Context

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization with 35 member states hailing from different continents around the world. International IDEA aims to support sustainable democracy worldwide, doing so, inter alia, by working with both new and long-established democracies to strengthen the institutions and culture of democracy and enhance the rule of law. Located at the interface of research and practice, International IDEA serves as a forum for dialogue and uses comparative experience and analysis to identify good practices for democracy-building. It also produces knowledge tools and practical guides for democracy support. The Institute maintains a global network of experts, provides training materials, and offers strategic advice to democracy actors at the international, regional, and national levels. The Institute is headquartered in Stockholm with field offices in Africa and West Asia, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

International IDEA will be managing the “EU Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) in Nigeria” programme. This programme aims to reduce Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria by strengthening laws and policies, expanding survivor-centered essential services and driving positive social-norm change. It will ensure that people in all their diversity with particular attention to women, girls and the most vulnerable have their rights promoted and protected from all forms of violence through legislation and effective enforcement, while improving the rule of law, tackling impunity, and enhancing access to justice through a more independent, effective, responsive, transparent and gender-sensitive justice sector. The programme also advances Sustainable Development Goals 5 (Gender Equality) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The programme will work towards three anticipated Outcomes:

I. Outcome 1 - Strengthened implementation, enforcement and monitoring of key legal and policy frameworks on the prevention of SGBV such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, response to SGBV and the protection of women, men, girls and boys;

II. Outcome 2 - Improved access to essential services (health, justice, protection and other related services) to recover from experienced violence, especially for survivors from rural communities, conflict affected communities, persons with disabilities and for victims of technology facilitated SGBV;

III. Outcome 3 - Strengthened capacity of civil society organisations, including women’s rights organisations, social movements, community-based groups and the public, to influence and promote favourable social norms as a way of ending SGBV.

The incumbent will be responsible for managing and coordinating the successful delivery of expected outputs at both state and federal levels that will contribute to the achievement of Specific Objective 3: Strengthened capacity of civil society organisations, including women’s rights organisations, social movements, community-based groups and the public, to influence and promote favourable social norms as a way of ending SGBV.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Contributes to the development of EU Support to ending SGBV in Nigeria Programme strategies, workplans, monitoring and evaluation framework; Contributes to enhancing knowledge and performance of the programme;

2. Leads, manages and provides strategic direction to Outcome 3 of the programme;

3. Manages and directs the team to deliver efficiently, within agreed timeframes and budget, and in accordance with approved procedures and processes;

4. Establishes and nurtures a working environment that is conducive to delivering results, fostering a spirit of collaboration, strong work ethic and project team cohesion;

5. Oversees the planning and implementation of Outcome 3; Closely monitors project performance and prepares and provides periodic project reviews in a timely and effective manner;

6. Ensures the delivery of agreed outputs and outcomes are in cooperation and coordination with other areas of work within the programme, other International IDEA Projects (including RoLAC II) and external partners;

7. Develops and manages relationships with stakeholders relevant to the project;

8. Contributes to the design of the programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation framework in accordance with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan outlined in the Programme Design

document, responding to both EU needs and aligned with International IDEA’s M&E results framework;

9. Communicates, represents and ensures the visibility of the project is in line with the programme’s Communication and Visibility Plan;

10. Ensures coordination and effective communication with project partners, and EUD Nigeria as delegated by the Senior Programme Manager, ESGBV;

11. Represents the Outcome 3 externally as appropriate, including development and maintenance of positive and effective relations with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and other relevant donors and interlocutors;

12. Leads the development and implementation of sustainable capacity building, advocacy and resource mobilisation strategies for strengthening women’s rights organisations, social movements, community-based groups and the public to engage in the fight against SGBV;

13. Designs, implements and measures the impact of initiatives that promote government and civil society partnership to address SGBV;

14. Provides technical expertise in the selection and management of grants to CSOs; including leading on the development of systems, processes, and mechanisms for awarding, monitoring and assessing the performance of grants;

15. Leads the design, execution and impact assessment of public sensitisation initiatives and campaigns (including social media campaigns) to raise awareness about existing GBV laws, reporting channels and mechanisms; including those which address TF-SGBV and expand the availability of GBV response mechanisms that are tailored to the needs of men, boys, persons with disabilities and survivors in rural, hard to reach and conflict affected areas;

16. Provides strategic direction, technical advice, and sustainable innovative approaches for engaging young people in the fight against GBV, especially utilizing social media;

17. Ensures adherence to both EU and International IDEA regulations and procedures in project implementation and reporting;

18. Carries out other duties and responsibilities as related to the post that may be assigned from time to time.

Safeguarding

19. Shares responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom they work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children;

20. Has a shared duty to safeguard from the following conduct by staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, or adults at risk; and any form of trafficking of persons.

General Profile

• Combines in-depth knowledge, acquired through post-graduate academic achievements, excellent skills including managerial skills and technical expertise in the area of civil society strengthening, community and civil society mobilization and public engagement on Gender Based Violence/Violence Against Women (GBV/VAW);
• Leads assigned teams (including staff members and consultants) throughout the project life cycle; leads meetings and discussions;
• Regarded as an expert in their broad professional community;
• Has the intellectual leadership to integrate innovation into their field of expertise;
• Fosters team-based activities in their unit; collaborates with other entities of the Institute;
• Acts as a model and mentor for colleagues;
• Is expected to travel globally to any geographical area involved in their project;
• Follows internal procedures to ensure high standards of performance and compliance with Institutional guidelines;
• Acts in accordance with International IDEA’s Core Values; Respect, Integrity, and Professionalism;
• · Integrates a rights-based approach, gender, and diversity perspective in all activities.

Reporting line

•  Senior Programme Manager, ESGBV

Education and Experience

• Post-graduate degree in law, human rights, international development, gender/women’s studies, public policy or other related field;
• A minimum of eight to ten (8-10) years professional experience leading CSO organizational capacity strengthening interventions in the area of GBV/VAW policy with a strong focus on community mobilization and movement building/strengthening;
• Experience working with civil society organisations to address GBV/VAW in Nigeria;
• Experience building strong partnerships among civil society organizations as well as between government and civil society organisations in Nigeria;
• A minimum of five (5) years’ management experience, including senior level positions, with direct supervision over complex substantive teams; Experience with motivating and leading teams and solving issues
• Excellent understanding of project management, monitoring and evaluation approaches and procedures is essential;
• Experience in planning, developing and managing EU funded programmes, as well as familiarity with EU processes and systems considered an advantage;
• Relevant experience from an international and/or regional organization in the work of democracy assistance would be considered an asset;
• Excellent knowledge in written and oral English is required; Any other widely spoken language in an International IDEA priority region (Arabic, French, Spanish) and/or official EU language would be an asset.

Terms of Contract:

• This post is advertised subject to the confirmation of funding.
• Local Post.
• Fixed-term appointment for two (2) years.

Please note as this is a local post, International IDEA will bear no costs relating to the relocation of the selected candidate to the duty station. This position is open to those legally authorized to live and work in Nigeria for the duration of the contract. International IDEA is not able to support work permit applications. 

Applying for this position:

• Applications should be submitted online no later than 23:59 (CET) 01 December 2025. 
• Please note that all applications must be made in English.

Selection Process:

• Evaluation of qualified candidates will include a written test assessment and up to two (2) interviews.
• Candidates selected to proceed to the next stage of the process will be contacted once all applications have been carefully reviewed.
• All candidates will be notified of the status of their application via email once the process has been finalized.

International IDEA is an equal-opportunity employer which seeks to further diversify its staff in terms of gender, culture and nationality.