Program Officer - CAR
Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
Part Time to Full Time
Mid Level
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:
Program Officer ABA ROLI
Strengthening Human Rights Activity in the Central African Republic _________________________________________________________________________________
Call title: Program Officer - ABA ROLI Strengthening Human Rights Activity in the Central African Republic
Theme: Management/Communications
Location: Bangui, Central African Republic
Contract type: Part or Full-time Consultancy
Performance period: 12 months (renewal possible)
Scheduled start date: January 2025
Closing date: December 20, 2024
_________________________________________________________________________________
Organization Overview:
The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) is a non-profit organization that implements legal reform programs. For over 25 years, ABA ROLI has worked in more than 100 countries to promote the rule of law, advance human rights, strengthen judicial institutions, support legal professionals and improve public understanding of the law and citizens' rights. To this end, ABA ROLI has established partnerships with a wide range of actors, including justice sector institutions (judges, prosecutors, public defense offices, mediation offices and national human rights institutions, investigators and police), civil society organizations, bar associations, legal aid organizations and lawyers, among others. ABA ROLI's work in Africa covers a variety of programs around the rule of law, access to justice, atrocity prevention and the protection and promotion of human rights. ABA ROLI's Africa division has national offices across the continent, including in Angola, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Liberia, Sudan, and Uganda.
Program Overview:
CAR continues to be plagued by violent conflict and political instability. Armed groups control increasingly large swathes of the country, and the government is weak and characterized by rampant corruption. Human rights violations and atrocities are prevalent across the country, while tensions between communities and violent outbreaks continue to perpetuate cycles of violence. Women, youth, and marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable to both human rights violations—including SGBV—as well as the indirect effects of violent conflict.
In response to these challenges, the CAR Human Rights Support Mechanism project, in partnership with Search for Common Ground and Internews, empowers Central African citizens to: (1) prevent and respond to human rights violations; (2) strengthen democratic institutions with the potential to advance human rights over the long term; (3) counter conflict-provoking mis-information and rumors with accurate and professional journalism; and (4) rapidly adapt to changing threats to human rights, including from armed groups and foreign malign actors.
ABA ROLI plans to set up a Green Line to facilitate calls from victims of human rights violations. The Program Officer will promote use of the line, support the monitoring of the line, and create referral mechanisms to ensure line users receive the help they need.
Job Summary:
The Program Officer, located in the Central African Republic, will be responsible for managing the Green Line. This includes receiving calls from victims and/or witnesses of human rights violations, orienting or referring victims of human rights violations for support services, and ensuring these human rights violations are reported as appropriate. They will report to the project's program coordinator.
Principal Duties/Job Responsibilities:
Expressions of interest:
Please submit the following documents by December 20, 2024:
Program Officer ABA ROLI
Strengthening Human Rights Activity in the Central African Republic _________________________________________________________________________________
Call title: Program Officer - ABA ROLI Strengthening Human Rights Activity in the Central African Republic
Theme: Management/Communications
Location: Bangui, Central African Republic
Contract type: Part or Full-time Consultancy
Performance period: 12 months (renewal possible)
Scheduled start date: January 2025
Closing date: December 20, 2024
_________________________________________________________________________________
Organization Overview:
The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) is a non-profit organization that implements legal reform programs. For over 25 years, ABA ROLI has worked in more than 100 countries to promote the rule of law, advance human rights, strengthen judicial institutions, support legal professionals and improve public understanding of the law and citizens' rights. To this end, ABA ROLI has established partnerships with a wide range of actors, including justice sector institutions (judges, prosecutors, public defense offices, mediation offices and national human rights institutions, investigators and police), civil society organizations, bar associations, legal aid organizations and lawyers, among others. ABA ROLI's work in Africa covers a variety of programs around the rule of law, access to justice, atrocity prevention and the protection and promotion of human rights. ABA ROLI's Africa division has national offices across the continent, including in Angola, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Liberia, Sudan, and Uganda.
Program Overview:
CAR continues to be plagued by violent conflict and political instability. Armed groups control increasingly large swathes of the country, and the government is weak and characterized by rampant corruption. Human rights violations and atrocities are prevalent across the country, while tensions between communities and violent outbreaks continue to perpetuate cycles of violence. Women, youth, and marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable to both human rights violations—including SGBV—as well as the indirect effects of violent conflict.
In response to these challenges, the CAR Human Rights Support Mechanism project, in partnership with Search for Common Ground and Internews, empowers Central African citizens to: (1) prevent and respond to human rights violations; (2) strengthen democratic institutions with the potential to advance human rights over the long term; (3) counter conflict-provoking mis-information and rumors with accurate and professional journalism; and (4) rapidly adapt to changing threats to human rights, including from armed groups and foreign malign actors.
ABA ROLI plans to set up a Green Line to facilitate calls from victims of human rights violations. The Program Officer will promote use of the line, support the monitoring of the line, and create referral mechanisms to ensure line users receive the help they need.
Job Summary:
The Program Officer, located in the Central African Republic, will be responsible for managing the Green Line. This includes receiving calls from victims and/or witnesses of human rights violations, orienting or referring victims of human rights violations for support services, and ensuring these human rights violations are reported as appropriate. They will report to the project's program coordinator.
Principal Duties/Job Responsibilities:
- Ensures the green line is operational and protocols for receiving, handling, and referring calls are established, updated, and followed.
- Promotes the use of the green line through appropriate marketing and communications.
- Handles green line calls pursuant to the management protocol.
- Documents received calls using the tools and/or forms developed for this purpose and ensures their confidentiality.
- Facilitates referrals and responses for callers according to established procedures.
- Coordinates the engagement of partners and volunteers in the administration of the green line as well as the delivery of any feedback received through implementation as appropriate.
- While respecting caller privacy, raises allegations or suspicions of human rights violations as appropriate to the program coordinator and authorities.
- Produces regular reports of the green line’s operation—including malfunctions or risks to operation—as well as calls and feedback received.
- Maintains proactive communications with the CAR Country Representative, Program Coordinator and other office staff to ensure timely and accurate updates on program activities, achievements, and shortcomings. In areas where program shortcomings are identified, creates and implements corrective action plans to improve performance against standards.
- Assists in identifying best practices derived from lessons learned.
- Performs other related duties as required.
- Degree in law, social sciences, social welfare, or communication
- Minimum of three years’ related experience in in a similar field.
- Knowledge of technical principles and concepts relating to human rights, working with survivors, and confidentiality.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex information from different sources; whistleblowing, alerts, referrals, guidance and feedback in the field of human rights;
- Strong understanding of human rights and the justice sector in Africa, particularly in conflict and post-conflict situations, in Francophone and Central African countries.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Experience of working in the Central African Republic and/or elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, and a good understanding of the political and operational context in CAR.
- Fluency in French, Sango and English is an additional asset.
Expressions of interest:
Please submit the following documents by December 20, 2024:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Cover letter
- Three professional references with contact details
- Monthly salary forecast (may be revised if candidate moves on to other stages of the hiring process)
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