State Project Coordinator, ESGBV (Benue, Nigeria)

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, 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:

• Outcome 1: Facilitate the strengthening, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of key legal and policy frameworks on the prevention of SGBV such as the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP) Act, the response to SGBV and the protection of women, men, girls and boys in all their diversity.
• Outcome 2: Improve and expand 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 GBV; and.
• Outcome 3: Build the capacity of and provide resources to women’s rights organisations, social movements and other civil society organisations to influence and advance progress on promoting favourable social norms to end SGBV.

The State Project Coordinator is responsible for the management and delivery of the project, coordination of the state project team and representing the project at an institutional level, with the state Government and with other key stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Oversees at state level, the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the EU Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) Programme;

2. Represents the ESGBV programme at state level; Ensures effective support for the convening of State Project Steering Group meetings;

3. Develops and maintains positive and effective relations with the state government and other relevant donors and interlocutors; Promotes dialogue and consensus building at the highest levels and provides and facilitates expert advice to partners;

4. Plans, facilitates, participates in, and presents at coordination meetings, seminars, workshops, and conferences;

5. Manages and directs the work and team to deliver efficiently on all agreed project outputs and outcomes, within agreed timeframes and budget, and in accordance with approved procedures and processes; Establishes and nurtures a working environment that is conducive to delivering results, fostering a spirit of collaboration, strong work ethic and team cohesion;

6. Closely monitors project performance and prepares and provides periodic reviews and reports in a timely and effective manner, including impact, quarterly and annual reports, and such other reports that may be required for internal and external evaluations to be carried out;

7. Supports the design and implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework in accordance with the Monitoring and Evaluation plan outlined in the Programme Design document, responding to both EU needs, and aligned with International IDEA’s M&E results framework;

8. Communicates, represents, and ensures the visibility of the project is in line with the Communication and Visibility Plan; Ensures communication and cooperation with the other Project Managers, the Monitoring and Evaluation team and the Communications team;

9. Provides timely and insightful reports on the political and security situation at state level;

10. Is responsible for state level project risk management and actively manages risk, in line with organizational policies and procedures;

11. Ensures adherence to both EU and International IDEA policies and procedures in both project implementation and reporting;

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

Safeguarding

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

14. 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

• Possesses excellent programmatic knowledge, acquired through post-graduate academic achievements, extensive work experience and excellent skills including managerial skills;
• Leads assigned teams (including 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 (NG-FC)

Education and Experience

• Post-graduate qualification in social science, international law, international development, human rights, psychology, gender studies, or other relevant discipline;
• A minimum of seven years (7) years of relevant experience implementing projects working on gender/GBV programming and/or working with GBV survivors and the provision of relevant expert advice in Nigeria;
• Experience working on gender issues and women’s human rights in development or similar sectors, with a focus on protection and gender equality in Nigeria, preferably in Benue State;
• A minimum of three (3) years’ management experience, 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 working in the area of gender 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) 02 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.