Project Description:

This EU-funded assignment provides a unique chance to be part of a high-impact technical assistance team working to strengthen civic engagement, capacity building, and EU visibility in the Turkish Cypriot community (TCc). Based in Nicosia, Cyprus, with activities across the island, experts will work closely with civil society organisations, public actors, and EU stakeholders to reinforce inclusive development, human rights, and reconciliation.

About the Assignment

The overall objective is to build a stronger civil society in the TCc that promotes EU values, supports democratic change, and contributes to the Cyprus settlement process.

Expected outputs include:

• Delivery of capacity building, mentoring, and exchange programmes for CSOs
• Management and visibility support for grant schemes and the Active Citizenship Support Facility (ACSF)
• Enhanced communication strategy and digital platforms
• Technical assistance on legal frameworks and stakeholder dialogue
• Monitoring and support for EU-funded grant actions

Assignment Duration

The intended start date is 21 December 2025, with a duration of 30 months from this date.

Location

The primary place of operation is Nicosia (northern part), Cyprus, with possible travel throughout Cyprus and to EU Member States.

Expert Profiles

1. Key Expert

Key Expert 1 – Team Leader: Civil Society and Grants Expert (530 working days-100% Cyprus )

1. Qualifications and skills (minimum requirements):

• University degree (min. 4 years) in political science, international relations, law, journalism, social sciences, business administration, economics, or relevant discipline
• Excellent command of English (C1 level)

1. General professional experience:

• At least eight (8) years of post-graduate professional experience in planning, monitoring and implementing social or development projects, aid cooperation, humanitarian, relief, civil society development, social work, activism, peacebuilding, reconciliation, etc

1. Specific professional experience:

• At least five (5) years of post-graduate professional experience in any of the following activities:
• civil society related projects in an international setting (e.g. international donor or EU funded project, or multi country/multi-cultural project).
• Preparing, implementing, and/or evaluating EU-funded call for proposals or grant schemes.
• Experience in implementing procurement procedures and/or contracts under PRAG rules.
• At least one experience in leading a team of 5+ people for 220+ working days

2. Non-Key Experts (approx. 3,040 working days in total)

NKEs must possess:

• A university degree
• Functional English proficiency (min. B2 level)
• Relevant thematic expertise

Roles may include (indicative):

• Capacity building trainers (CSO governance, RBA, fundraising, advocacy)
• Grants & ACSF management experts
• Visibility and communication experts
• Evaluators and assessors
• Researchers for surveys, needs assessments, impact analyses

Senior NKEs, home-based. These shall be NKEs with more than 8 years of professional experience working in the project from their home base. Cyprus-based senior experts shall be assimilated into this category. Indicative number of working days: 190 days.

Senior NKEs, Cyprus-based. These shall be NKEs with more than 8 years of professional experience travelling to Cyprus for a fixed duration to work in the project. Indicative number of working days: 300 days.

Senior NKEs, long-term. These shall be NKEs with more than 8 years of professional experience, travelling to Cyprus or Cyprus-based, working in the project for periods longer than sixty (60) calendar days continuously. Indicative number of working days: 2,170 days.

Junior NKEs, home-based. These shall be NKEs with 8 years or less of professional experience, working in the project from their home base. Cyprus-based junior experts shall be assimilated into this category. Indicative number of working days: 200 days.

Junior NKEs, long- term.

These  shall be NKEs with 8 years or less of professional experience, Cyprus-based, working in the project for periods longer than two (2) calendar months continuously. Indicative number of working days: 180 days.