State Level Security Advisor Juba, South Sudan

Management Systems International (MSI) is a global international development firm based in Washington, D.C. providing specialized short- and long-term technical assistance. Today, it has over 100 projects under management worldwide and its technical expertise has been expanded to include implementation of a range of analytical and field projects in democracy and governance, economic growth, organizational capacity building, education, and natural resource management. At the beginning of 2008, MSI joined Coffey International, Ltd., a global multi-disciplinary professional services organization with offices in 20 countries around the world. MSI became a part of Coffey International Development (Coffey ID), one of seven divisions which comprise the Coffey Group. Together, we aspire to create extraordinary outcomes for our clients, our staff and the communities in which we work. For more information on MSI, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.


Project/Proposal Summary:

The State Department’s Conflict Mitigation and Stabilization Initiatives/Joint Operation Centers (CMSI/JOC) project in Southern Sudan is designed to help the new nation build national and state-level capacity to understand, plan for, prevent, and mitigate conflict State Level Security will work with state and local government officials, community and tribal leaders, NGOs, police and military, and international donor staffs and projects to achieve capacity building and plans regarding conflict assessment, mapping, planning, and response.


Position Summary: MSI is seeking a State Level Security Advisor (SLSA), who will report to the Project Manager and will receive technical guidance from the National Level Security Advisor based in Juba. The SLSA will be based in the capital of the state to which he/she is assigned.


Responsibilities:

• Work with the State Security Committee to review and improve the State Stabilization Plan developed in the previous iteration of the CMSI project, including an assessment of the extent to which these reflect the best practices in conflict resolution principles, strategies, and practicality; obtain input on the plans from state and local authorities, USG partners, and other stakeholders;

• Help state authorities to obtain conflict mitigation knowledge and technical expertise in order to understand the underlying causes of conflict in different geographic areas of the state; conduct conflict mapping; assess the likelihood and relative risks of emerging threats; and analyze the nature of these threats and develop plausible scenarios and response plans;

• Develop an early-warning network within the State involving community leaders and State officials that can communicate facts and provide early-warning to decision-makers;

• Within the State Security Committee support the development of leadership responsibilities across several cross-cutting themes: early-warning; conflict mapping; intervention strategies to avert or ameliorate conflict; and responses to conflict when conflict occurs;

• Assist in facilitating meetings with relevant organizational personnel and stakeholders, one-day meetings or workshops to collect information, encourage participation, and/or present the State plans to community leaders; the Advisor will work carefully with local officials to maximize participation;

• Support capacity building in order for the State Security Committee and other stakeholders to maintain and implement the State plans by identifying the institutional requirements needed, individual skills gaps that exist, and work with the Project Manager to tailor training and capacity building program;

• Assist State authorities to monitor and revise their State plans, developing the capacity to receive and analyze new information, revise the plan, prepare quarterly reports, and take prompt action when necessary;

• Conduct a needs assessment, develop a training plan, and oversee implementation of the plan for the Joint Operation Center;

• Provide weekly reports to be assimilated into the project SitRep to the State Department Contract Office Representative (COR); and support data collection and the project quarterly report.

• This is a one year post with potential two six months’ extensions.


Qualifications

• Technical expertise in peace and conflict resolution, stabilization and/or municipal management;

• Prior experience living and working in conflict/post conflict environments; Sudan experience helpful;

• Experience on international donor funded projects;

• Excellent relationship-building skills, and experience building the capacity of state and local government officials;

• Must be willing and able to live in and travel through underdeveloped regions of Sudan. Advisors are based in each of the 10 states, and will not be based in Juba.


Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.


To apply, please visit our website: www.msiworldwide.com