Democratic Republic of the Congo: Advocacy Coordinator, Extractive Industries Governance

The Carter Center (TCC) is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.

Over the past six years, TCC has worked to improve transparency and accountability in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) industrial mining sector in partnership with both international institutions and leading local civil society organizations. The current focus of the Extractive Industries Governance Program is on building local actors’ capacity to render extractive sector information more transparent and accessible, research and analyze this information, and advocate for improved governance to ensure that natural resources provide greater benefits to the Congolese people both locally and nationally.

The Carter Center is seeking a highly-qualified individual to serve as Advocacy Coordinator for the Center’s Extractive Industries Governance Program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The successful candidate for this independent contract position will coordinate advocacy activities related to extractive sectors governance, including both direct advocacy and advocacy-focused capacity-building for Congolese civil society partners, and will represent the program in interactions with key stakeholders.

Start date: Immediately

Location: Kinshasa, DRC (additional travel to other regions of the country expected up to 50% of the time)

Length of assignment: Initial period of 6 months with the possibility of further extension

I.KeyResponsibilities

• Stakeholder engagement:
  • Liaising and Relationship-building: Coordinate meetings related to extractive industries governance with government, donors and other interested parties.
  • Coordination and Communication: Ensure effective coordination and communication between TCC teams, local and international civil society partners, donors, journalists, other stakeholders.
  • Monitoring of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms on Extractives: Represent TCC and follow multi-actor platforms for extractive industries governance, including the DRC Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
• Communication on extractive industries governance:
  • Strategy: Contribute to ongoing development of a strategy for TCC’s media, communications and outreach work related to extractive industries governance.
  • Implementation: Help draft and edit Center press releases, public statements, articles, and reports as necessary. Manage the presence of TCC’s DRC extractive industries governance work on social media.
  • Legal Frameworks: Coordinate and conduct research and development activities related to improvements to the legal frameworks governing transparency and good governance of the extractive sector in the DRC. Participate in the creation of advocacy strategies and messages in line with potential legal reform and current policies.
• Empowering civil society advocacy for improved extractive industries governance:
  • Collaborative Development of Strategy and Tactics: Provide technical support to local civil society partners on developing and implementing advocacy campaigns using evidence-based analysis to improve extractive industries governance.
  • Communication and Outreach Support: Support local civil society partners in implementing evidence-based advocacy campaigns to improve extractive industries governance, including via training and technical support, and facilitating communication, media support, and outreach for partners.
  • Development and Implementation of Trainings/Workshops: Create, test, refine, and rollout plans, modules, and training exercises to facilitate advocacy-related capacity-building of local civil society partners.
• Oversee the proper implementation of advocacy-related project activities under multiple donor grants, including managing expenditures forecasts, and work plans.
• Manage local partners’ sub-grants and consultancies related to advocacy activities as appropriate. Provide mentoring, coaching, and technical support to local partners as required. Monitor their activities, ensuring that outputs are produced according to their budget, project timeline and implementation plan.
• Participate in the creation of advocacy evaluation tools. Monitor key indicators relative to advocacy and communication. Contribute to donor reporting.
• Supervise staff, consultants, and volunteers as appropriate and directed.
• Provide input and advice to fundraising and proposal writing process.
• Carry out other project-related tasks as may be required and assigned.

II.Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) required; advanced degree preferred. International relations, social sciences, communications, media, law, or other relevant fields preferred.
• Demonstrated successes in advocacy campaigns (ideally international), strongly preferred.
• 3-5 years of professional experience with extractive industries governance, project management and/or civil society capacity building required. NGO experience preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both French and English required. Any verbal communication skills in one of the four national languages of DRC a plus.
• Ability to establish and sustain relationships with donors and partners strongly preferred.
• Strong analysis, problem solving, and prioritization skills. Strong interpersonal skills, cross-cultural understanding and the ability to excel in team environments are crucial. Prior training experience highly desirable.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Work experience in DRC or its neighbors a plus. Enthusiasm for improving governance of extractives to provide greater benefits for Congolese people highly desirable.
• Availability to travel within DRC up to 50% of the time strongly preferred.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, references, and salary requirements to TCCjobsinDRC@gmail.com. When applying, please include “Extractives Industries Governance Advocacy Coordinator” and the website where you found this posting in the subject line. Only those candidates selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified by the Center. No phone calls please.