About the opportunity
The Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) will support civil society actors across Sri Lanka, with a focus on grassroots and community-based organizations. This consultancy, part of the VRIDDHI Programme’s Protection Pillar, aims to strengthen the resilience, protection capacity, and legal preparedness of CSOs operating in a complex legal environment. The specialist will design and deliver six interactive online awareness sessions—three in Tamil and three in Sinhala—covering the Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA), the NGO Act, and the Online Safety Act. The role involves developing participatory learning materials, facilitating practical discussions, and providing guidance on organizational governance, legal compliance, and digital safety.
Salary and benefits
- Professional consultancy opportunity with a UN agency
- Contribution to the protection of civic space and institutional resilience in Sri Lanka
- Opportunity to work on a high-impact, donor-funded programme
Who can apply?
- Bachelor's Degree in Law, Human Rights, Criminal Justice, Governance, Public Policy, or a relevant discipline
- Minimum seven years of professional experience in legal practice, access to justice, human rights, governance, or protection programming
- Demonstrated experience designing and delivering legal awareness programmes or capacity-building initiatives for civil society organizations
- Experience working with Sri Lanka's legal and regulatory environment affecting civic space
- Proficiency in virtual facilitation platforms (Google Meet) and online learning tools
- Fluent in English, Sinhala, and Tamil
Required documents
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover letter (as typically required for UNOPS applications)
When to apply
- Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of 2026-08-24
How to apply
- Visit the official UNOPS careers marketplace portal
- Log in or create an account
- Submit the application for the Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) position (Job ID 4112) before the deadline
Additional information
- This is a retainer contract position for 18 months, from 01 September 2026 to 29 February 2028
- UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes
- UNOPS will never request payments during the recruitment process
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
- Background checks are conducted for all final candidates
- Retainer contract holders must complete mandatory courses in their own time without compensation
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Professionals with a degree in Law, Human Rights, or Governance and 7+ years of experience.
- Experts in Sri Lanka's legal and regulatory environment affecting civic space.
- Individuals fluent in English, Sinhala, and Tamil.
- Experienced virtual facilitators proficient in Google Meet and online learning tools.
What should you think carefully about?
- This is a retainer contract for 18 months, not a permanent staff position.
- The role is remote, but requires deep knowledge of Sri Lanka's specific legal environment.
- Mandatory training courses must be completed by the contractor in their own time without pay.
- The specialist must be able to deliver sessions in three different languages.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This is a high-impact consultancy for someone wanting to contribute to the protection of civic space and institutional resilience for grassroots organizations in Sri Lanka.
Our take
Experienced legal or human rights professionals in Sri Lanka who are fluent in English, Sinhala, and Tamil should seriously consider this consultancy.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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