Programme Assistant

Job Description

The Programme Assistant sits within the Assistance team of the Rory Peck Trust, reporting to the Assistance Manager. The key priority of the role is to research and verify cases and distribute assistance grants. The Programme Assistant will occasionally also support training activities for beneficiaries in line with the Trust’s criteria, protocols and guidelines, and will build and maintain the Trust’s relationship with partners.

The Programme Assistant will be expected to assume responsibility in the following areas:

Case Management

• Responsibility for researching and verifying cases in line with RPT protocols; liaising with grant applicants, their families, referees, partner organisations and other relevant contacts in the preparation and verification of case reports; making every effort to ensure at all times that beneficiaries’ safety, and that of their families, is not compromised;
• Identification of beneficiary needs and most effective support; preparation of case reports, with overall recommendations in order to inform decision-making by RPT management regarding the form of support to be provided;
• In cases when financial support is required, assess the size of the grant in relation to need and locality; identify the most efficient ways of distributing grants, and prepare instructions for the bank and transfer agreements.
• Process applications for assistance, ensuring all required documentation is received, in line with RPT criteria and protocol, that case information is kept up to date and maintain meticulous records;
• Coordination of non-financial support for cases and referrals to partner organisations for additional assistance and specialist help, as appropriate;
• Maintain contact with freelance journalists and/or their families who have received grants to ensure appropriate follow-up support as needed;
• Provide reporting on how grants have been utilised in line with RPT’s monitoring and evaluation protocols.
• Maintain and update spreadsheets to track invoices

Collaboration and Outreach

• In collaboration with the RPT Communications Team, support the development of external-facing materials, including case studies, articles, blogs and website content relating to freelance journalists;
• Maintain and nurture relationships with the Trust’s existing contacts, networks and partners, including with media organisations, academia, non-government organisations, etc., in close collaboration with RPT’s Assistance Manager.
• Help coordinate the Trust’s participation on relevant platforms that promote journalists’ safety.
• Identify potential new relationships with new relevant contacts/partner organisations,
• In time, and where relevant, represent the Trust at meetings, forums, roundtables, and conferences.
• Monitor political situations and alerts concerning journalists and proactively research and advise colleagues on freelance-specific emerging regional and country-specific priorities, patterns, trends and challenges across the regions;

Assistance in facilitating the training initiative

• Provide logistical support to training participants, trainers, and staff, including international and domestic travel and accommodations;
• International travel may be required to support the delivery of RPT’s training initiatives overseas.
• Execute and ensure all contracts and MOUs are complete and up-to-date.
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation are completed in a timely manner, keeping up-to-date records.
• Additional administrative tasks as needed.