LEGAL AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR (ARABIC REQUIRED)

Pact seeks a Legal and Civic Engagement Director for the anticipated USAID-funded Sudan Youth and Women, Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (Sudan STAND) Activity, an Associate Award under the Civil Society and Media-Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM-STAND) Africa & Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement. Sudan STAND aims to increase collaboration, sustainability, and resilience of civil society and independent media to advance the inclusion, participation and leadership of youth and women in Sudan. The activity will apply locally led, problem-driven, adaptive approaches. This is anticipated to be a five-year activity and the position will be based in Khartoum, Sudan. This position is contingent upon award.

The Legal and Civic Engagement Director will provide strategic guidance, vision, and management for activities of Sudan STAND that will improve an enabling environment that fosters the active and inclusive participation of civil society in public discourse and government oversight; strengthen legal services networks to provide high-quality and responsive legal aid, including legal representation, to civil society; increase legal advocacy; enhance community- and national-level civic participation; and bolster cooperation among investigative journalists and civil society to increase accountabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain and strengthen a network of relationships with high-level officials in the Sudanese government and other key actors within the Sudanese and international community; civil society and other community-based organizations; and the press.
• Convene meetings with Sudan STAND partners, grantees, local actors, and other stakeholders to identify critical gaps and develop legal and policy recommendations for increased legal aid and legal advocacy.
• Analyze needs, design, and oversee implementation of programs to develop appropriate advocacy strategies to strengthen legal aid and protections for civil society.
• Contribute high-level expertise to the design of activities that will enhance civic engagement and political activism and strengthen and mobilize public support for civil society organizations.
• Oversee the process for mapping, soliciting, vetting, and selecting a pool of independent investigative journalists to receive small grants for ongoing mentoring and coaching, facilitating connections between journalists and civil society actors to build trust and partner on joint advocacy campaigns.
• Manage a team of Khartoum- and regional-office based staff and advisors.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a relevant course of study in addition to substantial practical experience – a minimum of (ten) 10 years’ experience relevant to legal aid, access to justice, and legal policy and advocacy. Ideally some of that experience would be with the Government of Sudan (national, regional, or community level) supporting governance-related issues.
• Experience collaborating with civil society organizations or other national advocacy or community-based Sudanese institutions.
• Substantial background in developing and implementing advocacy strategies.
• Thorough understanding of Sudanese political processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of local actors, including women’s and youth’s groups with various partner organizations.
• Previous management and supervision experience.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.
• Excellent written, research, presentation, and oral communications skills.
• Ability to travel within Sudan when health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19 allow.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Sudanese nationals are encouraged to apply.