Head, Civic and Voter Education Department Full Time

Internal/ External Vacancy Announcement

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), re-established by proclamation No. 1133/2011, is the constitutionally mandated body to conduct elections, organize referendum and regulate political parties in Ethiopia. NEBE is working to boost its’ institutional strength with a special focus on enhancement of human resource capacity. Accordingly, NEBE would like to invite applicants for Head, Communication Department position who meets the following requirements.

• Required number: One
• Reports to: Board Member, National Elections Board of Ethiopia (NEBE)
• Duty station: NEBE Head Quarter, Addis Ababa
• Duration: Permanent
• Salary: As per the organization salary scale (Competitive)

Job Summary

The Civic and Voter Education Head oversees and manages the development, implementation, and evaluation of voter education and civic engagement programs aimed at informing and mobilizing citizens to participate in the electoral process. This role involves working closely with government institutions, civil society organizations, political parties, and local communities to ensure that voters are educated on their rights and responsibilities, as well as the mechanics of the electoral process. The head leads the creation of comprehensive outreach strategies, including targeted campaigns for marginalized and vulnerable groups, to increase voter turnout and enhance democratic participation.

Duties and responsibilities

Primary responsibilities:

• Maintaining and establishing NEBE’s Civic and Voters Education vision and leading all aspects of the department.
• Leading the implementation of a Civic and Voter Education program, responsibilities will include; day to day team management tasks, the leading, developing, rolling out, managing and monitoring as well as playing advisory role on this area, and ensuring the effectiveness of the department in general and subordinates in particular.

Programs Designing and managing programs:

• Lead the design and execution of national and regional civic education and voter engagement programs, ensuring alignment with NEBE’s strategic objectives and priorities.
• Develop a detailed implementation plan for voter education activities, including budget management, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Coordinate the development of educational materials that clearly explain voter registration, election processes, and the importance of voting.

Engaging with stakeholders:

• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, political parties, civil society organizations, and community groups, to enhance voter education efforts.
• Organize and facilitate training sessions, workshops, and outreach programs for local leaders, election officials, and community organizations to support voter education initiatives.
• Work closely with regional election bodies to ensure voter education strategies are effectively implemented across all regions of Ethiopia.
• Organize platform to support that Civil Societies understand their engagement with NEBE and ensure compliance

Engaging in targeted outreach endeavors:

• Develop and implement strategies to reach marginalized, underrepresented, and vulnerable populations, including women, youth, rural communities, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities, ensuring that voter education materials are accessible and culturally appropriate.
• Promote awareness of voting rights and election procedures through digital platforms, media campaigns, community events, and local outreach.

Monitoring and evaluation:

• Monitor and assess the impact of voter education programs and activities, collecting data on voter awareness, behavior, and turnout trends.
• Conduct regular evaluations to measure the effectiveness of campaigns, ensuring that they lead to increased voter participation and engagement.
• Provide feedback and recommendations to improve future education initiatives based on evaluation results.
• Ensuring the overall planned department activities are on track, mitigate risk and intervene when there is a need
• Responsible for preparing departmental plan, monitor and evaluate implementation and prepare report for concerned bodies

Leading public awareness campaigns:

• Coordinate media campaigns, public service announcements, and other communication strategies to raise awareness about upcoming elections and the importance of voter participation.
• Work with media outlets to ensure broad distribution of voter education messages across radio, television, print, and online platforms.

Team Leadership and Capacity Building:

• Lead and manage the team of experts, providing guidance, support, and training to ensure effective execution of programs.
• Foster a collaborative environment within the department to share ideas, challenges, and successes.
• Conduct staff capacity need assessment, prepare appropriate intervention strategy and facilitate trainings.
• Review the strength and improvement areas of the department, put robust plan in place.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare regular progress reports for NEBE leadership on the status of voter education initiatives, including challenges, successes, and key performance indicators.
• Ensure that all voter education activities are well-documented and that lessons learned are incorporated into future planning.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the line manager.

Specification:

Education and Work Experience:

• MA/M.Sc. degree or PHD in Social Work, Business Administration, Sociology, Civics Education, Political Science and International Relations, Law, Public Administration, Pedagogical Studies, Education, Development Studies, and related social science fields.
• 10 years and Masters | 8 years and Ph.D.| 4 years in a leadership role.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of civic education principles, voter rights, and electoral processes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively.
• Leadership abilities, with experience in managing teams and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
• Ethical mindset with a commitment to transparency, fairness, and impartiality.
• Fluency in English and Amharic required (written and spoken),

Behavioural competencies:

• Willingness to adhere to all principles of confidentiality and impartiality,
• Adaptability/ flexibility,
• Data protection/Sensitivity,
• Persistence/Endurance,
• Maintaining organizational etiquette, Integrity and Honesty,
• Operating in a collaborative and cooperative environment,
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment, with an emphasis on high performance, teamwork, accountability and results,
• Showing initiative, good judgment, and resourcefulness.