2 Program with a brief to successfully deliver the following (and others as they arise).

S/he is primarily responsible for overall program operations in Tigray which includes, but not limited to:

• Planning and Management–responsible for the overall planning and management of the program in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
• Relationship Management and Learning – lead on the building and maintaining of dynamic and strategic relationships for CSSP2 at regional and sub-regional level, representing and communicating CSSP2 to key stakeholders (civil society, citizens,
• government and private sector) with integrity and neutrality. This also includes exemplary and empowering management of the CSSP2 regional hub staff.
• Capacity Development – lead the design and delivery of capacity development support for local civil society in consultation with local stakeholders and in liaison with the CSSP2 technical teams, with a strong emphasis on the most excluded women, men and children.
• Grant-making – lead and support the grant-making process at the local level in consultation with local stakeholders, and in liaison with CSSP2 technical teams.
• Monitoring and Evaluation – ensure that all CSSP investments under the Tigray Hub are monitored to agreed standards and principles, and that a strong focus on results and value for resources across the portfolio.

Benefit package: Daily consultancy fee rate depending on experience and / or qualifications.

Duration: Until 31 March 2022.

Job Requirements

Required qualifications and experience:

Education- A first degree or equivalent professional experience in project management, social work, human rights or related disciplines.

Experience- at least 2 years’ project and program management experience with evidence of monitoring and evaluation and grant management. And, at least 2 years’ experience in a similar role managing client funded projects and/or grants. Experience of working in humanitarian context is preferred.

Program / Operations management - Ability to adapt and implement back office program management functions, particularly in relation to grant and downstream partner management

Financial management – A thorough understanding of financial monitoring, expenditure verifications, costing, forecasting and budget management issues.

CSO Capacity Building – Demonstrable experience of building the capacity of CSO/NGO grant recipients at all stages of the grant process from design to closure.

Language- Fluency in English and Tigrign is a mandatory requirement.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and response to Mussie.Dessalegn@britishcouncil.org with Jebessa.Senbeta@CSSP2-et.org in copy. The email subject should be clearly indicated as ‘Tigray Hub Officer.

Please visit the British Council website Tigray Hub Officer - consultant CSSP 2 to access the TOR and the consultant response guide

The submission deadline is 30 June 2021 (5.00 p.m. Ethiopia time).