Program Officer, Economic Freedom

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the world through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy and is an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and civil society to build the institutions vital to a democratic society.

Position:                    Program Officer, Economic Freedom

Position Type:           Full-time, Program Support Position

Position Type:           Full-time

Location:                    Manilla, Philippines 

Duration:                   One-year term with possible renewal

Reporting to:             Program Manager under the overall supervision of the country director


Overview

CIPE supports economic freedom where rules and institutions allow individuals to compete in the marketplace without undue interference. The Center’s Economic Freedom program initiatives address persistent barriers that constrain democratic governance, limit economic opportunity, and reduce transparency in emerging democracies. These initiatives strengthen institutional capacity for sustained advocacy while promoting policy reforms that enhance business competitiveness and democratic accountability.

Position Summary
The Program Officer will lead the implementation of comprehensive economic freedom initiatives focused on following core areas: strengthening business advocacy coalitions on democratic governance, economic reform, lowering barriers to trade and investments, regulatory reform and ease of doing business, and freedom of information. This position requires deep expertise in coordinating multi-stakeholder reform processes while building sustainable advocacy capacity among business organizations and civil society groups.

Tasks and Activities

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with partners such as business associations, chambers of commerce, industry groups, entrepreneurship organizations, think tanks and civil society organizations, and act as liaison between CIPE and these partners to address implementation issues and bottlenecks.
• Draft partner agreements and maintain organized records of program documents, contracts, and correspondence.
• Develop and maintain detailed project work plans, timelines, and milestone tracking systems
• Coordinate daily project management implementation, ensuring activities align with project objectives and donor requirements
• Monitor project progress against planned targets and recommend adjustments as necessary
• Manage project budget allocations and financial reporting in coordination with grants and finance team
• Organize and facilitate regular team meetings, stakeholder consultations, and project review sessions
• Design and deliver training sessions, workshops, or mentoring to strengthen partner organizations’ skills and systems.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning and exchange opportunities between partners.
• Support partners in adopting tools and practices for effective program management and reporting.

• Engage development partners, multilateral organizations, and bilateral agencies supporting complementary economic freedom initiatives
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues and consultation processes
• Support partnership development and maintenance with key advocacy networks and business organizations
• Facilitate engagement with academic institutions, think tanks, and research organizations providing technical expertise and impact assessment
• Support the documentation, packaging, and dissemination of knowledge, lessons learned, and success stories from partner initiatives.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing forums, roundtables, or dialogues on thematic issues relevant to the project.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products such as briefs, case studies, or policy notes.

• Prepare monthly, semi-annual and annual progress reports for donors and stakeholders
• Coordinate preparation of project communications, newsletters, and public materials
• Support the collection, consolidation, and analysis of partner reports and data against project indicators.
• Assist in tracking progress toward outcomes and ensuring quality of partner contributions to M&E processes.
• Participate in partner feedback mechanisms and learning reviews.
• Assist in problem-solving and troubleshooting to address technical challenges faced by partners.
• Support evidence generation and application of best practices relevant to project goals.

• Draft and edit communication materials highlighting partner initiatives and achievements.
• Coordinate visibility activities (e.g., social media posts, podcasts, website features, partner spotlights).
• Ensure alignment of partner communications with CIPE’s branding and messaging guidelines.

Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree in social sciences, public policy, development studies, international relations, economics, or a related field is typically required. Advanced or master’s degree is highly desirable.

Experience: Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in project management, private sector development, and/or advocacy and research in economic and development policy, governance/ regulatory reforms, and ease of doing business/ business enabling environment. Experience working with business associations, NGOs, advocacy groups or civil society organizations, government or donor-funded projects, is highly desirable.

Policy Analysis Skills: Experience in conducting policy research, writing policy briefs, and providing recommendations for policy change on topics such as economic development, regulatory reform, economic policy, digital economy, international trade and investment policy or international development.

Research and Analytical Skills: Strong research skills to analyze policies, identify gaps, and propose recommendations for strengthening private sector participation in policy reforms. Experience in conducting policy research and stakeholder consultations.

Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary for effectively communicating with stakeholders, crafting persuasive messaging, and disseminating accurate information suitable for a global audience. Ability to tailor messages for different audiences and channels

Collaboration and Networking: Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector organizations, media organizations, academic institutions.

Ethical Standards: Commitment to upholding ethical standards and integrity in all aspects of work, including the handling of sensitive information and engagement with diverse stakeholders.