- Position: Consultant
Duration: It is envisaged that the assignment will last 4-5 days over 3 months - Estimated starting date – Preparatory Work: 20 December 2024 – 25 January 2025
- Estimated Training date sessions – end date: 05 February 2025 – 05 April 2025
- Location: Home-based, with possible travel required
- Application deadline: 01 December 2024, midnight CET
EuroMed Rights is looking to recruit a training consultant in the framework of the EU co-funded project Majalat II: Fostering the structured dialogue between EU and civil society in the Southern Neighbourhood.
The selected expert will be responsible for preparing and conducting online training for CSOs in the MENA region to strengthen and to improve their capacity to navigate EU funding mechanisms, including European instruments, and European Member States that are currently key donors to the region. The selected consultant will also guide beneficiaries in creating long-term sustainable funding strategies adopted for EU advocacy and human rights work, including climate-related initiatives.
- Background
The Majalat II: Fostering the structured dialogue between EU and civil society in the Southern Neighbourhood project aims at enhancing a structured and inclusive dialogue between civil society from the Neighborhood South (NS) and a variety of interlocutors, including the EU and national authorities.
The project will be implemented over three years (Jan. 2023 – Dec. 2025) by a Consortium of three civil society networks in the Euro-Mediterranean region: Euromed Rights (EMR), Forum Alternatives du Maroc (FMAS) and Legal Agenda. Majalat II builds on the results of the first phase of Majalat, which ran from February 2018 to September 2021, adopting a similar regional approach and building on the extensive network of civil society partners that has been established in the four target countries – Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon.
Through a cycle of capacity building sessions, sub-grants, thematic workshops, regional seminars, Majalat II provides a unique opportunity for civil society organisations (CSOs) from the Middle East and North Africa to engage with national and European policy makers and share a wide range of recommendations related to three target themes:
(1) governance, democracy and human rights;
(2) climate change and social justice; and;
(3) judicial independence and transparency.
A needs assessment, conducted in early 2024 by an independent expert hired by EuroMed Rights, revealed a pressing demand for CSO training in accessing and managing funding sources, particularly within the EU.
Based on these findings, Majalat II will offer a series of training sessions in early 2025, targeting CSO partners to improve skills for securing funding in the areas of human rights, good governance, climate and social justice, independence and transparency of the judiciairy.
2.Description of the assignment
The selected Consultant will design and deliver online training for MENA-region CSOs to strengthen their capacity in applying for and managing EU funding. The training, scheduled for February/April 2025, will be conducted online for a select group of organizations, with potential in-person sessions depending on resources.
This training will equip CSOs to navigate EU funding opportunities, with a focus on eligibility, proposal writing, budget management, and compliance with EU requirements. The Consultant will also support participants in developing sustainable funding strategies for EU-focused advocacy and project work in human rights and climate-related initiatives.
The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
Training content development:
- Develop comprehensive technical training materials and a curriculum covering the following key areas:
- Identifying and accessing EU and Member States funding opportunities: focusing on funding streams available for CSOs and Human Rights Defenders in the MENA region with an emphasis on human rights and climate-related initiatives.
- Navigating EU requirements (eligibility, visibility, others): detailed guidance on understanding and complying with EU application processes and legal requirements.
- Proposal writing: elaborating compelling and compliant proposals aligned with EU priorities for human rights and climate.
- Managing budgets in accordance with EU financial guidelines.
- Fundraising strategies: developing tailored fundraising approaches for EU-funded human rights and advocacy projects with a focus on long term sustainability.
- Donor communication: best practices for engaging and maintaining strong relationships with EU donors.
Delivery of training sessions:
- Facilitate insightful and interactive online training sessions, ensuring participants gain practical skills and knowledge applicable to their operations.
Follow up:
- Provide participants with post training resources such as templates, checklists and guides to support their future funding applications.
- Submit a brief report to the Majalat II Consortium summarizing the outcomes of the training sessions and recommending future capacity building initiatives.
3. Deliverables
The selected Consultant will deliver the following deliverables:
- Detailed training programme, with the number and content of the proposed sessions and materials necessary to cover the assignment objectives.
- Training materials: including presentation slides, exercises, templates guidance materials, key reference documents on the main European funding mechanisms, useful links.
- Post training report: a brief report detailing the outcomes of the training, participants feedback and recommendations for future support.
4. Estimated Timeline
- Kick off meeting:15 December 2024
- Preparation of Training materials:15 December 2024– 25 January 2025
- Finalization and integration of EMR feedback: 25 January 2025 – 05 April 2025.
- Training online sessions: 05 February 2025 – 05 April 2025
- Post training feedback report: 15 March 2025
5. Required experience and skills:
- Proven extensive experience in conducting capacity-building sessions. Experience in training on EU funding mechanisms would be a particular asset;
- Solid knowledge of EU funding mechanisms and requirements relevant to CSOs in the MENA region, and in the areas of human rights, cooperation and climate action;
- Expertise in fundraising, and technical grant management skills: proposal writing, budget management and EU compliance;
- Ability to deliver timely and high-quality results under tight deadlines;
- Fluency in written and spoken English, and Arabic; French is desirable
- Excellent command of Online conferencing tools and Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, etc);
- Experience working with civil society organisations, networks, and/or EU projects is an asset;
- Interest in and knowledge of the political context of the MENA region and of the EU-civil society dialogue in the Southern Neighbourhood is an asset.
TO APPLY
This application is open to organisations, research institutes, firms or individuals.
If you believe you qualify for this position, please send the following documents by 1st December 2024 at midnight CET to Marie Picalausa, Administrative, Financial & Human Resource Officer, at [email protected], with [email protected] in cc.
- CV;
- A workplan for finalization of deliverables (including estimated number of working days);
- A breakdown of expected services and associated costs, with VAT, for the completion of all deliverables;
- 3 professional references;
- Please write “Consultant for EU findings mechanisms- Majalat II” in the subject line.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
About EuroMed Rights
EuroMed Rights was founded in January 1997 in response to the Barcelona Declaration of November 1995 and the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP). It is the coordinating body of about 80 human rights organisations and institutions as well as individuals from over 30 countries. EuroMed Rights’ organisational structure is built on a general assembly, an executive committee, working groups and a secretariat.
Rooted in civil society the Network seeks to develop and strengthen partnerships between NGOs in the EuroMed region, i.e. networking aimed at strengthening the capacity of members to act and interact within the context of the region and the Barcelona process and other EU-Arab cooperation frameworks.
EuroMed Rights’ head office is situated in Copenhagen. The organisation also has offices in Brussels, Paris and Tunis. For further information, visit our website at www.euromedrights.org.
EuroMed Rights aims to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the ground of race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, gender, marital status, caring responsibilities, sexual orientation, disability or chronic illness.