Vacancies - Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Call for volunteers

Short-term volunteering opportunity for the Annual Assembly

of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

The Secretariat of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) is accepting applications for several short-term volunteering opportunities around its Annual Assembly taking place in Brussels. Volunteers will assist the team of the Secretariat in preparation of the event as well as during and after the event.

More info here: http://beta.eap-csf.eu/index.php/annual-assembly-2016/

Job location: Brussels, Belgium (Wiltcher’s Steigenberger Hotel, Avenue Louise 71)

Duration: 5 days maximum (flexible commitment, 2 days minimum)

We are looking for volunteers for the following dates:

Welcome of participants: 27 November (approx. 9.00-19.00)
Annual Assembly: 28-29 November (approx. 8.30-19.00)
Post-Assembly work: 30 November-1 December (9.00-18.00)

Why volunteer?

This is a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the area of the EU foreign policy and the Eastern Partnership context in particular, attending an international conference, and understanding the impact the EaP CSF has on stakeholders, members, and the international community.

You’ll have exposure to experts, officials and stakeholders, as well as discussions around ongoing issues and topics of interest concerning the Eastern Partnership. The Annual Assembly will gather around 250 attendees (Forum’s members from the Eastern Partnership region, European NGOs, Brussels-based stakeholders, officials, CSO representatives). It will be dedicated to debating current issues concerning the Eastern Partnership, actions of the civil society, as well as assessing the activities of the EaP CSF in 2016 and planning for 2017.

You will be provided a certificate of recognition for your CV/resume, and you will receive meals/snacks while volunteering.

What is expected from a Volunteer?

Volunteers will receive a briefing, and are requested to commit to at least 4.5 hour shifts at a time. However, commitment is only required for the days of the Annual Assembly (28-29 November), with other days being optional. From a logistics and planning perspective we’d like you to be available for as many days as possible but applications will still be considered for reduced availability.

Volunteers may be asked to assist with the following areas:

Registration Desk (assisting with conference attendee registrations/ collection of signatures/ program questions)
Conference Rooms Facilitators (assisting with room counts, facilitating entering/ exiting conference rooms, microphone holders, taking minutes)
Information Support (directions between conference locations, greeters, and ‘go-to’ for questions)
Documents Preparation (printing/ photocopying, collecting forms)
Language Assistance (assisting with sharing of information/ answering questions for Russian-speaking delegates)

What experience is needed?

You don’t need any formal qualifications, but you do however need the following:

Good communication skills to deal with questions and requests and provide good customer service;
Ability to work in team;
Multitasking and problem–solving skills to manage a number of activities calmly, effectively and to a set timeframe
Very good level of English
Russian language skills are desirable
Pleasant demeanour and respectful attitude

Volunteer’s Profile

Have a basic understanding of the workings of the EU, bilateral and multi-lateral tracks of the Eastern Partnership, and civil society involvement in the Eastern Partnership
Be a student or recent graduate of European Studies, International Relations, Public relations, Translation or other related field
Be fluent in English and able to interact verbally and in writing with professionalism; good level of Russian is an advantage but not required
Be an independent problem solver and team player
Be flexible to perform a wide variety of tasks in a small office

Selection Process

CV should be sent to applications@eap-csf.eu by 6 November (Sunday) at 23:55 with the reference: “Annual Assembly volunteering”. Please indicate your availability.

About the Forum and the Secretariat

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) was established in 2009 and aims to support Eastern European countries' sustainable reform process with a view to accelerating their political association and economic integration with the EU. The Forum strengthens the diversity and plurality of public discourse and policymaking by holding governments and public authorities accountable to the commitments made in the joint declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership summit, signed by the EU and the governments of the six Partner countries. See archive.eap-csf.eu for further details.

The Secretariat of the Forum was registered in 2012 as an international non-profit organisation in Brussels, Belgium. The Secretariat serves as an information, coordination and expertise hub for the participants of the Forum, the bodies of the Forum, and stakeholders in Brussels and Eastern Partnership countries. It works to support the activities of the Steering Committee and enhance the advocacy and visibility of the Forum.