SR Justice Advisor - Senegal

SENIOR JUSTCIE ADVISOR - US DOS

Washington, DC

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USGI is seeking a Senior Justice Advisor’s (SJA’s) to support, assist, and advise the INL Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar and work with INL/Dakar staff at the Embassy, as well as the INL Senegal Program Officer in INL/AME. These efforts include increasing the capacity of the Senegalese criminal justice system to deter and sanction criminality and protect victims’ rights, including pre-trial detention and cases involving Trafficking in Persons (TIP), sexual- and gender- based violence (SGBV) and vulnerable populations (women, children, elderly, and gay/lesbian/transgender). The SJA is responsible for monitoring, advising, and collaborating with INL project coordinators and INL’s implementing personnel to ensure high quality training, mentoring, and technical assistance, as well as proper design and implementation of programs to foster institutional capacity and professionalization of Senegal’s criminal justice institutions. Such implementers may include the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Partners Global, and others. The SJA shall also liaise and closely coordinate with Senegal’s judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, bar associations, court staff, corrections services, investigators, other rule of law entities, and justice-oriented civil society organizations at the executive and mid-level leadership levels. The SJA shall also mentor executive, mid-level, and entry-level officers in legal, judicial, human rights, and other rule of law skills development, best practices for justice institutions, and best practices in judicial procedures and human rights observance for INL projects. The SJA additionally shall assist in strengthening Senegalese government accountability mechanisms for civilian security forces and government officials who commit crimes/human rights abuses and could include assisting the Anti-Corruption Unit (OFNAC) and other offices, internal affairs units, and mechanism to help increase transparency and communications about how government officials are held accountable. The SJA will support INL with professional analyses and advice regarding the Senegalese judicial sector, international and U.S. professional standards (e.g. Palermo Accords), and best practices. The SJA shall also facilitate the development and implementation of supplemental efforts to build the institutional capacity and professionalization of Senegal’s judicial sector. Finally, the position will require close coordination with Senegal’s Ministry of Justice

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President’s principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State’s mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.

INL’s Office of Africa and the Middle East Programs (INL/AME) provides policy guidance and develops, executes, and monitors programs to address the full range of criminal justice issues as they relate to rule of law and police reform activities in Senegal. INL’s goal for Senegal is that it remains a stable and secure country in the West African region that facilitates U.S. foreign policy and security goals in the region. INL provides foreign assistance to Senegalese criminal justice institutions so that law enforcement deters crime and maintains citizen security and public order, so that citizens have improved access to justice and the judicial sector, and the corrections system is more effectively and humanely managed.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assess & Advise:

• Provide advice, technical assistance, and mentoring to prosecutors, judges, defense lawyers, court officials and staff, investigators, bar and legal associations, justice and legal-oriented academies and educational institutions, and other criminal justice officials and officers.
• Improve operations, investigations, procedures, administration, resource management, internal discipline, and overall efforts at expanding the capabilities and modernizing criminal justice institutions in Senegal.
• Participate in the continual analysis and evaluation of Senegal’s criminal justice institutions to include assessments of the organizational and operational capacities of the various elements related to prosecutors, defense lawyers, judges, courts, bar associations, law enforcement officials, and other related justice agencies.
• Provide advice, training, mentoring, and technical assistance to the government of Senegal on complex cases, including transnational, and high-level corruption cases.
• Conduct review and assessment of legislation, regulations, and ongoing practices relevant to the investigation and prosecution of money laundering and terrorist financing offenses and make recommendations for statutory, regulatory, and institutional reform in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
• Streamline policy implementation and develop mechanisms (including through the adoption of technology-based solutions) that reduce delays in case adjudication and thereby decrease extended pretrial detention.
• Provide expert advice on justice and human rights, including cases involving TIP, SGBV, and vulnerable population issues in Senegal. Analysis and evaluation shall cover criminal justice institutions at the national and state level, such as the judicial offices, law enforcement units, and other criminal justice entities, local bar associations, civil and criminal courts, and other criminal justice entities. Assessments shall include operational effectiveness, leadership, training, outreach to civil society, mobility, communications, procedural and administrative skills/competencies, and equipment.
• The incumbent shall visit, review, and analyze the capabilities of justice-related academies, training facilities, and educational institutions that work with INL Senegal-supported projects, and advise on potential projects, activities, and events to consider to increase efficiency and productivity of the state academies and training facilities.
• Provide expert advice on technical issues including, but not limited to, international and professional standards (e.g. Palermo Accords) and best practices related to prosecuting and hearing cases, court operations, records management, and processing criminal case files.
• Review and provide expert advice and recommendations, if needed, to ensure that Senegal’s existing legal code is more accurately and consistently applied on criminal prosecution, sentencing, and subsection of the legal code for host government officials and staff to conform to applicable international standards (e.g. Palermo Accords).
• Provide expert advice and recommendations on training needs of and procedural gaps for judges, prosecutors, courts staff, lawyers, and investigators in relation to criminal cases.
• Provide technical assistance to Senegalese judicial sector officials and officers to improve standardized training courses for prosecutors, defense lawyers, judges, court staff, investigators, criminal justice personnel.
• Ensure that training materials are approved by the leadership of entities, the MOJ, and other relevant Senegalese government offices and agencies. Training modules shall complement other INL-funded training and adhere to international and U.S. professional standards and best practices in the judiciary.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of the Senegalese legal system, including topics such as criminal justice, anti-corruption, legal aid, judicial issues, penitentiary system, and legal education.

