Location: Belgrade
No. of Posts: 1
Deadline for application: 11 August 2023
Project: “EU Regional Action for Education: Increased education opportunities for Roma students and Roma youth in Western Balkans and Turkey”, Phase II
Roma Education Fund (REF) is seeking a Project Assistant to join the project team in the implementation of the “EU Regional Action for Education: Increased education opportunities for Roma students and Roma youth in Western Balkans and Turkey” project funded by European Union and implemented by REF.
Background & Project:
The project “EU Regional Action for Roma Education: Increased Education Support and Opportunities for Roma Students in the Western Balkans and Turkey (RARE), phase II” constitutes a second phase of the already-implemented project during 2018-2021 by REF. During the first phase of the project, the education services provided through the seven project countries (Albania – ALB; Bosnia and Herzegovina – BIH; Kosovo – KOS; Montenegro – MNE; North Macedonia – MAC; Serbia – SER; Turkey – TUR) amounted to involving more than 4500 Roma children and youth (from all educational levels) in education activities. The present project continues the gains and results of the initial project, while, at the same time, creating a well-founded base for children and youth inclusion and participation in education.
The overall objective of the project is to reduce the Roma/non-Roma gap in participation to and completion of quality education, to improve Roma transition between education and employment in the Western Balkans and Turkey. The specific objectives of the action are:
- To improve the educational outcomes at all educational levels, with a special focus on reducing the wide gap between male and female education levels;
- To improve the transition of Roma students between education and employment with a special focus on reducing the wide gap between male and female education levels;
- To achieve durable, systematic policies for inclusive education within the education system.
The project is expected to run until December 2026. The project envisages activities in the fields of: Early Childhood Development and primary school education (ECD and PRI); Secondary Education (SEC), and Tertiary Education (TER). The Project Assistant is expected to be involved in all activities of the project, including support for administration and liaising with the grantees and their implementation of activities.
Outline of the Position:
This is a project-based position open for the duration of the project implementation (until December 2026). The selected candidate will sign a fixed-term contract, following a probation period. The incumbent will be based in Belgrade, Serbia. The Project Assistant will work as part of the project team in close cooperation with the Project Manager, Project Officer for Early Childhood Development and Primary Education, Project Officer for Secondary and Tertiary Education, Grant Officer, and Financial Coordinator, as well as with other members of the team.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Project Manager, Project Assistant will ensure administrative support and project assistance in all the fields related to the implementation and coordination of the project; provide support in all areas of operations of the project; liaise with the other members of the project team; will be involved in the organization of the project events; provide support in the archiving of the project. Specifically, responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following tasks:
- Overall administrative support in the management and coordination of the project, in close cooperation with the other members of the project team;
- Overall project assistance support in all areas of the operations of the project, as well as in relation to project’s grantees, in close cooperation with the other members of the project team;
- Collaboration with the other members of the project team in the tasks assigned to her/him by Project Officers and Financial Manager;
- Playing an active role in assisting the project activities both in the financial and operational aspects, in close cooperation with the other members of the project team;
- Managing office supplies and place orders, purchasing equipment, tendering for office purchase, negotiating with suppliers, ensuring that the office is adequately maintained in relation to the project to which she/he is assigned to;
- Preparing regular reports on expenses and office budgets and preparing reports and presentations with statistical data, as assigned, which are related to the project;
- Maintaining and updating REF datasets, keeping track of office assents and inventory related to the project;
- Assisting in the preparation of working documents and background material. Assisting with preparation of plans, reports and requests, including documents required by the Funding Authority;
- Assisting in the development of Project activities and liaising with counterparts. Preparing terms of reference for consultants and implementing partners, assisting with review of the narrative and financial reports submitted by the implementing partner organizations and consultants;
- Preparing internal and external meetings and conferences in cooperation with the Project team (all logistical arrangements incl. visa, accommodation, travel, catering, and other arrangements);
- Following-up on administrative correspondence in coordination with the Project Officers and the Project Manager, maintaining a central log of all incoming and outgoing official correspondence keeping record of all project activities; ensuring that outgoing mail is promptly dispatched;
- Assisting in project procurement processes and archiving processes;
- Being responsible for reporting of own activities, including all related aspects related to own reporting;
- Performing other tasks and duties assigned to by the Director/s or Project Manager, in accordance with the specificity of the position held.
Necessary Qualifications and Skills:
- Higher education (academic qualifications BA or MA degree) in the fields such as social and human sciences, political sciences, sociology, social assistance, psychology, communication sciences, law, or related fields etc. (In the case of other fields, professional experience will be taken into account).
- Work experience: up to 3 years of experience in project administration and/or project assistance/support.
- Experience in working with/for Roma communities and/or involvement in international projects settings.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in diverse Roma communities.
- Understanding of and passion for promoting the access of Roma children and youth to quality education.
Other Skills:
- Excellent command of English language is required,
- Communication ability (spoken and/or written) in at least two languages spoken in the project countries represents an asset, preference for candidates who are fluent in Romani language,
- Computer literacy in Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) and internet browsing,
- Previous experience in the work on projects,
- Very good communication skills, ability to organize, plan and prioritize,
- Ability to organize events, involving diverse stakeholders,
- Ability and willingness to work with the people of different nationalities, cultural and religious backgrounds and diverse views while maintaining impartiality and objectivity,
- Level of knowledge and skills compared to the job requirements, the difficulty and complexity of the job-specific activities,
- Good communication skills, teamwork, planning and organization,
- Organized person, attentive to details, good resource management, resistance to stress,
- The ability to work both individually and in teams,
- Availability for field trips,
- Ability to alternate routine work with dynamic and creative activities.
Interested candidates are invited to submit their updated resumes and a cover letter (highlighting, in one-page maximum, their relevant experience and linking it to the requirements for the position) by 11 August 2023 to RAREproject@romaeducationfund.org, noting in the subject line “Project Assistant”.
Due to a high number of applications, unfortunately, REF is not in the position to be able to respond to every applicant individually. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.
