Mensen met een Missie is an international cooperation and solidarity organization. We challenge beliefs and narratives that normalize exclusion, work to restore relationships between people on both sides of dividing lines, and address the mechanisms and structures that perpetuate inequality. With locally based partner organizations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, we work for peace and equality.
Through dialogue, reflection, and collaboration, we seek to challenge harmful beliefs, reduce mistrust and division, and strengthen relationships across social and religious divides. Our team, based in The Hague, works closely with partners and change agents to contribute to more peaceful and inclusive societies.
Faith in Freedom is a new program by Mensen met een Missie that aims to strengthen freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and contribute to more peaceful and inclusive societies. In sub-Saharan Africa, the program is being implemented in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, building on existing relationships and networks with civil society actors, faith-based organizations, and community stakeholders.
At the heart of Faith in Freedom lies the principle that everyone should be free to have, practice, change, or not have a religion or belief, without experiencing discrimination or violence. For Mensen met een Missie (People with a Mission), freedom of religion or belief is closely linked to broader issues of dignity, equality, social cohesion, and inclusive citizenship. Religion can contribute to exclusion and division, but religious actors and communities can also play an important role in promoting dialogue, solidarity, reconciliation, and social change.
The program combines three complementary and interdependent lines of work: strengthening inclusion and constructive change within religious communities; building trust and fostering cooperation among different religions and beliefs; and advocating for more inclusive policies and practices regarding freedom of religion or belief. Particular attention is paid to the effective participation and leadership of women, youth, and religious minorities. Faith in Freedom adopts an adaptive approach, with a strong emphasis on conflict sensitivity, learning, local ownership, and evidence-based advocacy.
For the Faith in Freedom program in Cameroon
We are looking for qualified candidates for the position of:
Network Coordinator – Cameroon
Date of appointment: October 1, 2026
In Cameroon, 4 to 6 partner organizations will work together within a national network to implement Faith in Freedom’s strategy and work plans. The Network Coordinator facilitates this collaboration and helps partners pool their strengths and complementary expertise.
He/she supports planning, reporting, learning and advocacy processes at the national level, and helps maintain close collaboration between partners and relevant external stakeholders.
Based in Cameroon, the Network Coordinator plays a vital role in liaising between the network of partners in Cameroon and the entire Faith in Freedom program. They represent Mensen met een Missie at the national level, while fairly representing the interests of all partners and promoting an inclusive, gender-sensitive, and religiously sensitive approach.
The Coordinator will be recruited by Mensen met een Missie.
Missions and responsibilities
- To coordinate and facilitate the network of Faith in Freedom partners in Cameroon, and to strengthen collaboration, trust and collective ownership among partners.
- Supporting the implementation of Cameroon’s strategy through the three axes of intervention – intra-religious, interreligious and extra-religious – by helping partners to contextualize approaches in light of the issues related to freedom of religion or belief in Cameroon.
- Promote the effective participation and leadership of women, youth, religious minorities and other marginalized groups.
- Promote conflict-sensitive approaches that are attentive to power dynamics and based on the principle of “Do No Harm”, and help partners respond to evolving risks and tensions.
- At the request of partners, provide support and strategic advice to individual partner organizations.
- To ensure the link between Cameroon and the team in the Netherlands: identify relevant changes and opportunities in the context and within the network of partners, ensure two-way communication, translate the overall framework of the program into local realities and, conversely, bring local realities to the program level.
- Coordinate the advocacy agenda in Cameroon and link partner priorities and community experiences with relevant local and national stakeholders, drawing, when necessary, on the technical expertise of the Mensen met een Missie team.
- Maintaining strategic relationships with relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, religious organizations and structures, civil society networks and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Program coordination, learning and advocacy
- Coordinate the annual planning, reflection and reporting processes at the national level, gathering input from partners in collaboration with the program management and PMEL teams of Mensen met een Missie.
- The Coordinator is responsible for monitoring partner reporting and contributing to the consolidation of narrative reports at the national level; they are not responsible for writing all reports alone.
- Collaborate with the PMEL team to coordinate monitoring, evaluation and learning processes, including baseline, mid-term and final evaluation activities, as appropriate.
- Create spaces that allow partners to reflect on progress made, changes in context, risks and lessons learned, and ensure follow-up on agreed adaptations.
- Organize exchange and learning events, peer exchanges, and learning opportunities between the different countries in the program.
- Identify capacity building needs with partners and organize appropriate technical assistance, training, mentoring or peer exchanges.
- Coordinate the logistics of visits and missions, including the organization of appointments, travel and accommodation, as well as the coordination of security assessments and other practical arrangements.
Safeguarding, inclusion, and accountability
- Promote gender equality, inclusion, local ownership and mutual accountability throughout the program.
- Ensure that partners are aware of relevant policies and procedures regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), safeguarding, integrity and risk management.
- Report suspected misconduct, fraud, backup incidents, or any other integrity concerns through the appropriate channels.
Position within the organization
- The Network Coordinator is of Cameroonian nationality, based in Maroua, and works closely with the network of partners in Cameroon, the Faith in Freedom Programme Manager and the PMEL team, regional and international colleagues in charge of Lobby & Advocacy (L&A), as well as with the network coordinators in other Faith in Freedom programme countries.
- Technical expertise in PMEL, advocacy, freedom of religion or belief and other areas is available within the extended team of Mensen met een Missie.
Technical skills, experience and knowledge required
- Relevant academic training and professional experience in the field of international development, human rights, peacebuilding, governance or a related field.
- Good understanding of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) as well as the Cameroonian religious, social and political context, and willingness to further develop thematic expertise.
- Experience working with religious actors, faith-based organizations and/or various civil society actors, with sensitivity to religious diversity and inclusion.
- Experience in coordinating partner networks, multi-stakeholder processes or consortium programs, with strong facilitation and relationship-building skills.
- Experience in program coordination, planning and reporting, monitoring, evaluation and learning, as well as a good understanding of advocacy approaches.
- Commitment to gender equality, inclusion, conflict sensitivity, the principle of ‘Do no harm’ and safeguarding.
- Excellent analytical, organizational and communication skills, with an ability to transform complex problems into concrete actions.
- Excellent written and oral command of French and English.
- Be of Cameroonian nationality and be able and willing to make regular trips to the different intervention areas of the program in Cameroon.
- Proactive, collaborative and reflective work ethic, and proficiency in using Office 365 and online collaboration tools.
We offer
- A stimulating and meaningful position and mission within a dynamic, enthusiastic and committed network of partners.
- A competitive salary, adapted to the context and local conditions.
- Opportunities for personal development and training.
- The necessary equipment and resources (laptop, internet subscription, etc.) to set up your workspace.
How to apply
Interested?
Send your cover letter (in English) along with your CV to sollicitatie@mensenmeteenmissie.nl no later than September 8, 2026.
Please clearly state the job title you are applying for in the subject line of your email.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
For any further information regarding this position, please contact Christina Maasdam by email at christinamaasdam@mensenmeteenmissie.nl.
Mensen met een Missie is an organization that places paramount importance on diversity and inclusion, where everyone is welcomed and valued. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of their religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or age.