Criminal Justice Program Officer

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, CDI, 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 Cote d’Ivoire 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 Cote d’Ivoire. 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 CDI;
• 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 CDI office staff and actively provide advice and inputs on the relationship between criminal justice work and other aspects of the CDI 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 CDI 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 CDI 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, 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 CDI 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 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.

Related knowledge and skills:

• Ability to identify and understand political and technical barriers to domestic investigations, prosecutions, and trials in the CDI;
• 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 and PROGRAM OFFICER - CDI in the subject line; or by fax to 917 637 3900.