Organizational Background

The Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD) is a local disability-based Civil Society Organization (CSO). ECDD is committed to promoting the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through policy advocacy and the mainstreaming of disability inclusion in service delivery, development programs, humanitarian actions, and peace initiatives. Established in 2005, ECDD is dedicated to fostering an inclusive Ethiopia in which persons with disabilities, in all their diversity, exercise their human rights and have access to mainstream services and opportunities on an equal basis with others. ECDD places strong emphasis on child rights, gender equality, safeguarding, accountability, and participation.

ECDD is implementing a project named Amplifying Disability Rights for Meaningful   Participation, Leadership, and Inclusion (AMPLIFY) (2026–2029), funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland through Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM). Target areas of the project are Hosanna City (Central Ethiopia), Jimma (Oromia), Dire Dawa City Administration, Mekelle City (Tigray), Gondar City (Amhara), and Addis Ababa City Administration. The project aims to strengthen Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to advocate for disability-inclusive policies and practices effectively institutionalized across government and community structures. 

To ensure effective coordination, high-quality implementation, and strong alignment with donor requirements, ECDD is seeking to recruit a qualified Project Coordinator.

Purpose of the Position

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the overall coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the AMPLIFY Project. The position ensures the timely delivery of project results in accordance with the approved log frame and indicators, meaningfully engaging the key stakeholders throughout the project cycle, with gender equality and safeguarding.

 Key Duties and Responsibilities

Project Planning and Coordination

• Coordinate the planning and implementation of ECDD’s project activities in line with the approved project document, annual work plans, budgets, and donor policies.

• Serve as the primary focal person between ECDD and FELM Ethiopia Office for day-to-day project coordination, which includes planning, implementation, reporting, and learning.

• Ensure alignment with the project outcomes and donor policies, as well as ECDD Strategic Plan (2025-2030).

Program Implementation and Technical Oversight

• Oversee the overall implementation of project activities as agreed with donor and government stakeholders. 

• Ensure that meaningful participation of rights holders, gender equality, safeguarding, and do-no-harm principles are mainstreamed across all activities.

• Provide technical guidance to project staff, partners, respective stakeholders, and consultants engaged by ECDD.

• Ensure high-quality facilitation of trainings, dialogues, and advocacy processes.

• Ensures good communication, coordination, and information sharing among the project team through facilitating regular team meetings, followed by minutes of the meeting shared with the Program Director and Deputy Program Director.

Rights-Based Approach and Inclusion, Advocacy, Policy Engagement, and Civic Space

• Ensure that project implementation reflects the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), African Disability Protocol, Sustainable Development Goals, and other relevant domestic, regional, and international legal provisions.

• Promote meaningful, safe, and ethical participation of persons with disabilities throughout the implementation of the project.

• Support engagement of persons with disabilities with government institutions, Parliament, and relevant ministries to advance their disability rights.

• Facilitate platforms for leaders of OPDs to influence decision-making at national and regional levels.

• Support evidence-based advocacy and documentation of policy influence outcomes.

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Strengthen collaboration with OPDs, government institutions, duty-bearers, human-rights institutions, and oversight institutions to ensure successful implementation of the project and promote disability rights.

• Facilitate constructive engagement between rights-holders and duty-bearers.

• Actively support joint advocacy initiatives throughout the project target areas.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

• Coordinate with the MEL team and participate in the development and implementation of project MEAL frameworks and plans in line with FELM and requirements.

• Track progress against agreed indicators, milestones, and outcomes, including fund utilization, and identify any gaps, and provide consistent updates to the Program, MEL, and Finance Units, as well as to the Donor.

• Ensure collection of high-quality, disaggregated data (including disability, age, and gender).

• Document and report project achievements, lessons learned, best practices, and emerging risks related to disability rights advocacy, together with mitigation strategies.

• Support reflection, learning, and adaptive programming processes.

Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare timely and high-quality narrative reports, updates, and inputs for donor, government signatories, as well as the MEL Unit of ECDD 

• Ensure accurate documentation of project outputs, outcomes, and evidence of change.

• Contribute to success stories, case studies, and advocacy briefs as required.

• Maintain proper project records and documentation in line with ECDD, FELM, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland standards.

Financial and Compliance Oversight

• Coordinate closely with ECDD finance and operations teams to ensure budget adherence and cost-effectiveness, timely financial reporting and forecasting, and compliance with donor, FELM, and ECDD policies

• Support procurement planning and contract management related to project activities.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant ECDD policies and procedures, including, but not limited to: Children and Adults at Risk Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Anti-fraud and bribery, Gender Equality, Data Protection, Finance, Procurement, and Human Resources Management.

Representation and Visibility

• Represent ECDD in relevant project-related forums, meetings, and events as delegated.

• Contribute to visibility and communication efforts in coordination with FELM and ECDD communication teams.

• Ensure ethical and safe representation of persons with different types of disabilities in all communications.

Job Requirements

Education

• Master’s degree in Human Rights/Law, Social Sciences, Social Work, Sociology, Political Science, Public Policy, Project Management, or a related field.

• Specialized training in disability rights and rights-based programming is an asset.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in NGO(s) with relevant roles in human rights.

• Demonstrated experience in human rights, advocacy, governance, and disability inclusion.

• Proven experience working with OPDs, FBOs, and government stakeholders.

• Proven experience coordinating donor-funded projects, preferably Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland-funded projects.

• Experience working with persons with disabilities and disability-inclusive programming is a strong advantage.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of disability rights based on the UNCRPD and ADP.

• Knowledge of disability inclusion and CRPD principles, as well as the ability to mainstream disability and gender.

• Experience with rights-based advocacy, accountability mechanisms, and CSO capacity strengthening.

• Solid MEAL, quality reporting, and project management skills, including a solid understanding of Results-Based Management (RBM), Results-Based Budgeting, and logframes, indicators.

Core Skills and Attributes

• High level of integrity, accountability, and professionalism

• Excellent coordination, facilitation, team management, and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills in English.

• Ability to manage complexity, multiple partners, and competing priorities.

• Commitment to human rights and disability inclusion. 

• Demonstrated ability in computer skills,

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.

• Fluency in the Amharic language is required.

• Skill in other local languages is an asset.

How To Apply

Interested and Qualified candidates (preferably with disability) are invited to submit a CV and a cover letter outlining their relevant experience and motivation. Candidates are also expected to fill out the ECDD Job Application Form by clicking on the link:  THIS LINK

ECDD is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities, are strongly encouraged to apply.

ECDD provides Reasonable Accommodation (adjustments to a job, workplace, or process) to ensure that qualified persons with disabilities can perform the essential functions of their positions and enjoy equal employment opportunities.

For further information, ECDD Head Office – Beklobet, in front of Global Hotel, Kirkos Sub-city Woreda 04; House № 213; Third Floor, Office № 001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Box- 1530 Code 1250, Tel. +251-11-4168884; E-mail: info@ecdd-ethiopia.org, Website: www.ecdd-ethiopia.org, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Job Requirements Master's Degree in Human Rights/Law, Social Sciences, Social Work, Sociology, Political Science, Public Policy, Project Management, or in a related field of study with relevant work experience. Specialized training in disability rights and rights-based programming is an asset. How to Apply Click the apply button below