Police Peacekeeping Advisor Full Time

Role Type: Full-time for nine (9) months with the option to extend by a further six (6) months, subject to the continuation of funding

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Start Date: Expected to start in July 2025

ABOUT ARK

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity, and hope for the future.

We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional, and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change.

Learn more about our impact here: https://www.ark.international/impact

ABOUT THE ROLE

ARK is a trusted implementer of security programs worldwide, dedicated to enhancing military and security capacities to counter transnational threats. ARK’s portfolio includes the development of key capabilities in security sector organisations as part of wider stabilisation strategies. Our business model involves the deployment of specialist teams and individuals, for usually short-term periods of activity, to help these organisations build and maintain core capabilities which are relevant to the local environment.

We are seeking highly qualified and experienced professionals to play a critical role in an upcoming project in Africa, focused on supporting the British Peace Security Team Africa (BPST(A)) in strengthening the capacity of the African Union Peace Support Operations (APSO) Division to help it both develop policies and institutional change towards operationalizing UNSCR 2719, and offer a more coherent human security offer against GBV, IHL and policing by improving accountability and compliance.

This Police Advisor (West Africa) will play a key role within BPST(A), supporting a Senior Police Peacekeeping Advisor in delivering police capacity development initiatives across West Africa. The advisor will lead the implementation of targeted police development projects in the region, supporting African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (REC) police components in Peace Support Operations (PSOs). The role will focus on enhancing the ability of West African police services to contribute effectively to UN and AU peacekeeping missions, with an emphasis on delivering high-quality pre-deployment training (PDT), integrating gender and human rights principles, and strengthening institutional capacity for sustainable force generation and deployment.

This role will directly contribute to enhancing the capability of West African police services in peacekeeping, leading to more sustainable, effective, and gender-inclusive deployments by strengthening pre-deployment training, police doctrine development, and institutional self-sufficiency.

What you’ll be doing

• Reporting to the Senior Peacekeeping Advisor, lead the delivery of police-related APSO Programme projects in West Africa, ensuring alignment with AU and UN peacekeeping standards.
• Provide strategic and technical advice to West African police services on PSO doctrine, policies, and training frameworks.
• Support the development and implementation of AU-endorsed police training curricula for PSOs.
• Facilitate the creation of roadmaps for self-sustainable police force generation, training, and deployment for peacekeeping missions.
• Oversee the design and delivery of pre-deployment training (PDT) in partner West African countries to reduce reliance on external trainers.
• Mentor West African police institutions to build sustainable capacity to deploy officers to UN/AU and Ad Hoc PSOs.
• Promote gender-sensitive approaches in police training and operations, addressing barriers to female participation in PSOs.
• Support the integration of human security and human rights principles into West African police training programmes and support regional initiatives aimed at harmonising police training standards and doctrine development for AU-led PSOs.
• Assisting the African Union (AU) Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) to develop the frameworks, standards, and policies necessary to strengthen the governance and accountability of AU-led PSOs.
• Provide strategic advice to West African police services on the development and implementation of PSO doctrine, policies, and training standards and frameworks.
• Facilitate the creation of roadmaps for self-sustainable police force generation, training, and deployment for peacekeeping missions.
• Oversee the design and delivery of pre-deployment training (PDT) in partner West African countries to reduce reliance on external trainers.
• Strengthening human security considerations in PSO (including gender, protection of civilians, countering sexual and gender-based violence, IHL, and policing), with a particular focus on improving accountability, compliance, and behaviours at the strategic, operational and tactical levels, and on addressing impediments to female participation in PSO.
• Support in the deployment of mobile training teams for specialised police PSO training.
• Support UN/AU collaboration by strengthening the partnership for training and doctrine development, ensuring African perspectives are integrated into global standards, and collaborating to deliver specialised training courses for African personnel deploying to UN/AU mission headquarters, enhancing their preparedness and operational effectiveness.
• With ARK monitoring and evaluation staff, support surveys and other assessment methodologies to gauge the effectiveness and relevance of training and support delivered and ensure continuous improvement by integrating feedback from West African partners and adapting to emerging challenges in PSO environments.
• Act as a professional ambassador for BPST(A) and ARK and at all times.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of progressive and active policing service, including some experience informing policy with planning and management experience.
• Demonstrable and recent experience in international project and programme management. Previous experience with UN or international missions, particularly in police operations, crime management, police administration, and capacity building.
• Previous experience in training design and delivery is essential. Prior experience in institution-building and security sector reform within a law enforcement context is desirable.
• Expertise in developing and delivering harmonised and standardised training curricula for peace support operations, including pre-deployment training and specialised courses on gender mainstreaming and dealing with sexual and gender-based violence.
• Ability to analyse complex situations, develop strategic plans, and provide insightful advice on security policies and operational developments.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, international organisations, and government officials, fostering collaboration and understanding.
• Competence in understanding and respecting cultural differences and adapting training and advisory approaches to fit the local context and needs, including experience in delivering training to students whose first language is not English.
• Diplomatic, able to work effectively with delivery partners and to ensure that policing development activities are convergent with, and supportive of, wider law enforcement and military priorities.
• Able to adjust to changing priorities and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Efficient at measuring performance, managing budgets and providing direction and leadership to project team members.
• French language proficiency is desirable.

Other Information

Candidates must be based in, or willing to relocate to, Freetown, Sierra Leone, for the duration of the assignment. This position may require significant regional travel. Flexibility and adaptability to work in a dynamic operational environment are essential.

Why join ARK?

• Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need.
• Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders.
• Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change.
• Career Growth: Expand your horizons with varied projects and challenges.

Our People

Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organizations, journalism and the private sector.

Smart: We think deeply about things. We’re proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.

Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognize out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.

Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.

Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.

Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges, and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren’t afraid to share our opinions, and we want to hear those of others too.

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the center of its development and stabilization work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.

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