PVE Specialist/Advisor

Job description / Role

PVE Specialist/Advisor

The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) is a Swiss Foundation that supports local, community-level initiatives worldwide that address the local drivers of violent extremism and strengthen resilience against violent extremist agendas. It was established in Geneva, Switzerland in 2014 as a public-private partnership governed by a multi-stakeholder Board which includes representatives of countries which provide funds, countries to which funding is allocated, civil society, the private sector, research institutions and foundations.

GCERF has developed a number of funding mechanisms to optimise its grant-making. GCERF’s Core Funding Mechanism, which currently forms the foundations of GCERF’s work, operates in countries that have requested GCERF’s support and have established a national, multi-stakeholder platform (Country Support Mechanism) to assess the unique national challenge of violent extremism. This needs assessment informs GCERF funding priorities. Decisions to fund specific programmes are based on expert technical analysis and rigorous due diligence of potential grantees.

GCERF is currently working in Bangladesh, Kenya, Kosovo, Mali and Nigeria. GCERF is committed to empowering local communities. GCERF provides funding to organisations (Principal Recipients) which themselves form and lead a consortium of community-based organisations strongly engaged with communities to implement a comprehensive set of initiatives that address the local drivers of violent extremism and strengthen resilience against violent extremist agendas.

To enhance performance, GCERF supports and promotes the development of grantee capacity and learning, and applies a robust and pragmatic performance monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure mutual accountability, transparency and learning. GCERF is in the process of launching complimentary funding streams in the aforementioned as well as new countries.

The PVE Specialist/Advisor provides technical expertise, guidance, and support on the prevention of violent extremism (PVE) to grantees and potential grantees, to CSMs, and to colleagues in the GCERF Secretariat. He/she also acts as focal point and assists the Independent Review Panel in the discharge of its functions.

The PVE Specialist/Advisor reports to the Chief Operating Officer. The PVE Specialist/Advisor works in close collaboration with colleagues in the Operations Unit, as well as in cooperation with the External Relations Unit.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

In-country actors

In consultation with colleagues in the Operations Unit:
- Provide potential grantees with technical guidance and support on PVE issues during each step of the grant making process.
- Contribute to the provision of PVE-specific training and other capacity development support to grantees, as provided by GCERF or associated service providers.
- Provide CSMs with technical guidance and support on PVE issues to promote national PVE efforts.

Independent Review Panel (IRP)

Provide support to the IRP in:
- Consolidating, drafting, and presenting IRP analysis and recommendations to the Board.
- Consolidating and presenting the IRP’s assessments of potential principal recipients of GCERF funding.
- Overseeing the provision of administrative and logistical support to the IRP.
- Liaising with the Secretariat, CSMs, and other stakeholders, as appropriate.

GCERF Secretariat

Provide ongoing technical advice and support on PVE issues to colleagues in the Operations Unit with regional/country responsibilities, and to specific requests for assistance, including but not limited to:
- The evolution of country needs assessment guidance.
- The development and implementation of country engagement strategies, drawing on country-specific PVE knowledge, understanding, and experience.
- The assessment of periodic grantee reports, and to the provision of feedback.
- The draft of relevant documents and presentations to support decision-making by senior management, the GCERF Governing Board, and relevant subsidiary bodies.
- The nurturing, strengthening, and facilitation of collaboration and information exchange between grantees and other stakeholders on PVE.
- Drawing on established good practices, contribute to the design and development of operational policies and standard operating procedures with PVE specific dimensions (e.g. on the operational security of grantees) for GCERF’s grant making and management.
- Drawing on established good practices, contribute PVE-specific expertise to the design, implementation, and regular appraisal of operational policies and standard operating procedures for performance monitoring and evaluation.
- Stay up to date on trends and developments in the PVE field, especially in relation to regions and countries in which GCERF is operating or planning to operate. Prepare regular internal updates and reports, identifying significant developments, issues, or concerns. As appropriate, identify and propose recommended courses of action to the COO and senior management.
- Draft a variety of PVE-specific reports, guidance notes, briefings notes, and background documents, and contribute PVE-specific content to relevant documents and presentations, to support decision-making by senior management and the Board.
- Develop and deliver introductory and more advanced training on PVE for colleagues, using appropriate media (e.g. presentations or workshops).
- Participate and actively contribute to internal review and learning processes to promote continuous improvements; upon request, convene and coordinate PVE-specific organisation-wide task forces.

General:
- Prepare and submit mandatory internal operational reports, such as travel reports, regular progress reports, and other papers.
- Contribute to work planning and operational expenses budget development of the Operations Unit.
- Contribute to the preparation of external updates, presentations, and reports to support external relations and resource mobilisation efforts.
- Upon request, represent the Operations Unit on organisation-wide task forces, study groups, etc.
- As requested, represent GCERF in relevant international, regional, and national conferences; foster partnerships and facilitate relationship-building amongst stakeholders.
- Serve as back-up to colleagues within the Operations Unit, fulfilling their duties and responsibilities, as requested by the supervisor.
- Undertake other duties, as and when requested by the supervisor.

Contract Type: Permanent

GCERF is committed to diversity within its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.

The position is based in Geneva. GCERF offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Requirements

- Postgraduate degree in social sciences, international development, international relations/affairs, or a related field.
- At least twelve years of progressively more responsible experience working on PVE (or a directly related field) at the national and international levels, ideally in countries in which GCERF operates.
- In-depth understanding and extensive experience of working on PVE, ideally at the community and grassroots level.
- Extensive experience in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of PVE programmes and projects at the community and grassroots level.
- Extensive experience operating in technical advisory roles and providing support to expert bodies.
- Experience working alongside a wide range of stakeholders with skill and sensitivity, including government officials, national and municipal authorities, civil society actors, and community-based and grassroots organisations.
- Prior experience in conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and/or humanitarian action a strong asset.
- Strong knowledge of the socio-political environment and the role of civil society organisations in C/PVE in countries in which GCERF operates an asset.
- Experience of grant-making, due diligence processes, and grant management an asset.
- Knowledge and understanding of the international funding environment, standards, trends and approaches an asset.
- Fluency in English is essential. Working knowledge of French and/or other relevant languages will be an advantage.

Competencies
- Ability to develop and maintain strong relations with colleagues and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to act in a technical advisory role.
- Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and oral communication skills.
- Excellent writing skills and attention to detail.
- Capacity to plan and organise one’s work effectively and collaboratively.
- Excellent analytical skill and capacity to work in complex environments.
- Strong presentation and group facilitation skills, and understanding of adult learning.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Focus and commitment to achieving quality results.
- Demonstrated openness to change, flexibility and ability to stay effective and motivated in a fast-changing environment.
- Poise, maturity, and ability to represent GCERF in relevant fora.
- Commitment to continuous learning and a desire to keep abreast of new developments in relevant fields of thematic or functional expertise, and contribute to the learning of colleagues.

Travel
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% per year.

About the Company

A public-private partnership, GCERF was established to serve as the first global effort to support local, community-level initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience against violent extremist agendas. Operating at the nexus of security and development, GCERF is committed to working in partnership and consultation with governments, civil society, and the private sector in beneficiary countries to support national strategies to address the local drivers of violent extremism.