Expression of Interest for Assistant Coordinator on Safe Seas for Africa programme (SSA).

Assistant Coordinator - Mauritius (Onsite with some flexibility to work remotely)

1.1 Overview of the Technical Assistance project

The overall objective of the project is to support the effective, coherent and results-oriented implementation of two regional maritime programmes:

• The €25m Western Indian Ocean (WIO) component of the Safe Seas for Africa programme (SSA). The Action (a continuation / expansion of the previous EU supported MASE programme) aims to enhance maritime security and safety in the WIO, working to increase capacities and capabilities of national maritime law enforcement agencies, support the efficient prevention / redress / response / and adjudication of maritime-based crimes by judicial bodies, strengthen the capacities and capabilities of national and regional maritime security centres, and develop intranational / inter-agency and inter-regional coordination and cooperation; and

• The €16m Enhancing maritime security and safety of navigation in the Southern Red Sea, Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden region (Red Sea-HoA Programme II). The Action (a continuation of Phase I of the Red Sea-HoA Programme) aims to enhance maritime security and safety of navigation in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region, working to strengthen maritime law enforcement agencies, build the capacities of maritime affairs and port authorities, strengthen intra- and inter-regional Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and reinforce the capacities of national judicial bodies.

The services will contribute to enhanced coordination of activities to improve maritime security and safety of navigation in the WIO and the Red Sea/Horn of Africa regions. The project will establish a PMU-type facility to facilitate implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting for the two programmes. Towards this end, this services contract will work towards achieving five (5) Specific Objectives:

• Specific Objective 1 – Programme coordination and coherence: To ensure effective coordination, supervision and coherence of actions implemented under the SSA programme and Red Sea/Horn of Africa programme, including complementarity and synergies among implementing partners.

• Specific Objective 2 – Ownership and engagement: To strengthen monitoring of implementation at country level and support national stakeholders in addressing challenges and enhancing ownership.

• Specific Objective 3 – Links with the regional maritime security architecture: To strengthen coordination and cooperation between regional and national partners and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) and Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) and support Red Sea/Horn of Africa partner countries in establishing and strengthening links to the two centres, when and if possible.

• Specific Objective 4 – Results-based management and reporting: To ensure RBM and strategic oversight of both programmes through systematic monitoring of the logframe indicators, analysis of progress at country and regional level, and provision of evidence-based recommendations for decision-making and programme steering.

• Specific Objective 5 – Strategic Support to the EU: To provide continuous technical and strategic support and guidance to the EU in the implementation of the SSA and Red Sea/Horn of Africa programmes, ensuring coherence with wider EU initiatives and policies in the region.

1.2 Key project data

• Publication Date: Prior Information Notice (start of services procurement) 08/04/2026. Anticipated publication date for Contract Notice (invitation for RtPs) 25/05/2026

• Request to Participate Submission Deadline (EOI): June-July 2026

• Indicative Invitation to Tender (ITT) Date (shortlisting): Anticipated September-October 2026

• Provisional Commencement Date: Anticipated Q1-Q2 2027

• Duration: 48 months (4 years)

2.2 The Key Expert Team

Key Experts play a central role in the management and implementation of the technical assistance, with their CVs comprising an integral part of the Service Contract. As such, Key Experts will:

• Provide technical and managerial leadership to the overall project, utilising their respective technical expertise to drive results in the respective thematic areas covered by the Service Contract, as appropriate.

• Lead engagement with project counterparts, stakeholders, and recipients of technical assistance.

• Plan, budget, and manage project resources (NKE pool and financial resources available under the Incidental Budget and other applicable budget lines) in line with the needs of the project and as agreed with applicable stakeholders (EUD, Implementing Partners, Regional Organisations and Agencies, and National governments and stakeholders, and ASE). Appropriate support and backstopping will be provided by ASE in this regard.

• Lead on local project management, in coordination with the EUD and ASE’s backstopping team. This will notably include primary responsibility for project Inception, Interim, and Final Reporting.

• Assume line-management of technical experts (NKEs) as applicable, ensuring value for money in the planning, deployment, and consumption of NKE resources and maintaining quality control of NKE outputs / deliverables.

Key Expert 4 – Assistant Coordinator (Place of Posting: Mauritius)

The Key Expert 4 – Assistant Coordinator will support the work of the Team Leader and programme coordinators (KE2 and KE3), facilitating synergies between the two Actions, stakeholder dialogue, and logistical support under the services contract.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Master’s Degree in Political or Social Sciences, Security Studies, Development Studies, Law, Public Administration, or other technical area, as relevant to the scope of the assignment.

• Excellent organisation, reporting, and presentation skills.

• Full fluency in English is mandatory (speaking, reading, writing) (C2 level).

• Working knowledge of French, Somali, Arabic, or other languages from the WIO and/or RSHoA region will be an asset.

General Professional Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in the areas of project and programme management, ensuring multi-stakeholder coordination, results-based management / monitoring / and reporting, in the context of international cooperation programming.

Specific Professional Experience:

• Relevant experience supporting Security Sector Reform (SSR) and/or Justice Sector projects and/or programmes will be a significant asset.

• Proven experience and understanding of EU Project Cycle Management (PCM) frameworks, including monitoring and reporting requirements will be a significant asset.

• Relevant experience in maritime security (project / programme based, or through professional experience in national, regional, or international institutions or organisations) will be an asset.