Guatemala Accompaniment Coordinator 

Guatemala City, Guatemala

ACCOMPANIMENT COORDINATOR JOB DESCRIPTION
NISGUA (The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala) seeks an Accompaniment Coordinator for our Guatemala City, Guatemala office. The Accompaniment Coordinator will oversee the team of U.S. volunteers providing human rights accompaniment on a short-term, as needed basis for Guatemalan human rights defenders, organizations and communities facing threats or intimidations. S/he will also coordinate NISGUA’s justice and accountability campaign work in conjunction with the U.S. staff and work in close collaboration with the Guatemala GAP Coordinator.

ABOUT OUR GUATEMALA ACCOMPANIMENT PROJECT (GAP)
Through GAP, NISGUA recruits and trains about a dozen U.S. accompaniers each year to serve as a dissuasive presence against violence and intimidation. NISGUA accompanies witnesses in the national and international genocide cases, community activists and leaders who have been threatened as a result of their organizing efforts against natural resource extraction, and other human rights defenders (individuals and organizations) on an as-needed basis. As one of two U.S.-based organizations (the other being Peace Brigades International) to provide international accompaniment in Guatemala, NISGUA maintains 6-8 human rights monitors on the ground that accompany these witnesses. An additional 2-person team responds to emergency petitions from other threatened organizations, communities and human rights defenders. Both types of accompaniers provide a dissuasive and supportive presence for the accompanied Guatemalans, creating space for them to organize in defense of their rights. In Guatemala, NISGUA is a crucial member of International Coordination for Accompaniment in Guatemala (CAIG), which is made up of ten accompaniment organizations from nine different countries (the U.S., Canada, and European nations).

ABOUT NISGUA
The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) was formed in 1981 to coordinate local activism on Guatemala in the United States.  More than twenty-five years later, working in partnership with Guatemalan communities, organizations and movements, NISGUA remains one of the strongest U.S.-based voices for human rights, social justice and responsible U.S. policy in the region.

With offices in Oakland, CA and Guatemala City, NISGUA develops and delivers our programs strategically, in close collaboration with Guatemalan civil society organizations and social movement groups, as well as in conjunction with our U.S-based partner groups in Washington D.C. and our U.S. grassroots allies and solidarity committees across the country. Serving as a U.S. grassroots voice in the policy advocacy arena and as an information link for this broad spectrum of social movement actors, NISGUA’s major program areas include our Justice and Accountability Program, our Trade and Globalization Program, and our Guatemala Accompaniment Project (GAP).


Responsibilities:
Provide direct supervision to accompaniers in-country
Represent NISGUA in multi-organizational coordination of accompaniment work (CAIG)
Organize and facilitate monthly accompanier trainings and support meetings
Facilitate flow of accompanier reports to U.S.-based GAP Coordinator
Evaluate and develop accompaniment program
Act as liaison between individuals, organizations and communities who receive accompaniment
Travel regularly throughout Guatemala
Analyze and respond to accompaniment requests as needed
Provide information, updates and strategic directions to justice and accountability campaign work in the United States related to accompaniment cases
Primarily responsible for accompanier house operations and program-related finances
Provide information for fundraising
Orient new accompaniers to the Guatemala City Office
Assist in program logistics such as planning & facilitating bi-monthly accompanier meetings
Produce articles, updates and action alerts on accompaniment cases
Be prepared to respond to emergency situations as they arise
Work with NISGUA staff to help create and implement the organization’s strategic priorities
Keep up-to-date on the political, economic, and social situation in Guatemala

Qualifications:
Previous experience in supervisory and coordinating position strongly preferred
Ability to maintain sound judgment in a crisis
Extended volunteer or work experience outside the United States, accompaniment experience strongly preferred
Understanding of Guatemalan history and current reality, particularly related to human rights issues
Oral fluency and written working knowledge of Spanish
Experience planning and facilitating group meetings and trainings
Demonstrated commitment to social justice and anti-oppression work
In-depth understanding of inter-cultural dynamics, including analysis of North-South solidarity work
Ability to organize and prioritize tasks, working independently and within an organization that values input from a variety of stakeholders
Willingness to work flexible hours, including occasional weekends, evenings, and extended periods of travel within Guatemala
Ability and willingness to travel to and spend time in very rural communities that lack basic services
Flexibility, adaptability, humor and patience
Computer literacy
Ability and desire to make at least a 2 year commitment

Compensation:
Annual salary of $13,500; health and dental benefits; Guatemalan holidays (9.5 days total); 4 weeks paid vacation; and comp time. Exit stipend of $1,200 after 2 or more years.

How to apply:
Please e-mail a cover letter in Spanish, a resume in English, a 2-3 page writing sample in English and a list of three professional references to: susana@nisgua.org and jennifer@nisgua.org. Please put “Accompaniment Coordinator” in subject line. 

Position Open Until Filled. Applications accepted immediately.

Application deadline: April 14, 2008

People of color, women, LGBTQ and bilingual/bicultural applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.