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:  

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 Associate Project Officer, will be responsible for supporting the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting, and communication of the project in the state.

Duties and Responsibilities

Supports the State Project Coordinator in the design, management, and oversight of State plans, strategies, and processes;
Coordinates and manages relationships with related partners and stakeholders, including efficient follow up with partners on tasks and expectations, and liaison with state focal persons on agreed actions;
Plans, organizes, and manages related events and activities at the State level;
Supports the State Project Coordinator, the Monitoring and Evaluation team, and other programme staff to develop, prepare, deliver, and monitor the activity implementation plan and records and measures progress against programme performance indicators; supports state level data gathering to monitor progress against the result framework;
Supports and actively monitors timely delivery against activity schedules, targets, and milestones on all relevant and associated interventions and assignments;
Ensures the collection, collation and analysis of participants and stakeholder feedback for all related interventions and events to ensure quality and effectiveness can be assessed and recommend improvement;
Supports knowledge management processes and activities, including the development of summary reports and stories of change that feed into the quarterly impact reports, newsletters, and other knowledge management products;
Ensures safe and accessible project documentation including, building, and managing folders containing contracts, budgets, activity reports, data, deliverables, and contact lists, and makes regular updates to existing documentation as may be required;
Supports the State Project Coordinator with the development of consultants Terms of Reference and oversees consultants delivery and inputs, including the review of consultant deliverables against ToR’s to ensure agreed outputs and outcomes are delivered;
Maintains cordial and professional relationships with Government and CSO partners and state focal persons to ensure that activities are implemented according to plan at the state level; Works with and supports consultants, focal government personnel and CSOs to deliver and manage high quality inputs for the SGBV Programme at state and State level;
Liaise with support teams to manage arrangements for consultants and visitors including booking travel, accommodation, and such other support they may require;
Provides administrative and logistic support to consultants and beneficiaries;
Supports financial and technical reporting to internal/external clients and stakeholders, ensuring reporting standards are in accordance with client and programme standards;
Actively builds professional networks and information channels that maintain an excellent understanding of relevant developments, stakeholders, and opinion formers in the development sector to support the creation of high-quality programmes and events;
Carries out other duties and responsibilities as related to the post that may be assigned from time to time.

Finance administration

Manages all administrative aspects to ensure timely procurement in line with established organizational policies and guidelines. Quality assures and provides feedback to the Procurement team on the quality of services and items procured; Ensures appropriate branding of all capital equipment procured for the project, in accordance with organizational and EU branding and visibility guidelines;
Provides financial support to the State Project Coordinator and Finance team, including detailed budgeting for planned events, raising advances, issuing payments to workshop participants, processing of workshop claims, and retirement of advances in a timely manner;
Monitors expenditure against workplan and projects to ensure expenditure targets are met.

Safeguarding

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

Requires good knowledge, excellent skills and initial experience in SGBV, Access to Justice, and project management;
Will contribute to assigned projects in different aspects of the project life cycle; will draft various documents (articles, briefs, reports, concept notes, agreements, etc.) and will support the projects vis-à-vis all internal and external stakeholders;
Adds value to team-based activities in their unit; collaborates with other entities of the Institute as required;
Driven and motivated, can work independently and within a team, to produce high-quality deliverables in a timely manner;
Has the intellectual ability to switch context and keep tight deadlines if necessary;
Can be expected to travel to any geographical area involved in their projects;
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 inclusion perspective in all activities.

Education and Experience

University degree (or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Political Science, Law, Human Rights, Sustainable Development, or related fields;
A minimum five (5) years experience in SGBV, Rule of Law and/or Access to Justice, within Nigeria is essential, including substantial internship(s);
Experience of working with government agencies and civil society organizations in Nigeria is considered an asset;
Experience of working on EU projects, as well as familiarity with EU processes and systems considered an advantage;
Experience of working in an international context, e.g., an intergovernmental organization, considered an advantage;
Field experience is desirable.
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of French or other African Union languages considered an advantage.

Terms of Contract:

Local Post.
Fixed term appointment for two (2) year.

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 (CEST) 04 March 2026.
Due to the anticipated volume of applications, International IDEA will review applications on a rolling basis, and the vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply early.
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.

State Associate Project Officer, ESGBV (Oyo, Kaduna & Benue)