RECRUITMENT – Programme Officer to the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons (permanent position)

The Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons (the Forum) is the only membership-based organisation gathering parliamentarians globally across party-political lines, specifically related to the prevention and reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) – related violence.

The uncontrolled proliferation of SALW has widespread human, economic and social costs and impedes human security and sustainable development. The Forum was founded in 2002 in the Spanish Congress, based on an initiative from Latin American, Swedish and Spanish parliamentarians and gathers currently over 320 parliamentarians from 100 countries.

The overall vision of the Forum is to contribute to the achievement of more peaceful and sustainably developed societies. The vision is realised by means of the mission of enhancing parliamentary action for the prevention and reduction of SALW-related violence through the implementation and universalisation of relevant international frameworks, as to safeguard human security for the benefit of the right-holders, the entire population.

The added value of the Forum consists in its vital role in bridging the gap between international instruments relevant for arms control and the regional and national implementation levels, as well as through strengthening parliamentary capacity by the threefold mutually reinforcing methodology of policy-shaping, capacity-development and awareness-raising.

Relevant international frameworks in the work include the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the United Nations Programme of Action, to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) and the 2030 Agenda. The gender equality perspective and youth perspective are prioritised.

Main responsibilities & tasks include:

• Qualitative & timely development, planning, implementation and follow-up of projects and activities, including analysing and reporting on results achievement, and contributing to identification of new funding opportunities.
• Qualitative & timely coordination and organisation of capacity-developing activities and other relevant external activities, both regarding content and format.
• Actively contribute to, develop and quality assure policy- and awareness raising efforts.
• Actively contribute to, and develop, professional and productive collaboration with the membership base, parliamentarians in general, civil society, international organisations, governments and diplomatic community.
• Represent the Forum in relevant international, regional, national and other contexts.
• Perform other thematic, administrative and communication duties as required.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in political science, international development, peace and conflict studies, international relations, law or other relevant academic field.
• Minimum 3 years of documented work experience in the fields of peace, security and sustainable development.
• Demonstrated experience in project cycle management within development cooperation, including working with the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning, PMEL- approach and partnerships with donors and other external stakeholders.
• Well oriented with relevant international frameworks and processes such as the 2030 Agenda, Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the United Nations Programme of Action, to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA).
• Excellent written and oral English skills.
• Intermediate Spanish proficiency is required; full professional command is considered a major benefit.
• Excellent computer skills in programs such as: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Merits:

• Work experience from Latin America & the Caribbean, Africa, Middle East or/and Asia within the thematic scope.
• Work experience from external communication work, including social media.
• Basic or intermediate French proficiency.
• Work experience from parliamentary and/or political context.
• Work experience regarding coordination and organisation of capacity-developing activities, both content and format wise.

Personal competencies:

• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to deliver results and meet deadlines
• Solid self-leadership and initiative-taking, organisational and structuring skills, including thoroughness
• Ability to work with high level of independence and to set plans and priorities
• Solid communication and pedagogical skills
• Flexibility and ability to adapt work to shifting contexts, situations and needs, with aptitude for multi-tasking as well as learning new ways of doing things
• Ability to contribute constructively to team work & collaboration