Open call: PANAF Summit 2027 local project coordinator in Ethiopia

The four-month position will run from November 2026 to February 2027, with the successful candidate working under the direction of Selam Ethiopia’s Program Director and project team. An onsite orientation is scheduled for October 2026.

The fourth PANAF Summit will take place in Addis Ababa from 4 to 6 February 2027 under the working theme ‘Creating freely: Building the Ecosystem for Sustainable Artistic Livelihoods’.

The Summit is expected to bring together approximately 35 artists, cultural practitioners, civil society representatives, policymakers and advocates for workshops, peer exchanges and daily field visits to cultural organisations. It will coincide with the Addis Jazz Festival, which runs from 5 to 7 February 2027.

Key responsibilities

The Local Project Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the local planning and implementation of the Summit, including:

• Coordinating event logistics, including venue setup, equipment, local transport, accommodation and hospitality.
• Managing local suppliers and service providers covering accommodation, catering, transport, technical and audiovisual support, venue setup and printing.
• Providing day-to-day logistical and hospitality support to approximately 35 delegates.
• Developing transport schedules for delegates travelling between Summit venues and other programme locations.
• Coordinating airport pick-ups and drop-offs in collaboration with the project lead and hotel shuttle services.
• Organising daily field visits to cultural sites and coordinating delegates’ attendance at the opening of the Addis Jazz Festival.
• Identifying and resolving operational challenges during the planning and delivery stages.
• Providing regular progress updates to the project team.

Required experience and skills

Applicants should have:

• Proven experience in event management, cultural project coordination or local festival logistics in Addis Ababa.
• Established networks with cultural spaces, suppliers, hospitality providers and transport operators in Addis Ababa.
• Professional fluency in Amharic and English, both written and spoken.
• The ability to manage changing event requirements and resolve operational issues on the ground.

Experience in cultural event production, international delegate coordination and Addis Ababa-based logistics will be particularly relevant.

Selection will consider candidates’ experience, local networks, coordination capacity, communication skills, availability and understanding of the requirements of an international cultural gathering.

Working arrangements

The position requires a full-time commitment on a flexible hybrid basis, including remote work and three half-days per week in the Selam Ethiopia office.

From 1 to 7 February 2027, the successful candidate will be required to work full-time onsite to support final preparations, delegate needs, logistics and Summit implementation.

Timeline

• End of October 2026: Onsite onboarding, operational planning and preliminary site assessments.
• November 2026: Identification of local suppliers, venue preparation and provisional hotel and transport bookings.
• December 2026: Finalisation of vendor contracts, catering plans and field visit itineraries.
• January 2027: Completion of the master logistics plan, participant arrival schedules, shuttle routes and technical dry-runs.
• February 2027: Onsite Summit delivery from 4 to 6 February, followed by post-Summit operational debriefing, reconciliation and reporting.

How to apply

• Application deadline: 12 October 2026
• Online application: https://forms.gle/jb6CRUg8nmkG6obb6

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the selection process.