Corruption remains endemic, rule of law is not sufficiently respected, and a pervasive culture of impunity undermines the legitimacy and credibility of the government.
As a consequence of the above assessment—which refers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), not the United States—the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking to hire a private contractor to bolster its Congo staff. The Democracy and Governance Officer, as the position is known, would assist existing USAID staffers and “most likely” will work with Congo stakeholders and interested NGOs on upcoming elections.
The solicitation acknowledges that the task will be difficult:
In 2006, following an extended period of economic decline, a brutal civil war that resulted in the deaths of over four million people, and three years of an interim transition government, the [DRC] held elections and inaugurated the first democratically elected government since independence (1960s)…
Presidential and general elections are planned for the end of calendar year 2011, followed by local elections in 2012-13. Access to information is a critical issue for most of the population, which remains largely isolated from the sweeping changes promised under the new Constitution. GDRC lacks the wherewithal to implement development projects without significant donor intervention. The most prevalent access to information is through community based radio.
The selected candidate, according to an agency personnel solicitation (#SOL62309000019), can expect to earn an annual salary in the $71,674-$93,175 range.
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