Project Manager “Mobilizing AI to prevent and combat sexual violence in conflicts” At Libraries Without Borders

ABOUT BSF

Created in 2007 by historian Patrick Weil, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières strengthens the power of vulnerable populations to act by facilitating their access to information, education and culture. The association deploys its inclusive and innovative projects in around thirty countries around the world to enable people affected by crises and precariousness to learn, have fun and (re)build their future. Thanks to its innovative tools, its content library and its expertise in mediation, BSF and its partners tackle the major issues of the 21st century such as education, reading and culture, citizenship and social cohesion, health and employment and entrepreneurship.

At BSF, recruitment decisions are made based on the skills and qualities of candidates in relation to the needs of the association within the framework of a respectful and inclusive process. BSF recruits and employs people regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, cultural or ethnic origin or disability.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

Since its creation, the NGO Libraries Without Borders has been developing innovative tools to provide access to education, information and culture for all. BSF’s projects reach nearly 500,000 people per year in 25 countries. After the Ideas Box mobile media library, created with Philippe Starck (2015 Google Impact Challenge award), the Ideas Cube nano-servers, offline digital libraries deployed in hundreds of schools and health centers around the world, BSF created in 2020 the Kajou micro-SD cards, which are changing the lives of thousands of students and professionals in countries where internet access is limited (2021 MIT Solve award).

Through its initiative around artificial intelligence “Ideas AI” BSF warns in particular about the risk that artificial intelligence becomes a luxury beyond the reach of the most modest, and advocates for an AI that is open, frugal and adapted to linguistic diversity. Ideas AI aims to mobilize the potential of AI in constrained environments and humanitarian emergencies and to quickly propose AI devices that can be used in the field.

Building on this shared vision of what AI could be, BSF, the start-up Pleias and the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation are joining forces to produce the first concrete application of an initiative in the field of combating conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). Funded by the Crisis and Support Centre, the project aims to develop an artificial intelligence solution promoting the fight against such violence adapted to the contexts of the DRC, Nigeria and Ukraine, as well as to strengthen the capacities to respect and promote legal obligations regarding sexual violence in conflict of state actors and civil society in these three countries, drawing on the resources of the Guidebook created by the Mukwege Foundation. This guide brings together applicable international law and standards relating to CRSV in order to inform States of their current obligations in a comprehensive manner. It aims to fill the awareness gap and provide States with an accessible and easy-to-use tool to ensure they comply with their obligations to prevent, stop and respond to CRSV under international law. It is also intended to serve as an advocacy tool for survivor groups, civil society organisations and NGOs.

The project manager will be responsible for ensuring the proper implementation and coordination of the project, in close collaboration with the consortium partners.

POSITIONING IN THE ORGANIZATION CHART

The project manager will be under the direct supervision of the Geographic Manager and will work closely with the various technical departments of BSF at Headquarters.

MAIN MISSIONS

Within the consortium, the project manager will be responsible for the following:

1.Leadership et coordination du consortium

• Ensure good governance of the consortium including good communication between partners;
• Ensure the strategic direction of the project in collaboration with partners and facilitate decision-making;
• Steering / contribution / monitoring of all stages of the project cycle (diagnosis, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation);
• Coordination of activities and progress with consortium members (eg consortium governance, organization of coordination meetings, field visits, reporting, etc.);
• Document and share decisions taken within the consortium, ensure the implementation of decisions taken;
• Documentation and regular reporting on project activities to the lessor (coordination of reporting and drafting).

2. Coordination of BSF-related project activities and monitoring of project implementation

• In conjunction with the field teams in the three countries of intervention, ensure the smooth running of planned activities;
• Carry out visits to the intervention areas in order to inform the proper implementation of the project;
• Project budget monitoring;
• Data collection and analysis for monitoring project indicators;
• Regular information of the BSF departments involved at headquarters level;
• Participation in partnership meetings, clusters and/or any other platform relevant to the project;
• Regular monitoring with the various stakeholders and parties involved in the project, including the teams on the ground

3. Supervise and lead the project team in the field

• Support and coordinate the work of the 3 project managers recruited in each of the 3 countries of intervention
• In conjunction with the managers of the 3 project managers in the field, provide project-related supervision of the CRSV IA project managers;
• Support the onboarding and definition of priorities and action plans of the 3 project managers in the field;
• Regularly monitor progress in each country, particularly through field missions

4. Drive the development of the CRSV & AI theme and the potential scaling of the project

• Identify opportunities for scaling up the project;
• Carry out a mapping of donors and partners who can collaborate with BSF on the theme;
• Represent BSF to these potential donors and partners;
• Coordinate and/or contribute to the development of new project proposals related to CRSV and AI;
• Participate in events, symposia, conferences and other relevant spaces on behalf of BSF and related to CRSV and AI.

Other tasks related to the implementation of the project may emerge during the duration of the contract.

QUALITIES AND SKILLS SOUGHT

Required experience and skills:

• Demonstrated experience and expertise on the topic of conflict-related sexual violence, GBV;
  • Solid knowledge and mastery of all stages of the project cycle as well as budget management;
  • Experience in managing consortium(s);
  • Aptitude for working on artificial intelligence and ease with subjects related to technology and digital;
  • Experience in international NGOs at headquarters or in the field;
  • Ability to represent BSF to different stakeholders with communication skills, including excellent diplomatic skills and the ability to influence and negotiate;
  • Flexibility, adaptability and proven track record in problem solving, with the ability to manage a wide range of themes from macro to micro and to prioritize;
  • Organized and reliable, with the ability to work independently;
  • Interest and adherence to the values, mission and mandate of BSF;
  • Fluent English required (reading, speaking, writing) (main working language with consortium members);
  • Availability to travel to the field on a regular basis.

The following will be considered an asset:

• Field experience in one of the project intervention countries (DRC, Nigeria and Ukraine)
• Experience working with cross-functional teams (UX/UI, developer, experts)
• Knowledge of one or more languages ​​used in Ukraine, DRC and Nigeria

RECRUITMENT CONDITIONS

• Start date: 06/01/25.
• Type of contract: Fixed-term contract (CDD) under French law, full-time
• Duration: 10 months
• Status and method of working time management: Executive status with fixed-day rate (208 days). Attachment to the ECLAT National Collective Agreement, on which BSF depends.
• Gross monthly salary: Between €2,750 and €3,250 depending on salary scale and similar experience
• Benefits: Around 9 weeks of rest (CP/RTT) per year in total, meal vouchers (50%) with a face value of €8.00; Mutual insurance (50%); pension plan; 50% coverage of local transport tickets.
• Work location: based at BSF headquarters in Montreuil, with regular travel to the countries of intervention or to one of the project’s countries of intervention (Ukraine, DRC, Nigeria).
• Regular teleworking possible (2 fixed days/week + 12 floating days/year)