Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, DRC, and
in close coordination with ICTJ’s Criminal Justice Senior Associate and Program
Coordinator at its headquarters, the Criminal Justice Program Officer will be
responsible for the work in the area of criminal justice (CJ) in the country
office.
ICTJ’s work on criminal justice in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo is designed to strengthen the national judicial response and
promote accountability with national jurisdictions for international crimes. CJ
activities include the provision of ongoing technical assistance to national
judicial institutions and to national/local NGOs. ICTJ’s counterparts include
national policymakers, judicial actors, and civil society.
ICTJ’s work on CJ is expected to contribute to the following
results:
- Key
legal and policy reforms needed to conduct efficient criminal proceedings
for serious crimes compliant with complementarity obligations under the
Rome Statute are identified, discussed and implemented;
- National
judicial actors of identified jurisdictions improve their capacity to
conduct national investigations and prosecutions, informed by mapping
exercises and guided by appropriate prosecutorial strategies for serious
crimes under the Rome Statute;
- National
NGOs improve their understanding and capacity to participate in ongoing
judicial proceedings;
- Ongoing
activities and outcomes related to the domestic prosecution of serious
crimes are adequately reported by the local and national media.
The CJ Program Officer position is located in Kinshasa with
frequent travelling to the Eastern provinces. Contract is for one year and is
renewable.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide
technical assistance and expertise to improve local capacity of national
institutions to effectively carry out investigations and prosecutions of
international crimes in the DRC;
- Organize
and coordinate in-country workshops, seminars, and technical assistance
projects related to criminal justice matters for policymakers, high-level
officers, and CSOs;
- Participate
fully as part of the DRC office staff and actively provide advice and
inputs on the relationship between criminal justice work and other aspects
of the DRC program, including activities on truth-seeking, reparations,
and institutional reforms;
- Provide
commentary on legislation, rules of procedure, and other statutory
frameworks as needed with a view to remove legal and policy obstacles
which are hindering national proceedings in the DRC for serious crimes;
- Actively
contribute to effective communication with country-based national and
international partners with a view towards strengthening local and
international advocacy on criminal justice;
- Participate
in internal ICTJ staff meetings, country meetings, and other program
activities, as required;
- Actively
monitor and report on relevant CJ developments in the DRC and regularly
report to the CJ program in NY;
- Assure
compliance with internal and donor reporting obligations, in line with the
monitoring and evaluation tools adopted by the Criminal Justice Program
and relevant contractual donor obligations;
- Produce
reports or briefing papers that help to develop significant thinking or
technical advice on particular challenges;
- Represent
ICTJ in national and regional fora, as directed.
Position Scope
- In
coordination with the Head of Office, develop and administer budgets for
specific grants, in line with the work plan approved by the Program
Office;
- Supervise
the CJ country team, composed of consultants and a National Officer;
- Focal
point for rule of law issues and CSO partners in the East and, in other
areas as prescribed by the Head of Office;
- Regularly
interact with senior staff to present and discuss work plans, activities,
and priorities;
- In
coordination with Head of Office, regularly interact with country-based
donors, outside agencies, and consultants on criminal justice related
activities;
- Report
to the DRC Head of Office, in close coordination with the Criminal Justice
Senior Associate Program Coordinator at ICTJ headquarters.
Qualifications
Languages: Fluency in French and excellent oral and written
communication skills in English are required.
Education: A degree and/or post-graduate degree in law are
highly desirable.
Experience: 5-7 years of experience in position or positions
integrating the following areas of work:
- Investigation,
analysis, prosecution and/or legal representation in national and/or
international criminal jurisdictions;
- Investigation,
documentation, and reporting of serious human rights violations;
- Project
implementation in conflict and/or post-conflict settings;
- Capacity
building, training, and/or coaching of national counterparts on justice
and rule of law related issues;
- Desired
but not essential: experience in an international or internationalized
tribunal. Project and program management experience.
Related knowledge and skills:
- Ability
to identify and understand political and technical barriers to domestic
investigations, prosecutions, and trials in the DRC;
- Ability
to provide guidance to national counterparts on the development and
implementation of effective prosecutorial strategies;
- Ability
to liaise and work with civil society and victims organizations.
To apply please send cover letter and resume to jobs@ictj.org with PROGRAM OFFICER, CJ -
DRC in the subject line, or by fax to 917 637 3900.
Deadline to apply is November 22.