Coordination and Liaison:

• Liaise and support efforts with targeted Senegalese judicial sector elements, including prosecutors, judges, court staff, investigators, law enforcement officials, prison administration and MOJ official matters relating to improving operations, investigations, procedures, administration, and overall efforts to build the capabilities of Senegal’s judicial sector.
• Generate support for, and advance U.S. policy objectives with key host government officials under the direction of the INL Coordinator or designee and in coordination with the INL Senegal Program Officer and other INL implementers.
• Coordinate with relevant U.S. and international entities, which may include the Embassy offices and units, including Political Section, Regional Security Office (RSO), USAID, Department of Defense, and other U.S. agencies, as well as international organizations.
• Coordinate activities with the entities mentioned above, to avoid duplication and repetition, and to ensure a coherent approach to criminal justice sector assistance in international programs.

Planning, Development, & Execution:

• Recommend efforts and initiatives, facilitate and perform follow-on activities to encourage the host government’s adoption of international and U.S. professional standards and best practices in Senegal’s judicial sector, and recommended activities being reviewed and approved by the INL Coordinator at Embassy Dakar and the INL/AME Senegal Program Officer.
• Recommend efforts and initiatives to address case management deficiencies that result in undue delays in adjudication, especially for defendants who are detained pretrial.
• Develop assistance programs for prosecutors on the investigation and prosecution of cases, conduct local case-study workshops, conferences, and a guest speaker series that develops the Senegalese prosecutors' trial preparation skills and assisting with the implementation of the new criminal code and procedure code as appropriate.
• Recommend efforts and initiatives, facilitate, and perform follow-on activities to develop modern and humane corrections systems and systematized prison management practices.
• Monitor and report on significant activities and developments related to adoption of international and U.S. professional standards and best practices within Senegal’s judicial sector.
• Evaluate results and outcomes of initiatives, determine obstacles and challenges to adoption of professional standards and best practices and as necessary make mid-course adjustments in initiatives along with a final report for review by the INL Coordinator at Embassy Dakar and the INL Senegal Program Officer.

Program Development & Implementation:

• Collaborate with MOJ leadership or designees on issues identified through mentoring and advising activities in the development of individual training modules, including organizing logistics and recommending Senegalese or external experts. Arrange training for GOS trainers in areas of particular focus, as determined with the INL Coordinator at Embassy Dakar and the INL Senegal Program Officer.
• Assess court administration and operations, the state of pretrial detentions, and assist the government with reform in these areas as well as case and records management, and internal sectoral data/statistics to track cases and pre-trial detention rates.
• Develop studies and assessments on the status of existing case management and information sharing systems between sectors (e.g., on case assignment, process, tracking, and reporting) to facilitate improvements to overall case management efforts, including digitalization of case and information sharing.
• Gather data on criminal justice sector performance metrics and report to INL in the manner requested to include data about the number and type of cases to be addressed by prosecutors in Senegal, including cases involving on TIP, SGBV, and vulnerable populations.
• Identify logistical support requirements. Provide advice to the INL Coordinator at Embassy Dakar and the INL Senegal Program Officer on possible activities to aid requirements and, upon INL approval, facilitate in the implementation of activities.

Integration of Complementary Programs:

• Work with INL implementers, U.S. and international agencies, NGOs, and Senegalese institutions to ensure full integration of parallel and/or complementary foreign assistance efforts to improve the capacity of the Senegalese judicial sector.
• Coordinate, recommend, and collaborate with other INL implementers during the implementation of TIP projects.

