Three vacancies at CONCORD, Brussels

CONCORD is the European confederation representing, through its 40 members, over 1800 European NGOs for relief and international development. The Secretariat of CONCORD is looking for:

• An experienced INTERNAL SERVICES MANAGER
  
  The manager will be responsible for the timely provision of statutory information for Belgian authorities and for the Board and General Assembly of CONCORD, managing CONCORD’s overall budget and ensuring the production of timely management accounts, coordinating CONCORD’s fundraising activities, developing and overseeing financial and procurement procedures, developing HR policies, systems and processes, ensuring the smooth functioning of CONCORD’s internal infrastructure and ensuring that CONCORD respects its statutory obligations.
  
  The postholder will manage a small team of experienced and qualified finance and support staff and will join CONCORD’s management team.
  
• A PERSONAL ASSISTANT
  
  The post is a key role within the organization directly supporting the work of the Director, of the Management Team and of the Board and handling sensitive information.
  
  The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate 3 + years similar experience, organizational and planning skills, enthusiasm, energy and discretion, be English mother tongue and fluent in French with an understanding of NGO culture.
  
• A FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION OFFICER (for 30 months, 4 days per week)
  
  The officer will ensure efficient, effective and transparent administration and oversight of the finances, donor relations, core meetings and communications of the Open Forum on CSO Development Effectiveness, a global process of Civil Society Organisations. CONCORD is leading a consortium of 6 regional and global CSO networks supporting the Open Forum. The Finance & Administration Officer will report to the CONCORD Internal Services Manager.

Also check out Euforic's newsfeeds on CONCORD, and on civil society

Swedish NGO Network outlines development challenges for EU Presidency

CONCORD Sweden is a joint platform of 38 Swedish NGOs with the task of monitoring and influencing the EU development policy. In the light of the beginning Swedish EU Presidency the network outlines the development program for the second half of 2009.

Policy coherence

According to Concord Sweden trade agreements should meet the requirements as laid down in the document EU Policy Coherence for Development. Negotiations should be flexible enough to allow developing countries to protect local food production and small-scale farmers. Furthermore regulations for foreign investments should consider human rights demands and the need of the poor. Also, Europe should take stringent measures to fight capital flight and tax havens.

Poverty eradication

Sweden should use its good reputation in the development aid context to convince member states to uphold their pledges of increased aid budgets and better quality. Aid should be demand-driven and owned by national governments with broad participation of parliaments, civil society and the media. Furthermore the network demands better coordinated, un-tied, climate-proofed and sustainable aid with a stronger emphasis on rural development and agriculture. Special attention should also be given to the rights of children including issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Climate negotiations

Sweden should lead the way in bringing a just and development-friendly climate agreement that greatly reduces greenhouse gases and secures resources for the development of poor countries. Additional to the aid budgets European member states should take concrete steps to finance climate adaptation, support technology transfer to developing countries and take measures for forest protection. Also, they should commit themselves to reduce their emissions to at least 40% by 2020.

Human rights

Sweden stands for a rights-based approach in development cooperation and should therefore pursue the integration of human rights into all policy areas. Besides the support for democratization Concord Sweden demands a holistic human rights perspective, including economic, social and cultural, civil and political rights.

In a Calender on their website Concord Sweden lists information about seminars, events and meetings during the Swedish EU Presidency 2009, organised by CONCORD Sweden and its member organisations.

by Martin Behrens

See the Euforic EU Presidency newsfeed, as well as the newsfeed and dossier on Swedens development cooperation