Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (CDI) – January to March 2021
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 CDI from August 2020 – March 2021, surrounding the recent presidential election and the upcoming legislative election. Deployment is anticipated in mid-January for the anticipated March 6, 2021 legislative elections in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Center is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as a Participatory Rights Analyst for its Côte d’Ivoire election observation mission for the anticipated legislative elections. The analyst is one of the international core team thematic experts and should have experience working on election observation missions or relevant projects concerning participatory rights and international human rights obligations. Five to ten years of experience in democracy and/or elections is required, in addition to a degree in political science or another relevant field.
Responsibilities
The participatory rights analyst will be responsible for assessing the exercise of participatory rights and protection of human rights during the Ivorian legislative elections, as stipulated by international treaties and Ivorian law. S/he will:
- Act as the mission’s primary technical expert on political and participatory rights, and the conduct of the election vis-a-vis international treaties and domestic laws;
- Follow key developments in participatory rights and respect for human rights throughout the electoral cycle in Côte d’Ivoire, including freedom of assembly and expression, right to vote, and right to stand as a candidate, among others;
- In collaboration with the legal analyst, assess the legal framework for political and civil rights, and enforcement of human rights protections in Côte d’Ivoire;
- Meet with human rights organizations, NGOs, political party representatives, civil society leaders, and representatives from other observer groups to share views and assess the Ivorian human rights environment;
- Contribute to EISA-Carter Center press releases, public statements, and project reports as necessary, including weekly reports, and draft final report section concerning participatory rights during the electoral period; and
- Brief mission members and EISA/Carter Center staff on key human rights issues during the campaign and election, drafting briefing papers and other mission-related documents as requested.
Qualifications:
- Significant substantive experience working internationally on democracy, human rights and /or election observation.
- Robust background in international law and human rights standards, including but not limited to participatory rights.
- Fluency in English and French, both written and spoken, is required;
- Professional experience in Côte d’Ivoire or the West African region is desirable, or at a minimum, comparable political/electoral environments on the African continent; 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/shrCW0HQolEgIu3BM. Only applications uploaded in the system will be considered. For questions, please e-mail CDIrecruitment@cartercenter.org
Deadline for submissions: January 16, 2021 or until filled. 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.