End Use Monitoring:

Briefing & Reporting:

• Prepare, coordinate, and ensure the timely issuance of one-time and periodic reports on INL efforts related to increasing the capacity of the Senegalese criminal justice system to deter and sanction criminality and protect victims’ rights, as well as efforts to reform legislation.
• Develop a targeted Work Plan on an annual basis. The Work Plan will be directly linked to the Statement of Work and will provide concrete work tasks, projects, and deliverables that are expected to be completed during the performance year.
• Prepare periodic list of all current cases, including information on active prosecutions, investigations, and disposition; prepare periodic information on the number and type of cases, the rates of pre-trial rates, and note-worthy resolution of cases.
• Provide information, details, and updates that assist INL officers in their preparation of periodic reports, cables, memoranda, assessments, statements of work (SOW), monitoring and evaluation and assessment reports, and other documents related to efforts to increase the capacity of the Senegalese criminal justice system.
• Participate in and assist with official visits from USG and INL visits, and aid in escorting and arranging appropriate itineraries for official travelers.
• Brief Department, Congressional, Staff Delegations, and other selected international dignitaries on INL’s efforts to increase the capacity of the Senegalese criminal justice system to deter and sanction criminality and protect victims’ rights.
• Attend relevant Embassy meetings and security sector reform related meetings, brief the INL Coordinator, the Senegal Program Officer and appropriate Embassy members, and report on major issues related to INL’s efforts to increase the capacity of the Senegalese criminal justice system to deter and sanction criminality and protect victims’ rights.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S., Third Country National (TCN)
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in international relations, law enforcement, public policy or related field (10 years professional law experience can be substituted).
• Juris Doctorate or equivalent degree from an accredited institution.
• A Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) is required for this position; however, the contractor may begin work with an interim MRPT.
• A minimum of eighteen (18) years of experience related to the legal profession, courts, criminology, and/or public administration, experience briefing in English.
• Three (03) years of experience working overseas in an Embassy environment.
• Three (03) years specialized experience depending on the position (e.g. criminal investigator, prosecutor, judge, or defense attorney).
• Knowledge of, and skill in, correct usage of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and style.
• For Language Qualification: Comfortable working in French at or above a level equivalent to a recognized foreign language proficiency measurement framework, such as the Foreign Service Institute’s defined 3/3 level. Demonstration or proof of language capability required, unless the individual is a native French speaker. The Justice Advisor will regularly liaise with Senegalese counterparts in the justice sector and must possess a high degree of proficiency in French which requires fluent conversing with the Senegalese official contacts on a regular basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Law degree from an U.S. accredited law school, or overseas equivalent, and a current active license and member of a bar association to practice in a U.S. state, District of Columbia, or the equivalent overseas.
• Demonstrated eighteen (18) years of experience in the legal profession. The incumbent’s career path shall have included jobs with increasing scope and responsibilities, including those at the executive or managerial level.
• A minimum of three (03) years of demonstrated experience working in assistance programs involved in development and capacity building of justice sector institutions, reforming procedures within criminal justice institutions, and facilitating increased legal assistance access.
• Demonstrated experience in planning, strategizing, implementing, and reporting on projects, including familiarity with basic requirements and mechanisms for contract management and procurement.
• Demonstrated experience working with cases or assistance efforts involving cases involving TIP, SGBV, and vulnerable populations.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting assessments and studies on criminal justice sectors overseas.
• Knowledge of the role and operations of law enforcement and justice institutions in common and civil law justice systems.
• A minimum of three (03) years of experience in managing legal or court officials and staff, ensuring sustainability of projects through provision of appropriate training, technical assistance, and mentoring, and a displayed ability to integrate competing needs.
• A minimum of three (03) years of experience working within a civil law context.
• Demonstrated experience in writing training plans, statements of work, standard operating procedures, and detailed instructions. Must be comfortable speaking publicly and shall prepare and provide briefings in English and French.
• Demonstrated experience working with international and foreign assistance entities, assistance missions, programs, and implementers.

POSITION LOCATION:

The physical work location is the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

UPLIFTS

Post Differential shall be based on a 40.00-hour work week in accordance with the Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) as well as the Department of State Standardized Regulation (DSSR). Post Differential and Danger pay are authorized in accordance with the task order award and shall not exceed the designated ceiling.

USGI offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health, dental and vision benefits, life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance, 401(k) plan with company match, plus generous PTO offerings to include vacation/sick days, bereavement leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays. USGI is an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.