Project Officer 100% - Sub-Saharan Africa Division

DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance is dedicated to improving the security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and gender equality. Since its founding in 2000, DCAF has contributed to making peace and development more sustainable by assisting partner states, and international actors supporting these states, to improve the governance of their security sector through inclusive and participatory reforms. It creates innovative knowledge products, promotes norms and good practices, provides legal and policy advice and supports capacity‐building of both state and non‐state security sector stakeholders.

DCAF’s Foundation Council members represent over 50 countries and the Canton of Geneva. Active in over 70 countries, DCAF is internationally recognized as one of the world's leading centres of excellence for security sector governance (SSG) and security sector reform (SSR). DCAF is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation, and gender equality. For more information visit www.dcaf.ch and follow us on Twitter @DCAF_Geneva.

For our Sub-Saharan Africa Division, we are seeking a dynamic, organised and creative individual to be our next:

• Project Officer               100%
• Location:                          Geneva
• Starting date:                 as soon as possible
• Duration:                         24 months

THE ROLE

The Project Officer (PO) provides support in the implementation and administration of projects and programmes of DCAF’s Sub-Saharan Africa Division (SSAD). For this specific position, the PO will be assigned to DCAF SSAD programmes in The Gambia.

DCAF has been engaged in supporting the SSR process in The Gambia since 2017. In January 2021, DCAF launched a large-scale programme which aims to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of security institutions, with a particular focus on the Gambian Police Force (GPF). In July 2021, DCAF launched a second programme component aimed at providing complementary support to the reform of the Gambian Immigration Department (GID).

The PO will be part of the Gambian progamme team based in Geneva and will support the  management and reporting of the programmes, including through monitoring, evaluation & learning. This is a role that is expected to progressively take on greater responsibility, including supporting the organization, facilitation and reporting on activities with partners in the field.

Project and program implementation:

• Liaise and coordinate with DCAF’s Banjul Field Office and provide day-to-day support for the smooth implementation of the Police and Immigration programme, and other projects as required;
• Support the preparation, framing and organization of project activities such as workshops, expert missions and other events;
• Contribute to drafting documents for internal and external audiences such as concept notes, project proposals, terms of reference, budgets, contracts, summaries, reports, and planning documents;
• Liaise with project-partners and consultants as requested;
• Provide support to monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) related activities, in coordination with the MEL Officer based in Banjul;
• Contribute to the measurement and articulation of project results through the DCAF Results-Based Management (RBM) system;
• In coordination with the Banjul Field office, conduct regular media monitoring on The Gambia.;
• Document of emerging good practice and lessons learned from programme implementation.

 Research:

• Conduct research in support of the division’s activities;
• Review and edit of a variety of internal and external research products;
• Assist in the coordination of external researchers, as required;
• Any other assigned research tasks.

Administrative tasks:

• Administer the division’s SharePoint site with the support of DCAF’s SharePoint expert;
• Ensure documents and resources are stored and organized appropriately in the division’s shared drive and SharePoint site;
• Liaise with service providers such as translators, graphic designers and printers;
• Assist in preparing background information and DCAF documents/publications, including presentations, posters, flyers, other promotional material;
• Update DCAF hard copy and online materials;
• Support budget expenditure and planning processes.

 YOUR EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience working on governance or peacebuilding projects in the context of states undergoing transition or democratic reform.
• Familiarity with project planning and design, budget management, project implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
• Excellent communications skills, and a perfect command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of French constitutes an asset.
• Excellent organisation skills with strong attention to detail.
• Advanced university degree (or equivalent work experience) in international relations, peace, or security studies.
• Familiarity with the UN, EU, AU, ECOWAS, and other intergovernmental and/or regional organisations.
• Knowledgeable in using Excel
• Swiss or EU citizenship or a valid work permit for Switzerland at the time of application is a pre-requisite.

WE OFFER

• a rewarding, dynamic and challenging work experience
• the chance to be part of a multicultural team of supportive, hardworking and values-driven people
• the chance to contribute to improving security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights

If you think you are a good match for DCAF and the position advertised, please send your application to africa.programme@dcaf.ch by 21 May 2021 with the subject heading Recruitment PO Geneva enclosing:

• a one-page motivational statement in English describing your relevant experience and what you can bring to DCAF
• a concise CV (maximum two pages)
• List of 2 references
• indication of your availability

DCAF is committed to equality of opportunity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of sex, age, disability, gender identity, religion, or ethnicity.

Individuals who seek to serve with DCAF in any individual capacity will be required, if short-listed, to complete a self-attestation stating that they have not committed or been convicted of any criminal offence and have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Due to a large amount of applications, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.