International Consultant Complaints Investigation and Adjudication Training for the Liberian Security Sector

Terms of Reference: Carter Center’s Advancing Liberian Security Sector Accountability and Public Trust (ALSSAPT)

Background and Context

Since 2017, the Carter Center’s Rule of Law Program has been supporting key Liberian security agencies, including the Liberia National Police (LNP), the Liberia Immigration Services (LIS), and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) to build greater confidence in the security sector through increased transparency, accountability, and provision of information to the public. From 2017-2021, The Carter Center, with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), implemented the Advancing Liberian Police Accountability and Citizen Trust (ALPACT) project that helped the LNP to develop, adopt, and raise awareness about a streamlined complaints and new commendations processes in Greater Monrovia and Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Nimba, Margibi, and Rivercess Counties.

To sustain and expand gains made under the previous programming, INL provided the Center with additional funding for a 15-month, follow-on project, Advancing Liberian Security Sector and Public Trust (ALSSAPT). The new project is working to further improve security sector accountability and increase public trust by helping the LNP to improve the tracking and reporting of complaints and commendations. Additionally, the Center is supporting the LIS and LDEA to develop, implement, and raise awareness of new complaints and commendations systems. The ALSSAPT project began in November 2021 and is scheduled to end in January 2023. Areas of operations include Greater Monrovia and Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties.

To increase public confidence in the security sector and improve transparency, the Center is seeking to fulfill three key objectives:

1. Strengthen LNP complaints and commendations tracking and reporting processes.
2. Improve LDEA and LIS response to complaints and commendations.
3. Improved LDEA and LIS reporting and citizen engagement.

To fulfill Objective 2, the Center is now looking to recruit an international police expert as a consultant to provide complaints and commendations investigation and adjudication training for the LDEA and LIS. Presently, the two agencies are working to adopt policies and standard operating procedures to ensure uniformity and equity of complaints and commendations processes across the security sector. Staff will require sufficient capacity building to meet the highest standards of receiving, recording, investigating, adjudicating, and reporting on complaints and commendations.

Role and Purpose

The consultant will carry out a series of virtual sessions involving the LDEA and LIS offices in Monrovia and the target counties, with the objective of providing training, technical assistance, and mentoring on receiving, recording, tracking, investigating, adjudicating, and acting upon complaints and commendations. The consultant will contribute to the further refinement of a training-of-trainer’s manual provided to the LDEA and LIS training and manpower development departments for continued use.

For all duties described in this RFP, the consultant will report directly to Kari Mackey, Associate Director of the Carter Center’s Rule of Law Program, and work closely with the Liberian office of the Center.

Time Schedule

This international consultancy is planned for up to 21 days over the remaining of the project’s lifespan, scheduled to end on January 31, 2023.

Job Description

• Provide virtual capacity building and facilitation support, related to investigating, adjudicating, and acting upon complaints and commendations;
• Advise and guide the improvement of relevant complaints and commendations frameworks, and protocols to improve the receipt, recording, tracking, and investigation of complaints and commendations;
• Assist with the production and development of a training-of-trainers’ manual for the LDEA and LIS training and manpower development departments for continued use;

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree/equivalent experience in social sciences, law, public policy, human rights, or a related field is preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, in rule of law, criminal justice, police training, and/or security sector reform;
• Technical experience in police or security sector complaints and commendations systems;
• Sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national and regional stakeholders and office staff;
• Demonstrated leadership and team building skills;
• Experience working internationally, especially in Liberia and West Africa, is preferred;
• Successful track record and sound references; and,
• Excellent written and spoken English.