Head of Office (Zambia) Full Time NEW

At DCAF, we envision a world where democratic sector governance advances sustainable peace and development and human dignity for all.

Our mission is to advance the security of all people through nationally owned, inclusive, and participatory security sector reforms based on international norms and good practices.

DCAF contributes 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.

For our Africa Americas team, we are seeking a dynamic, organised and creative individual to be our next:

Head of Office, DCAF Zambia

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Rate: 100%

Starting date: As soon as possible, to be agreed

Duration: 21 months

DCAF in Zambia

DCAF has been engaged in Zambia’s efforts to improve police governance since 2019, supporting initiatives to enhance police accountability and effectiveness.

In January 2025, DCAF initiated a new project to support reform of the Zambia Police Service (ZPS). The project aims to promote a more accountable, effective, and human rights-compliant police service, particularly in the context of the 2026 elections, by strengthening governance, management, and oversight. The Head of office will represent DCAF is Zambia and will lead on the day-to-day implementation of DCAF’s engagement in Zambia, including providing expert level police reform advisory support to the police reform project initiated in 2025.

The role

1. Representation

• Engage with national stakeholders, including the Executive, the legislative, security institutions, state and non-state oversights actors, on matters pertaining to the security sector;
• Liaise and coordinate with the international community, including multilateral and bilateral stakeholders, to discuss matters of mutual interest, enhance collaboration and identify new opportunities for further engagement in support of improved governance;
• Ensure wide visibility DCAF Zambia, in particular, through public speaking, media interviews and social media input;
• Represent and speak on behalf of DCAF at high level conferences, meetings and other fora;
• Supervise and mentor national staff;
• Monitor the political and security situation in the country, including with regard to elections.

2. Technical and advisory support to the Zambia Police Service

As a senior police adviser, and in line with the Police Reform project’s objectives and activities:

• Provide continuous mentoring and coaching to ZPS staff;
• Provide specific police expertise on technical issues such as oversight, investigations, policing of assemblies, police integrity, use of force performance management, and leadership;
• Support the development of relevant policies, key strategies and institutional and operational guidelines, including policing doctrines;
• Contribute to the design and delivery of trainings and workshops to the ZPS or other actors on police matters;
• Coordinate and manage the work of short-term police advisers deployed to Zambia.

3. Programme Management

• Manage all aspects of the implementation of the programme, including those related to oversight and accountability and oversee a portfolio of program components with diverse partners;
• Liaise and coordinate with relevant national and international stakeholders, including executive and legislative authorities, police and security forces, civil society, media;
• Ensure continuous consultation and coordination with national partners for the planification and implementation of activities;
• Lead on the design and implementation of additional components to the police reform programme specifically aimed at increasing opportunities of women for leadership positions;
• Support the monitoring and evaluation of the programme through data collection, internal or independent evaluations, course correction or iteration;
• Ensure communication with the Africa Americas team in Geneva is seamless and comprehensive;
• Contribute to the oversight and efficient execution of budget approved by management.

Your experience

• Advanced university degree in security studies, political science, law, international relations or a related field; a combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• A minimum of 10 years of operational experience or senior command roles in the police;
• A minimum of 5 years of international experience in police reform contexts as an advisor or programme manager;
• Experience in working in Sub-Saharan Africa is desirable but not a requirement;
• Strong understanding of security sector governance and, ideally, relevant experience in working on related challenges in promoting effective oversight and accountability of the police in similar contexts;
• Familiarity with project planning and design, budget management, project implementation and monitoring and evaluation;
• Excellent communications skills, and a perfect command of written and spoken English;
• Excellent organization skills with strong attention to detail.

We offer

• a rewarding, dynamic and meaningful work experience
• the chance to be part of a diverse team of collaborative, respectful, hardworking and values-driven people
• the chance to contribute to advance the security of all people through nationally owned, inclusive, and participatory security sector reforms based on international norms and good practices.

Tagged as: Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Zambia