The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. The Center is partnering with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) to implement an election observation mission in Côte d’Ivoire from August 2020 – January 2021. The Center is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as Security Analyst to assess the security environment surrounding its international election observation mission (EOM).
The Security Analyst will be responsible for assessing the security environment in Côte d’Ivoire, identifying potential risks to the mission and its consultants and developing security protocols and procedures to mitigate risks and provide security support for the team. The consultancy is expected to be completed in 2-3 weeks with potential to be extended, pending electoral developments.
Responsibilities
- Identify and update key contact information with national and international organizations and local resources for security-related information and support services;
- Conduct meetings and outreach on behalf of the Center to conduct the mission’s risk assessment, security and risk management plan and related written documents for the Côte d’Ivoire mission;
- Assess risks related to the movement of staff in and around Côte d’Ivoire, as well as to provincial capitals for observation activities;
- Provide input regarding observer deployment plans and staff accommodations;
- Assess the risk of staff becoming targets of violence, intimidation, and theft due to their involvement with the project. Define best practices for mitigating these risks;
- Design security protocols for the office, travel, meetings, and events which highlight risks and define policies and procedures for safe conduct;
- Provide security guidance and training to national and expatriate staff in Côte d’Ivoire through briefings and trainings;
- Design plans for “mothballing” the office to national staff if evacuation of expatriate staff is necessary. Provide information in a written report to Chief of Party and Project Manager.
- Assist in the recruitment of a national security officer to support the long-term observer deployment; and
- Brief field Chief of Party and Program Manager on results of above and provide written recommendations to the Chief of Party and Program Manager to strengthen security conditions and procedures for office and staff as appropriate.
Qualifications:
- Seven to ten years of post-graduate experience in the field of military/police/security or relevant security background;
- Demonstrated experience assessing risk factors surrounding the deployment of EOMs and/or large numbers of civilian staff, identifying potential threats, and preparing evacuation plans;
- Previous participation in international election observation missions or similar context, and knowledge of security risks associated with deployments of staff to remote location;
- Fluency in English is required. French is strongly preferred;
- Professional experience in Côte d’Ivoire or West Africa is desirable, or at a minimum, comparable countries in the general region; and
- Leadership skills, cross-cultural understanding, and a background working in sensitive political situations are required.
Please upload a cover letter and a CV to https://airtable.com/shrP9mLOwLd2ZbsTj. Only applications uploaded in the system will be considered. E-mail CDIrecruitment@cartercenter.org for urgent questions.
The Center is seeking to deploy the consultant immediately. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application documents as soon as possible; decisions will be made on a rolling basis until the position is filled. As this is an international election observation mission, Ivorian nationals are not eligible to serve as core team members. Due to the large volume of applicants, only those candidates selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified by the Center. No phone calls or in-person contacts will be entertained.