CONSULTANCY ON SECURITY SECTOR GOVERNANCE/REFORM AND VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEWS (VNRs)

DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance is dedicated to improving the security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and gender equality. Since its founding in 2000, DCAF has contributed to making peace and development more sustainable by assisting partner states, and international actors supporting these states, to improve the governance of their security sector through inclusive and participatory reforms. It creates innovative knowledge products, promotes norms and good practices, provides legal and policy advice and supports capacity‐building of both state and non‐state security sector stakeholders.

DCAF’s Foundation Council members represent over 50 countries and the Canton of Geneva. Active in over 60 countries, DCAF is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading centres of excellence for security sector governance (SSG) and security sector reform (SSR). DCAF is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation, and gender equality. For more information visit www.dcaf.ch and follow us on Twitter @DCAF_Geneva.

Within DCAF’s Policy and Research Department, the SDG 16 project examines how security sector oversight actors contribute to achieving SDG 16 and its targets. It focuses on three security sector oversight actors – parliaments, civil society and independent oversight institutions – and their role in advancing SDG 16 through SSG/R activities. As part of the project, knowledge products are developed to situate SSG/R in the context of SDG 16 and the 2030 Agenda. These include Analyses of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs); as VNRs provide snapshots of experiences and progress made towards implementation of the SDGs, they constitute a valuable record of actionable policies and measures, including efforts to improve security sector governance. More specifically, the Analyses aim to assess the extent to which security sector actors, oversight bodies, and SSG/R considerations feature within VNRs. The first VNR Analysis was published by DCAF in 2021, and identified empirical examples of security sector actors and SSG/R considerations in 152 VNRs submitted during the period 2016-2019 and also assessed whether these reviews referenced the role of parliaments vis-à-vis the security sector.

DCAF is seeking a high qualified and motivated researcher to produce a second VNR analysis covering VNRs submitted during the period 2020-2023:

• Status : Consultancy
• Location: Home-based
• Starting date: As soon as possible
• End date: September 2024

Reporting

The researcher will report directly to the Programme Manager responsible for the SDG 16 Project.

The role

The researcher will work closely with DCAF’s staff to identify empirical examples of security sector actors and SSG/R considerations included in VNRs submitted in the period 2020-2023, and also assess whether these reviews referenced the role of parliaments vis-à-vis the security sector.

Key deliverables

1. Updated VNR Analysis covering the period of 2020-2023, using quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools, primarily MaxQDA (DCAF to provide user licence).

For more information, including remuneration, please consult the Concept Note and Terms of Reference.

Your experience

• Advanced degree in a relevant field, such as preferably political science, conflict studies, security studies, human rights or international relations.
• Minimum 3 years of experience on issues related with sustainable development, human rights, democratic governance, security sector reform, or related topics;
• Proven experience in research and qualitative data analysis, ideally with MaxQDA or similar coding software, as well as drafting reports, studies and/or research papers.
• Knowledge and experience with security sector governance and reform and the SDGs

Your skills

• Fluency in English, professional working proficiency of French and/or Spanish is considered an asset.
• Strong organisational skills with an ability to work independently within the given deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written).
• Excellent analytical, synthetical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically and strategically as well as the capacity to encourage agile and critical thinking.
• Coding skills, previous experience using MaxODA is considered as a strong asset.