United States Institute of Peace recruits a Country Officer, Justice and Security Dialogue in Senegal

Description:
Who We Are
Peace is our commitment. The United States Institute of Peace represents the American people’s shared values and commitment to peace around the world. We know that Peace is Security – it advances both U.S. and international security by preventing, managing and mitigating violent conflict.

We are an independent, non-partisan institution and are actively engaged with peacebuilding efforts around the world. Together we tackle the toughest problems and hold fast to the possibility of a more peaceful world. (To learn more about USIP programs and job openings, go to…

If you have a passion for making the world a better place and want to have a front row seat to the world stage, USIP is the place for you.

Justice and security dialogue

USIP started its first Justice and Security Dialogue in Nepal in 2007 to restore trust between police and communities following a 10-year civil war. The dialogue gathered security forces and civil society groups who jointly devised solutions to combat drug abuse and dispel prejudices among ethnic and religious groups and resolved violent disputes. These community-level dialogues bring security and justice providers together with local residents to dispel mistrust and build cooperation to tackle urgent security concerns.

USIP teams, working with local partners, first gather representatives of all the relevant groups in a community to discuss and collectively identify the problems they are facing. The dialogues then lead the community toward practical, concrete solutions of its security problems—which can range from robberies and break-ins to weapons smuggling. Overall, the process emphasizes openness and transparency, and generally lasts for a year or longer.

In Justice and Security Dialogues, USIP and its local partners assist communities in making changes by sponsoring outreach campaigns and policy forums, and mentoring participants. They promote and develop relationships, mutual understanding, and knowledge-sharing among residents, government officials and police. The result is citizens who are active in the safety of their community, and a more effective and accountable local security force.

Job brief

The Country Officer (CO) is responsible for expanding the Justice and Security Dialogue process in Senegal mentoring and supporting partners and stakeholders in direct implementation and building support for collaborative approaches to security at the national level. The position requires continuously developing relationships with national decision-makers and local stakeholders, networking, consulting, developing national strategies and ensuring the quality of implementation.

This is a local position based in Dakar, Senegal. This position reports to the Regional Coordinator, who is in charge of the overall strategic direction of JSD activities and partnership-building with relevant stakeholders, training, mentoring and coaching of in-country project officers, as needed. The Country Officer will also supervise a Project Officer, who manages relationships and coordinates the dialogues and related activities at the local level. In addition, the Country Officer will work in close collaboration with Washington, D.C., USA-based staff and the other JSD Country Officers in Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Niger.

This is a Personal Services Contractor position.

Responsibilities:
-Oversee Justice and Security Dialogue activities in Senegal
-Ensure that all dialogue sessions as well as related activities are completed in a timely manner, achieving project goals and in compliance with the principles of the JSD approach.
-Oversee the organization of dialogues, in-country trainings and other activities as needed by the JSD process. Specific tasks will include monitoring and evaluation, overseeing local partners’ financial reporting, as well as supervising the Project Officer.
-Mentor, coach and build the capacity of participants
-In close consultation with the Regional Coordinator, the CO will mentor and coach the dialogue implementing partner, stakeholders and the Project Officer on the JSD approach, advocacy, and program management.
-Review all technical and financial reporting from implementing partners, provide guidance as needed, and oversee the organization of in-country trainings and capacity building.
-Build and maintain strong partnerships with local partners and stakeholders, key local and national government representatives
-In close consultation with the Regional Coordinator, the CO will develop and maintain relationships with relevant institutional and national-level stakeholders.
-The CO will ensure the partner organization is making progress in the JSD process. He/she will provide regular updates and analysis of current social, political and conflict dynamics.
-Contribute to research, national strategy development, and monitoring and evaluation:
-The CO will assist in systems mapping, data collection and empirical research. He/she will develop, working with colleagues, reports, policy guidance, or political analysis as needed, and provide regular and detailed updates on JSD activities.
-He/she will oversee the organization of consultative meetings, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and other activities as needed.
-Coordinate country participation in regional events
-Provide strategic input, coordinate and support the regional JSD network as needed. Guide and support all participants from Senegal to participate in regional activities.
-Build regional support for a collaborative model of policing.
-Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
-BA in relevant field (international relations, conflict resolution, human rights or international development). MA preferred;
-Five (5) years professional experience in rule of law, security sector reform, governance, peacebuilding or similar field;
-Track record working with security forces and civil society in Senegal is preferred;
-Highly developed interpersonal and soft skills, ability to build alliances, communicate effectively, influence decisions, and represent the project in official settings;
-Demonstrated experience coordinating with officials in government and collaborating with local partner organizations;
-Strong interest in and experience with innovative and adaptive programming, with the ability to engage in strategic thinking, forward planning and taking initiative;
-Demonstrated project design, implementation, and monitoring & evaluation skills;
-Experience supervising staff and building the capacity of team members, the partner, and stakeholders;
-Excellent research and analytical skills, experience writing reports for international audiences, and policy papers;
-Proven ability to work independently and effectively, with minimal support, as well as work well as part of a team;
-Fluency in French is required. Working knowledge of English and local languages preferred;
-Willingness to travel regularly within Senegal, and occasionally to other project locations in the Sahel-Maghreb region, as required.

Please note

This is a Fixed-Time Term Personal Services Contractor position.
Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience and with USIP pay scale.
All USIP contract and employee positions are contingent upon the favorable completion of a suitability background investigation.

Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

How to apply
To be considered for this position, please submit a complete application package consisting of:
-Completed employment application including titles, dates of hire and salary history.
-Cover letter
-Resume

Only those applicants that are selected for further discussions will be contacted.

No Phone Calls. Interviews will be scheduled by appointment only.

Closing date : 30 November 2019