Programme Assistant (Safety Net)

Location: Brussels, Belgium
Starting: October 2026
Contract type: 1-2 years
Salary: Approx. €3,800 gross/month
Deadline: 1 September 2026 at midnight Brussels time

Precision, perspective, purpose.

At the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), we stand behind people working for democratic change in difficult environments — where civic space is restricted and political pressure is high. Our support is fast, flexible, and grounded in trust.

We're now looking for a Programme Assistant to join our team working on the Safety Net mechanism. The overall objective of the Safety Net is to sustain the independent information space in Eurasia and protect it from the expansionist influence of authoritarian regimes strengthened by the withdrawal of US-backed democratic and free media, including the weakening of RFE/RL which has been affected by an acute funding crisis.

This is a dynamic role where you'll support varied work focused on strengthening independent media ecosystems in the region through a dedicated basket fund and multiple tracks: from assessing requests for support, to writing reports, to organising stakeholder meetings, to providing administrative support.

This is an opportunity for someone well-versed in donor work, collaborative with good political judgement, great analytical, writing and critical thinking skills — someone who thrives in a mission-driven environment and is ready to grow.

What You’ll Do

Working as part of the Safety Net team, you will report to its Manager and your responsibilities will include:

• Monitoring the media ecosystems in the region and gathering insights from the field relevant to the Safety Net mission and objectives in Eurasia
• Communicating with and coaching potential applicants for support and assessing their Safety Net eligibility
• Assisting with monitoring the progress of ongoing initiatives to ensure they continually meet the Safety Net objectives
• Drafting reports to donors and other documentation such as meeting summaries
• Supporting the monitoring of the basket fund budget and providing related administrative assistance
• Supporting the organisation of Safety Net stakeholder meetings
• Undertaking outreach and monitoring missions, where needed
• Staying up to date with political developments and trends relevant to the Safety Net mission in Eurasia

What You Bring

You have:

• A university degree in political or social sciences, international affairs, law, development, or a related field
• At least one year of professional experience in media or civil society-related projects or programmes
• Full professional fluency in English and Russian

You are:

• Organised, focused, and comfortable managing multiple timelines
• A clear communicator who works well with partners and colleagues
• Collaborative and culturally aware, with high personal and professional integrity
• Motivated by purpose — and able to connect your daily tasks to a broader mission

Bonus points for:

• Experience working directly with media or civil society in the Eurasia region
• Knowledge of EU policies towards Eastern neighbourhood
• Experience with compliance, budgeting, or donor reporting tools
• Experience in grant-making, project cycle management, or donor reporting
• Knowledge of other languages from Eurasia

Why Join Us?

• Meaningful work: Help support grassroots efforts defending democracy and rights in one of the world’s most challenging contexts.
• A smart, international and diverse team: Join colleagues who care about impact and work collaboratively across regions and disciplines.
• Benefits that matter: Our package includes complementary health insurance (CIGNA), meal vouchers, public transport or bike allowance, 13th month salary, holiday pay, paid leave, parental leave options, and annual training opportunities.