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.
Contingent on availability of funding, The Carter Center is preparing to deploy an international election observation mission to Sierra Leone for the general elections anticipated to take place in June 2023. The Carter Center is recruiting highly qualified individuals to serve as medium-term observers (MTOs) for this mission. A short-list of candidates will be rostered, and selected candidates will be informed of the deployment timeline as soon as a date is confirmed. At this time, a deployment from May through July is planned, but this timeline is subject to change. Selected candidates may be required to undertake pre-deployment training online.
MTOs will work in pairs and travel regularly within assigned areas of responsibility in Sierra Leone. Candidates should be prepared to travel to remote, rural locations and must be able to work in difficult environments with minimal amenities. MTO safety is a priority for The Carter Center, and candidates must be willing to follow all communication and safety/security protocols. MTO teams will monitor and report on key electoral developments, including the electoral and political environment, human rights, civic and voter education, the media environment, campaigning, voting, counting, and tabulation processes. MTOs will also report on political participation issues, including those related to ethnic minorities, religion, gender, disability, and poverty. The information collected will be the basis for an impartial assessment of the election process and associated recommendations to improve inclusiveness, credibility, and transparency.
Primary responsibilities:
- Under the direction of the Mission Director and Observer Coordinator, and working in coordination with an MTO partner, monitor the overall election environment and technical preparations, including voter registration, candidate nomination, campaigning, campaign finance, dispute resolution, participation of women, election-day and post-election processes, and other aspects of the process.
- Establish relationships with the relevant electoral authorities, political parties, government representatives, observer groups, security authorities and other stakeholders at the state/regional and local levels in the assigned area of operation.
- Provide weekly written reports, spot reports and oral briefings on political and electoral developments to the Mission Director and contribute to other reports as directed.
- Liaise with domestic election observers, civil society organizations, and any other community-based organizations operating at the regional and municipal levels.
- May prepare written briefing materials relevant to each deployment area, including contact lists.
- Observe post-election results and electoral dispute proceedings in the area of responsibility.
- Adhere to Carter Center codes of conduct, the observation methodology of The Carter Center and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, and security protocols.
- Other tasks as needed.
Qualifications:
Ideal candidates will possess some or all of the following qualifications:
- Experience in election observation, election administration or democratic governance.
- Working knowledge of the politics and culture in Sierra Leone or the West African region.
- Professional experience in Sierra Leone or the West African region.
- Demonstrated expertise in some or all of the following areas: elections, human rights, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and political analysis.
- Ability to communicate clearly in English, including through written reports.
- Prior experience in developing and /or delivering training materials.
- Proficiency in the use of MS Office applications, in particular, Word, Outlook and Excel.
- Knowledge of languages spoken is Sierra Leone is desirable but not required.
- Sound judgement and ability to perform effectively under stressful situations.
- Cross-cultural understanding and ability to live in difficult conditions, work within a team, and maintain a high standard of professionalism at all times.
Financial compensation:
MTO positions are considered voluntary. MTOs will receive a per diem to cover meals and incidental expenses, as well as a weekly stipend as remuneration. MTO housing and travel costs will be borne by The Carter Center.
All applications must be inputted/uploaded to the following link by April 14, 2023: https://airtable.com/shrRl644LEUyulIo4
Note: Because this is an international election observation mission, Sierra Leone nationals are not eligible to serve as MTOs. Due to the large volume of applicants, only candidates selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified.