Project Officer - EU Policy and Advocacy

Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is a  human rights organisation whose mission is to work in solidarity with forest peoples to secure their rights to own, manage and control their customary forests and lands and decide their own futures. While working first and foremost at community level with indigenous and forest peoples in countries across the tropical forest belt, FPP also seeks to support communities and partners we work with to influence key advocacy spaces internationally, including in the EU. Working from the bottom up through partnerships with forest communities and social justice networks in tropical countries, FPP supports forest peoples to push for development or reform of EU laws and policies on a diverse range of topics of interest to them – including human rights, supply chains, corporate accountability, trade, investment, climate, biodiversity, tenure governance and sustainable development – in order to ensure EU laws and policies respect, protect and fulfil their rights.

FPP is seeking an experienced EU policy and advocacy officer, based in Brussels, who will work collaboratively with FPP colleagues, partners and allies to support improved information sharing about relevant EU proposals with forest peoples, as well as visibility of their concerns, facilitate the direct advocacy of indigenous and forest peoples in EU processes, and push for effective standards and other measures to accommodate their rights and interests in EU law and policy.  

The role

You will be a key player in FPP’s EU policy and advocacy work, engaged with all three FPP programmes - Responsible Finance, Legal and Human Rights and Environmental Governance – as well as FPP’s partners in tropical countries and with a number of key civil society networks with whom FPP works in the EU. Key responsibilities of your work will include: 

• tracking EU developments on key files, including particularly, in the next year, those related to proposed deforestation due diligence and sustainable corporate governance, as well as other dossiers connected to climate, biodiversity, trade and/or the Green Deal.
• conducting analysis of legislative and policy proposals from a human rights perspective;
• developing policy positions in conjunction with FPP staff, partners and civil society allies;
• developing advocacy strategies to achieve goals agreed by partners and FPP colleagues;
• compiling briefings, information sharing materials, factsheets, advocacy, media and other communications materials in collaboration with colleagues and partners;
• engaging with the European Commission, the European Parliament and other European Union institutions;
• direct and regular outreach to FPP southern partners to share information and seek input and feedback;
• engagement with EU-based NGO allies, including attending meetings of coalitions of which FPP is a member;
• supporting southern partners’ engagement with European institutions in relation to specific Commission files as well as more generally;
• organising and convening meetings and events (for advocacy, policy discussions, information sharing etc); 
• supporting FPP fundraising for the continuation of this work.

This post is guided by FPP’s core principle of peoples’ right to self-determination, and the project officer will work in close collaboration with FPP staff working directly in the field, as well as with indigenous and forest peoples’ organisations and networks.

FPP comprises two legal entities, a UK Charity (FPP UK) and a Dutch Stichting (FPP NL). This post will be hosted within FPP NL, but will involve collaboration with staff from both FPP NL and FPP UK.

Skills and Experience

Essential

1. Knowledge and experience of advocacy in EU legislative and policy processes.
2. Knowledge of and commitment to international human rights, plus a good understanding of at least one of the following:
   • The international human rights framework pertaining to the rights of indigenous peoples and other customary tenure holders, especially as regards land, and of the related human rights concerns of these rightsholders;
   • EU trade, climate, forest and/or sustainable development policies, and human rights perspectives on these areas. 
3. Proven skills in networking and joint advocacy with other organisations;
4. Ability to conduct legislative and policy analyses and write articles, policy papers and reports for a range of actors, including partners from the south;
5. Fluency in English, both written and oral, with good writing skills;
6. Willingness and capacity to work effectively as part of a multi-cultural, dispersed team of FPP staff and partners to achieve shared objectives
7. Commitment to FPP’s values and principles
8. Willingness to travel (Covid-permitting) within Europe if necessary

Desirable

• A law degree or specific experience of evaluating legislation, particularly from a human rights perspective
• Prior experience working directly with indigenous and forest-dependent peoples’ organisations and communities
• Previous experience working on communications and/or with the media as part of advocacy
• Working knowledge of Spanish, French or Bahasa Indonesia
• Some knowledge of the deforestation and sustainable corporate governance legislative processes currently underway in the EU

Terms

• Salary in the range of €3,300-€4,000 gross per month depending on qualifications and experience
• 100% time, on a contract until 31 July 2022, with possibility of extension subject to funding
• Reporting to: Coordinator, FPP NL
• Location – Brussels. FPP does not have an office in Brussels, so the selected candidate would be expected to work from home, but must be able to attend regular physical meetings and events in Brussels. The position may also involve travel to FPP UK’s offices in Moreton-in-Marsh, for several days (Covid-permitting), up to 3-4 times a year.
• Please Note: To apply for this role you must have the right to live and work in Belgium.

To apply for this post

Please send a cover letter and your CV by email to info@forestpeoples.org with your name and Project Officer – EU Policy and Advocacy in the subject line.

Closing date for applications: 10 September 2021

Tentative Interview date:  Thursday 23 September 2021