Summit for Democracy (S4D) Year of Action Coordinator

Job Description

Nickol Global Solutions (NGS), on behalf of USAID’s Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) Center in the Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI) Bureau, is seeking an experienced, networked, and highly organized DRG practitioner to serve as the Summit for Democracy (S4D) Year of Action (YoA) Coordinator under the DRG institutional support contract. The Coordinator will support the U.S. Government’s (USG) efforts—especially the coordination between USAID/DRG Center and the U.S. Department of State—to encourage structured dialogue and action among governments and other stakeholders to advance commitments and initiatives announced by world leaders; to communicate widely those activities and successes; and to prepare civil society, private sector, and other stakeholders to report back on their progress as the second Summit. Additionally, the S4D YoA Coordinator will encourage collaboration between cohorts, draw attention to the Summit’s themes, and provide guidance on cohort design. The selected candidate may work remotely to carry out the scope of work. This is a short-term consultancy with an anticipated period of performance of approximately eight (8) months. The consultant will work under the direction of the DRG leadership team.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens with the ability to pass a background check and obtain and maintain the necessary facility access clearance at USAID.

Background:

The U.S. Government (USG) will launch a multi-stakeholder platform, which will be known as Democracy Cohorts. Cohorts will work together to take concerted action toward commitment refinement and implementation in specific areas of common interest. In addition, the USG will continue to hold Informal Recurring Consultations with civil society. In partnership with civil society, the USG will launch these consultations, but look to civil society to form working groups around consultation topics to keep the conversation going. These informal, topically focused working groups provide a venue for periodic consultations with USG to discuss accountability mechanisms, share their own commitments, or provide guidance on Summit Two planning. Possible areas of discussion could include:

1. aligning Summit accountability mechanisms (e.g., commitment tracker);
2. areas of connectivity with existing efforts including events and initiatives;
3. potential Summit Two declaration;
4. Summit Two planning; and
5. the USG’s commitments, pledges, and plan of action, where appropriate.

In addition, The USG will conduct public diplomacy programs and provide opportunities to highlight examples of democracies following through on their Summit commitments and delivering for their citizens. Drawing stories from the Focal Contact Group, Democracy Cohorts, and directly from Missions and Embassies, the USG will take particular care to highlight democratic progress that countries make on their Summit commitments during this next year and on early steps taken on the marquee deliverables in the Presidential Initiative. The USG will highlight Summit commitments, encourage public engagement in Summit activities, and continue dialogues around the three Summit pillars.

Duties:

To coordinate these efforts around S4D Year of Action (YoA) follow-up, NGS will hire a highly qualified S4D YOA Coordinator with overall responsibility for the following activities:

• Coordinate and provide guidance on cohort design (e.g., guidance on developing concept notes, advise on process steps including outreach to participating countries, support diversity of stakeholders), as outlined in the S4D YoA; ensure concrete objectives and outcomes are outlined in cohorts; ensure progress and milestones through check-ins with cohorts; and troubleshoot issues experienced by cohorts.
• Support with convening informal recurring consultations with civil society and private sector representatives, including U.S. domestic civil society, and engage in Working Group meetings as invited and requested.

• Seek out and leverage opportunities with existing platforms for diverse stakeholder networks, coalitions, and associations to advocate for incorporation of Summit commitments into organizations’ agendas. Consult with Working Groups on recommended engagement in these activities, and where needed, help maximize collective action by bringing different subgroups together.
• Serve as interlocutor between cohorts and among other components of YoA such as CSO consultations and working groups as well as focal groups, including sharing ideas and activities among cohorts.
• Support development of content such as success stories from S4D participating countries, including highlighting distinct projects and activities from cohorts or other venues.
• Highlight and cross-promote civil society partners and private sector efforts.
• Share content and messaging to draw attention to the Summit’s themes, with particular attention to a) the effects of the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal as its component parts come online, and b) steps that countries (including the U.S.) take to implement their Summit commitments. This includes feeding into USAID’s Democracy Campaign, which will develop new content on Summit themes.
• Highlight Summit themes and tangible signs of progress to contribute content for the DRG Center’s larger communication and outreach efforts for relevant international days, and around related events or other international meetings in 2022 that have thematic overlap with the Summit.

Deliverables:

• Recurring Meetings with Democracy Cohorts
• Democracy Cohort meeting notes
• Fact Sheets for Cohorts
• Advocacy Tracker for S4D stakeholder efforts
• Information sharing across Cohorts
• S4D Success Stories/narratives
• Promotion of other efforts
• Other content and messaging, as appropriate
• Summit output tracking
• Summit Two Planning

Required Experience and Qualification:

• Excellent coordination and facilitation skills relevant for organizing, facilitating, and leading stakeholder consultations, identifying gaps in outreach, and bringing relevant stakeholders into the conversation.
• Ten (10) or more years of relevant experience in international development, program coordination, and partnership-building. At least two (2) years of that experience should include coordination of high-profile, multistakeholder initiative.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field is required; Master’s degree is preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce and edit written documents in English. Strong presentation and facilitation skills. Experience conducting research and assessments is preferred.
• Demonstrable experience working successfully as an individual and as part of a team.
• Knowledge and experience working on human rights-related issues worldwide.
• Availability to work between April 2022 and December 2022.

About the Organization

Nickol Global Solutions (NGS) provides a wide range of management consulting and advisory services designed to fortify stakeholder capacity and effectiveness, including in public institutions, civil society organizations, and private sector firms. In the U.S. and overseas, NGS helps public and private sector clients assess and develop capacity; optimize performance and quality objectives; enhance transparency and accountability; measure success; and communicate about their work—all with the aim of advancing development objectives even in the most complex operating environments. ​For more information, please visit https://www.nickolglobal.com/

NGS is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.