Secretariat of the Committee on Development - Post A

The Directorate-General for External Policies is made up of four directorates: Committees, Regions (covering interparliamentary delegations), Resources and Democracy Support.  

Staff of DG EXPO form a European team of advisers supporting the European Parliament's President and political bodies in their work on the EU's external policies. Colleagues in DG EXPO provide advice on matters of substance and procedure, liaise with other EU institutions and manage resources. The focus is on legislation, parliamentary oversight of the European Commission and EEAS, and support for parliamentary democracy. Most of the work is done in Brussels.

In the Secretariat of the Development Committee (DEVE), we are a team of 16 people with diverse backgrounds and nationalities. What we share is a dedication to and interest in the Global South and to the EU's contribution to development cooperation and humanitarian aid.

We closely support the Members of the Committee on Development in particular when they are rapporteurs of DEVE reports or in charge of opinions to other committees’ reports. Reports form the basis of European Parliament resolutions and can include legislation. We also prepare briefing notes, agendas, letters and other documents. We organise DEVE committee meetings, hearings and various other meetings with our institutional partners and with stakeholders as well as missions to third countries. We prepare votes in the committee and we support and advise the DEVE Chair on procedural as well as on substantive issues.

Team spirit and cooperation are essential in the DEVE Secretariat where each person contributes their different experience and acquires tasks, responsibilities and fields of expertise. We work in English mainly but French is often used (and sometimes other EU languages) with Members and within our team. We offer a dynamic and supportive environment with the ability to gain responsibilities in a wide range of tasks and areas.

Your tasks will include supporting the supervisor and other team members in some or all of the following:

• Carrying out background research on development related issues;
• Following political developments in partner countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa;
• Contributing to DEVE input notably on relations with Africa, on food security, migration and the multiannual financial framework;
• Reviewing amendments and preparing draft reports, draft opinions as well as country briefings, background notes and speaking points;
• Organising hearings, exchanges of views and DEVE delegations to third countries - some of them in collaboration with other committees;
• Supporting the scrutiny of  Commission programming for specific regions, countries and thematic programmes under the NDICI - Global Europe and Global Gateway frameworks as well as scrutiny of humanitarian assistance outside the EU;
• Participating in events and conferences related to DEVE topics and producing summary notes from these;
• General support to the team, including occasional translation or linguistic work and occasional logistical tasks.

You have a keen interest in development cooperation, humanitarian aid and poverty reduction, preferably with a degree or masters related to these policy areas. “SDGs, ODA, PCD, NDICI - Global Europe” are abbreviations you have heard of or read about before.

Ideally you have lived or even worked in a developing country and can bring some field expertise to our team. Experience from civil society organisations or other international organisations is also useful.

You are good at drafting well-structured and clear texts and you are highly proficient in English. Experience with communication and media (e.g. writing for the web or a student newspaper) is an asset.

You are a self-starter, a keen and quick learner, and good at analysing and summarising vast amounts of information.

You understand how the EU works in general and want to deepen this knowledge and gain first-hand experience at EU level.

You are interested in politics and public policies, understand the role of a parliaments and their democratically elected Members; in particular the role of the European Parliament vis-a-vis the other EU institutions.

You are a team-player, have tact and intercultural awareness and can communicate well and deal with different views and expectations and handle stress.