Building Democratic Resilience and Promoting Inclusive Dialogue (BRIDGE) – Serbia
Project reference: BRIDGE – Serbia (SDC-funded)
How to Apply
Please send your updated CV to gdsivacancies@gdsi.ie by 30 April 2026 Ensure your email subject line reads: “BRIDGE Serbia – [indicate role]”
Submission Deadline
All applications must be received by 30 April 2026
Assignment Duration
The intended start date is August 2026. The assignment includes: Inception Phase: August 2026 – February 2027 Implementation Phase I: up to 48 months (upon prior approval of the donor).
Location
The primary place of operation will be Belgrade, Serbia, with travel across Serbia as required.
About the Assignment
This assignment supports a governance programme focused on strengthening civil society resilience, enhancing civic participation, and promoting inclusive dialogue in a politically sensitive environment.
The team will contribute to the design and implementation of grant schemes, capacity-building and resiliency activities, and adaptive support mechanisms for civil society actors, including in areas such as cybersecurity, legal protection, and rapid response.
Project Description
Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), this initiative aims to strengthen democratic governance in Serbia by:
· Supporting dialogue across socio-political divides
· Enhancing citizen participation, with emphasis on youth and women
· Strengthening civil society resilience, including digital and operational capacities
The overall objective is to enable civil society actors and citizens to contribute effectively to accountability, policy dialogue, and democratic processes, in line with EU accession priorities and SDG commitments.
Expert Profiles
1. Key Experts
1.1 Key Expert 1: Team Leader – Civil Society & Governance (full time)
Qualifications and Skills
- Relevant higher education qualification(s)( political science, governance, public policy, international relations or related field)Excellent command of English (C1/C2 level); Fluency in Serbian advantage
- Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
- Excellent teamwork and networking skills with the ability to work with a wide range of partners on all levels
- Well-respected individuals with no political or other affiliations that could adversely affect the reputation of the project
General Professional Experience
- At least 10 years of experience as team leader or manager of complex projects and coordinating mandates comparable in size and scope
- Experience in cooperating with a large number of stakeholders and in strengthening/building the capacity of key partners
Specific Professional Experience (Minimum requirements)
- At least 7 years of experience in implementing civil society strengthening projects
- Professional experience in transition countries, preferably in the Western Balkans and/or Serbia
- Experience in cooperating with a large number of stakeholders and in strengthening/building the capacity of key partners
1.2 Key Expert 2: Deputy Team Leader (full-time, Phase I)
Qualifications and Skills
- Relevant higher education qualification(s) ( University degree in social sciences, public administration, governance or related field)
- Excellent command of English and Serbian (C1/C2 level);
- Excellent communication, teamwork and networking skills
- Proven analytical skills and experience to work in politically sensitive environments
- Well-respected individuals with no political or other affiliations that could adversely affect the reputation of the project
General Professional Experience
- At least 5 years of experience in implementation of civil society strengthening projects Proven experience in implementation of civil society and/or civic participation projects
- Demonstrated experience in programme operations and coordination
Specific Professional Experience (Minimum requirements)
- Strong context knowledge and network of relevant stakeholders in Serbia
- Experience in the field in relation to the proposed position