About CIVIC

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international non-profit with offices around the world working to improve protection for civilians caught in conflict zones. CIVIC envisions a world in which no civilian is harmed in conflict. Our mission is to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and strengthen the resolve and capacity of armed actors to prevent and respond to civilian harm. We are advocates who believe that no civilian caught in conflict should be ignored, and advisors who provide practical solutions to preventing and responding to civilian harm. Learn more at www.civiliansinconflict.org;

CIVIC worked with the G5 Sahel Joint Force (FC-G5S), OHCHR and partners on the ground to contribute to reducing civilian harm associated with FC-G5S’ operations in the border regions of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Chad in support of the Human Rights Compliance Framework (HRCF). The project general objective was to Improve FC-G5S’ capabilities to mitigate civilian harm throughout the lifecycle of operations.

CIVIC supported the FC-G5S to establish a system to track and adjust operations to mitigate civilian harm, the Civilian Incident Tracking and Analysis Mechanism (CITAC/MISAD) and ensure that FC-G5S personnel have a strong understanding of how to run and fully utilize this tool in furtherance of the HRCF.

In addition to CIVIC Sahel’s work with the FC-G5S, the Sahel team is planning to work in Niger, with additional support to Malian and Burkinabe forces. The aim is to move from the multinational (the MISAD) to the national level, using the impact of the MISAD to implement CHM (Civilian Harm Mitigation) at the national level of all three countries.

“Civilians in the Sahel are better protected” is the strategic vision of CIVIC Sahel program for the next four years. CIVIC aims to support conflict-affected civilians and civil society organizations improve their capacities and means to advance communities self-protection, and security forces improve capabilities and tools to protect civilians.

Also, CIVIC will work to bolster civil society efforts to advocate for POC, and push Sahelian governments to prioritize POC. These efforts are supported by the research reports and the high-level advocacy with different counterparts, diplomatic corps, government, and forces’ bodies.

About the position

CIVIC is seeking highly qualified applicants for the positions of Civil Society Engagement Officer based in Niger; the role will provide advanced support to the Sahel Regional team, with main duties to support the CIVIC community engagement approach in all activities of term of preventions and mitigating harms of civilian in partners operation areas.

The Civil Society Engagement Officer in collaboration with program team will undertake analysis of country and regional practices around civil society engagement including the effective tools and methods, compile this analysis to develop recommendations for the FC-G5S in objective to capitalize the best lessons learned and to promote the dissemination of best practices around civil society and community engagement.

This position requires professionalism, strong ability of relationship management, good capacity of community threats analysis, attention to detail, experience in civil society engagement and the ability to think logically and follow a process through to completion with minimal supervision.

Location: Niamey, Niger

Travel: Up to 45% required of mission in the field

Reporting to: Regional Program Manager

Job Purpose

Provide subject matter in technical knowledge and develop, facilitate, support CIVIC’s civil society engagement processes and communication with civilian strategy.

Key Functions

The Civil Society Engagement Officer will support CIVIC in conceiving and implementing a civil society engagement strategy that focuses on PoC/CHM and communication strategy that places civilians at the center of CIVIC activities.

Job responsibilities

• Facilitate the development of Civil Society Engagement plan and overall communication plan linked with civil society in Niger and lead its implementation by coordinating closely with other program team members and MEL.
• Ensure that modules on civil society engagement and communications strategy are developed and contextualised to CIVIC Sahel strategy.
• Enhance civil society organizations participation in designing POC analysis briefs which emphasize tactic of the EU and Sahel forces.
• Develop standard lines of communication between civilians and EU and Sahel forces by implementing ways of collaboration which reflect the different protection needs of women, men, girls, boys, including those with disabilities, and increase their voice and influence around civilian protection issues in Niger.
• Liaise with various community stakeholders and mobilize them to ensure full involvement of community leaders, community representatives, and local government representatives in the overall implementation and improvement of Sahel CIVIC project activities.
• Support the Regional CIVIC and partner teams to identify community entry points, potential conflict triggers related to Sahel CIVIC program activities undergoing in Niger and develop mitigating measures where needed.
• Mobilize communities across Niger to strengthen community self-protection mechanisms, to create platforms for improved civilian-military relations, and lead a civilian protection Network related to advocacy and campaigns those increase the understanding of CHM (civilian harm mitigation).
• Develop processes for proactively engaging with representative of relevant civil society organisations, community leaders, and national and local forces by collecting and/or analysing data on civilian harm in term to engage communities’ safety in response to civilian harm incidents.
• Build strong relations with local and national army, community, and civil society organizations and like-minded INGOs and partners engaged in POC.
• Report cases of civilian damage from FC-G5S operations that specifically affect civilians within the community in operational areas and propose ways to include them in the discussion tables during the implementation of Human Rights Compliance Framework.

Requirements/Qualifications

• B. A. in international Affairs, Political Science, Social Sciences, or related area.
• Masters level preferred;
• Minimum 5 years relevant full-time staff level work experience required, including work in active and/or recently active conflict zones and experience in community or civil society engagement, training, field research, advocacy, and project management.
• Good interpersonal skills to effectively interact with all levels of staff, and foreign government personnel, and the NGO community.
• Good oral skills to effectively present information and respond to questions.
• Strong writing and copy-editing skills.
• Capacity to work both independently and as a member of a team and to work within multiple deadlines and timeframes.
• Basic understanding to on protection of civilians and relevant legal frameworks.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs (Word, Excel).
• Experience with Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Drive, G+, etc.), Dropbox, and Slack strongly desired.
• Demonstrated strong work ethic.
• Passion for CIVIC’s subject matter and willingness to take on the responsibilities and duties as a key member of our team.
• French and English language fluency is mandatory.
• Advanced proficiency in one of regional language is also required.

Skills and Experience:

• Well organized, collaborative, self-motivated, and able to conceptualize, manage, and plan their work even in unstable environments;
• Deep knowledge of Sahel region including related to humanitarian and security issues;
• In depth understanding of civilian protection issues in armed conflict;
• Proven ability to think analytically and plan strategically, including setting objectives and identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for our work;
• Ability to network extensively and build partnerships with community leaders and civil society organizations in sensitive political and security environments.
• Willingness and experience working with security forces and understanding of the military/civilian/humanitarian spaces.

Languages:

• Fluent in French and good level of English
• Fluent in one of national language is an asset

Resumes are reviewed on a rolling basis so please apply early.

CIVIC seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool in the belief that employees from diverse backgrounds are critical to achieving our goals. We strongly encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

CIVIC is not able to sponsor employees at this point in time, therefore, please ensure that you are able to legally work in this location when applying.

Note to Recruiters and Placement Agencies: CIVIC does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. CIVIC does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.

Apply at: https://civilians.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=150