Democratic Election Standards (DES) Senior Technical Advisor The Carter Center

The Carter Center – Democracy Program Consultant – Democratic Election Standards (DES) Senior Technical Advisor The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to promote human rights, alleviate human suffering, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health conditions. Following involvement in the 2011 Presidential and Legislative elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Center’s Democracy Program is now working to enhance the role played by domestic Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as they advance a more credible electoral process based on democratic elections standards. The Center plans to accomplish this by hosting a series of trainings for these stakeholders. Position Summary The Center seeks a highly-qualified, motivated and energetic consultant with extensive experience developing and/or administering training materials to serve as a DES Senior Technical Advisor in the DRC for 14 months, to aid in conducting a series of trainings. The trainings will be targeted towards domestic CSOs in the DRC. S/he will administer training materials previously developed and tailored for the CSO audiences, but may be tasked with updating materials as needed. This position will be based out of Kinshasa with travel to the provinces required throughout the contracted 14 month period. Qualifications The qualified candidate should have full professional capacity to communicate and as needed, draft materials in English. S/he should have full professional proficiency in French. S/he should have a post-graduate degree in law, human rights, international relations or a related field. The ideal candidate will have prior experience working on international election missions in a legal, training or other technical capacity. S/he will also have experience conducting trainings in diverse settings and in French. Experience working in the DRC and/or other post-conflict developing nations, strong leadership skills and a cross-cultural understanding are strongly encouraged. Duties Under supervision of the Atlanta Project Manager, the primary responsibilities of the DES Senior Technical Advisor will include: · Supporting, and representing as requested, the Carter Center’s project in the DRC to support the strengthening of domestic election observation organizations in coordination with staff supporting the Center’s human rights programming · As needed, contributing to the design of training materials, including training manuals and other tools, with input from the Center’s Atlanta staff · Helping administer a February or March 2012 needs assessment to be held in three DRC provinces · Attending a 2-day Atlanta training on International Election Standards, hosted by The Carter Center · Adapting and develop materials for the trainings as necessary, including schedules and agendas, presentations, written briefing materials, surveys and questionnaires, etc. · Conducting a training on International Election Standards for domestic CSOs: o International obligations for democratic elections: This training will build on a prior training for domestic observers held by the Center in October 2010 in Kinshasa and will include an introduction to electoral rights as human rights, incorporating a rights based approach into electoral reform advocacy, and providing support to CSOs developing election-related activity plans. Additional staff will be on hand to help carry out the training. · Conducting an Advocacy and Reform Strategy Training for domestic CSOs o Advocacy and Reform Strategy Training: This training will focus on practical exercises for CSOs to bring their experience to bear, as they consider new ways to advocate for change in the electoral process, using international obligations and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) as key tools in their strategic. Additional staff will be on hand to help carry out the training. · Helping conduct three trainings in Congolese provinces on domestic election observation strategies. o Regional Partner Trainings: Using existing master trainers and a few key partner NGOs in Bas-Congo, Katanga and the Kivus, this training will be aimed at a cadre of domestic long-term, human right and election monitors. An additional 10-20 domestic Long term observers, per province, will be selected from amongst staff working for the Center and/or partners organizations. · Maintaining ongoing contact with CSOs and key stakeholders, including government and political leaders, electoral authorities, NGO and civil society leaders, donor contacts, members of the diplomatic community and relevant security officials within the Government of DRC, and the United Nations Organization Mission in DRC. · As requested, negotiating and overseeing implementation of subgrant agreements with potential CSO partner organizations. · Organizing stakeholder meetings with Carter Center Atlanta staff present in the DRC, as needed. · Providing regular analysis, advice, and reports to the Center regarding the political dynamics that impact support and training for domestic groups. Submit weekly overall field reports to Atlanta, as well as quarterly progress reports, and other written and oral briefings, as necessary. Contribute to a final report on the project. · Providing ongoing advice, guidance and technical support to the partner organizations throughout the life of the project. Provide advice and guidance to Human Rights House staff on election related issues as necessary. · Providing input and edits to project reports, as needed. Contribute to funding proposals and donor reports as needed. · With other staff in the DRC, monitoring project implementation to contribute qualitative and quantitative data to project reports. The pay rate for the DES Senior Technical Associate is commensurate with experience. Please send cover letter, CV and a list of references: Chansi Powell – Program Associate The Carter Center 453 Freedom Parkway Atlanta, Georgia 30307 E-mail: drcelectionstandards@gmail.com