Democracy Fellow, Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)
Introduction
The Institute of International Education (IIE) seeks applications from qualified individuals for a full-time Democracy Fellow for countering violent extremism (CVE) to serve within the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID's) Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA). IIE manages the Democracy Fellows and Grants Program (DFG) for USAID. Initial appointment is for one year. Any additional year(s) are dependent on continued technical needs and would be contingent on available funding and acceptable performance. Arrangements for qualified applicants to fill this role while on a sabbatical can be considered. The Fellow will be hired as a full-time, salaried IIE employee, with benefits.
Purpose
The Democracy Fellow for CVE will provide technical expertise and recommendations on the formulation of policy and strategy options for the effective linkage of counter extremism to other development program areas, including democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG); economic growth; media strengthening; youth empowerment; security sector reform; and the rule of law.
Background
USAID's CMM Office (DCHA/CMM) provides technical advice on programs and policies to respond to the causes and consequences of conflict, fragility, and violence to all parts of the Agency, other U.S. Government (USG) departments and agencies, and international partners including other donors and civil society organizations, with the objective of maximizing the effectiveness of programs in this critical area. DCHA/CMM provides leadership on designing and implementing conflict-related programming through technical assistance to USAID field missions and other operating units, applied research and analysis, training and information dissemination, and donor engagement and coordination. DCHA/CMM links rigorous analysis to its assistance in strategy, program and activity design, and monitoring and evaluation, combining country and regional conflict assessments with practical guidance for program implementation, including development responses to violent extremism and insurgency.
DCHA/CMM also spearheads the articulation of policy regarding the role of development vis-Ã -vis conflict, fragility, and violent extremism as well as the application of those policies within not only USAID, but also among other agencies and the broader international community. In addition to providing direct field-based technical assistance, DCHA/CMM manages specialized grants, cooperative agreements, inter-agency agreements, and contracts in support of country and regional programs.
Scope of Work Summary
The Democracy Fellow for CVE will work with DCHA/CMM's Technical Leadership Team to support the planning and implementation of analyses and research that evaluate and recommend ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of programs or activities to provide a development response to violent extremism. The objective of this work is to help identify cutting edge development approaches to assessing and responding to the causes and consequences of violent extremism, and to make them available to USAID and USG personnel, other donors, implementing partners, Congress, the private sector, think tanks, academia, and the public at large.
The incumbent may occasionally also serve as a technical resource to USAID's DCHA Bureau CVE Secretariat, regional bureaus, and the Violent Extremism and Insurgency Steering Committee (SC), as well as with the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism, and other USG and multilateral organizations involved in providing counter extremism assistance.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Key responsibilities for the Democracy Fellow for CVE include:
- Providing expert technical input and recommendations on high priority and emergent CVE policy issues.
- Developing a research agenda on CVE for DCHA/CMM with a focus on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of USAID CVE programs.
- Supporting DCHA/CMM in the dissemination of the research agenda, including providing technical advice that would assist DCHA/CMM's development of scopes of work (SOWs) and budgets.
- Providing technical expertise and analyses to support USAID's broader engagement in CVE.
- Carrying out other tasks or responsibilities, based on need or the Fellow's own related interests
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
- Advanced degree (MA/MS level) in political science, international relations, international development, law, conflict mitigation, peacebuilding, terrorism studies, or a related field.
- Knowledge of international affairs and U.S. foreign policy, specifically as related to foreign assistance to developing countries.
- At least three years of hands-on experience in designing, implementing, or evaluating international development programs involving counter extremism, conflict mitigation, stabilization, security sector reform, building governance institutions, or supporting independent civil society.
- Ability to research, analyze, and evaluate complex development issues. Knowledge of principles, concepts, and methodologies involved in the design, development, implementation, management, and evaluation of technical assistance programs/projects. Highly developed analytical skills required.
- Ability to work independently in handling routine, complex, and/or controversial issues that arise in completing assignments. Ability to manage multiple tasks at once.
- Demonstrated interpersonal and communications skills, including the ability to exhibit tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness while working in a variety of settings and with high-level officials in the U.S. government, foreign governments, and international organizations, as well as with other foreign and domestic development partners, colleagues, and office associates. Ability to foster relationships and coordinate the learning and expertise of multiple organizations engaged in the field of countering violent extremism.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex programming elements into clear, concise documents and actions for senior leaders and the public.
- Knowledge of computer software, including Word, Excel, and Windows. General familiarity with networked computer systems.
- Ability to travel internationally 3-4 weeks over the course of the one-year fellowship.
- US citizenship is required.
- Successful background investigation for a secret level security clearance is required. The Fellow will need to secure an interim clearance before beginning employment.
- Full-time Democracy Fellows must not have worked inside USAID as a technical professional (Direct-Hire, Non-Direct Hire, PSC) for more than five years cumulatively.
- Previous experience with USAID programming preferred.
- Work experience in developing countries affected by violent extremism preferred.
- Working proficiency in a foreign language preferred.
Supervision and Guidance
The CVE Fellow will serve as a member of the CMM Office's Technical Leadership Team. The Fellow will be supervised by the DFG Director at IIE, but the Technical Leadership Team Leader (or his/her acting designee) will provide the Fellow with technical guidance. The Fellow will participate in relevant working groups in other parts of USAID, as required. The Fellow is expected to exercise professional initiative, resourcefulness, and discretion consistent with USAID's overall policy and procedural framework.
Location
Upon successful completion of a background investigation for an interim secret level security clearance, the Fellow will be based at USAID headquarters in Washington, DC. International travel may be required.
Duration of the position
Initial appointment is for one year. Any additional year(s) are contingent on technical needs, continued funding, and acceptable performance.
Compensation
The salary for this fellowship will be competitive and commensurate with the candidate's salary history and experience.
The deadline for applications is 11:59 pm EST on Friday, November 20, 2015. Only complete applications will be considered.
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