Project overview:
This project supports the European Union in the implementation of country allocations under the Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme, financed through NDICI – Global Europe. The assignment establishes a flexible support facility to assist DG INTPA, EU Delegations, and, where relevant, programme beneficiaries in the effective implementation, monitoring, and reporting of EU-funded actions promoting human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and support to civil society in partner countries.
The Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme is one of the EU’s key instruments for promoting and protecting universal values worldwide. A significant share of the programme envelope is implemented directly by EU Delegations through country allocations, mainly via grants awarded through Calls for Proposals. These allocations are intended to respond to country-specific human rights and democracy challenges, support local civil society, and ensure that actions are closely aligned with the needs of rights-holders and local actors.
The project therefore provides technical and operational support across the full implementation cycle of the programme. This includes the assessment of proposals submitted under EU Calls for Proposals, capacity-building and information sessions for EU staff, civil society organisations, and beneficiaries, quality checks of project data and results encoded in OPSYS, and ad hoc studies, analyses, or evaluations related to programme implementation and monitoring. The assignment is mainly home-based, with possible field missions for trainings, capacity-building activities, or specific studies.
General objective:
The general objective of the project is to enhance the implementation of EU actions promoting and protecting human rights and democracy in partner countries under the NDICI Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme.
Specific objectives:
The specific objectives of the project are to:
- Provide technical support to EU staff and beneficiaries in the implementation of the Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme.
- Support the assessment of proposals received under Calls for Proposals launched by EU Delegations or DG INTPA Headquarters, including the evaluation of concept notes and full applications through PROSPECT.
- Organise and facilitate capacity-building activities, information sessions, consultations, networking events, and related support for EU Delegations, civil society organisations, grant beneficiaries, and other stakeholders.
- Ensure timely and accurate quality checks of Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme projects encoded in OPSYS, including the use of appropriate indicators, thematic classifications, and programming priorities.
Produce ad hoc studies, analyses, and evaluations related to the results, monitoring, implementation, and capitalisation of grants and other actions funded under the programme.
- Contribute to the consistent application of the EU’s human rights-based approach, gender mainstreaming, and results-oriented reporting requirements across programme interventions.
Scope of activities
The project covers four main areas of support. First, it provides technical assistance for the assessment of Calls for Proposals. External assessors evaluate concept notes and full applications according to the relevant Guidelines for Grant Applicants and EU evaluation grids. The assessments are carried out using the EU’s PROSPECT system, under the guidance of the Contracting Authority. A Team Leader coordinates the assessment process, ensures that assessors are properly briefed, provides guidance on the interpretation of call documents, performs quality control of draft assessment grids, and supports the preparation of reports on each call.
Second, the project supports the organisation and facilitation of capacity-building activities, information sessions, consultations, and networking events. These activities may target EU Delegation staff, DG INTPA Headquarters, local civil society organisations, future applicants, or grant beneficiaries. Topics may include EU grant management, Commission procedures, Project Cycle Management, the Logical Framework Approach, the design and assessment of grants, and best practices in the implementation of the Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme. Activities may be delivered virtually or through field missions.
Third, the project includes quality reviews of project data and results encoded in OPSYS. A Data Analyst reviews the quality and consistency of reporting, including the use of corporate indicators, thematic designations, programming priorities, and other relevant reporting elements. This work supports more accurate corporate reporting and contributes to better monitoring of the results achieved under the programme. The Data Analyst also prepares reports on issues encountered and methodological notes to improve reporting practices.
Fourth, the facility may deliver ad hoc analyses, studies, and evaluations at the request of DG INTPA. These assignments may focus on the implementation and monitoring of the Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme, data analysis, results measurement, capitalisation of lessons learned, or thematic and project-level evaluations. Depending on the nature of the request, these activities may be conducted remotely or through field missions.
The project is managed by DG INTPA Unit G1 “Gender Equality, Human Rights and Democratic Governance” and implemented through a team consisting of a Team Leader, Core Expert Assessors, Reserve Expert Assessors, and a Data Analyst and Coordination Support expert. The outputs include proposal assessments, short performance reports after each call-related assignment, a tracking table of requests and working days, training and capacity-building materials, OPSYS quality review reports, methodological notes, interim progress reports, and final reporting. Overall, the project contributes to more coherent, transparent, and high-quality implementation of EU support to human rights, democracy, and civil society worldwide.