Ref.
2026/MSEFTFTGOG/15432
Job offer type
Experts
Type of contract
Service contract
Activity sectors
Global threats and organized crime ; Strengthening Defence and Security Forces
Deadline date
2026/05/25 23:55
Duration of the assignment
Long term
Contract
Freelancer
Duration
1 year with possibility of extension
Maritime Security Expert for the Gulf of Guinea (M/W)
Département Paix, stabilité, sécurité - P2S > Pôle Menaces globales et criminalité organisée
Published on : 2026/05/11
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
SENEGAL
Mission description
Expertise France is seeking a Maritime Security Expert for the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region. Under the Head of Project’s supervision and in close coordination with the Strategic Communication Manager and the Maritime Security Expert for the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean region, she/he will implement maritime security-related activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
The expert will contribute to the dialogue with key stakeholders of the region on maritime security issues, and facilitate the identification and reporting on activities. She/he will pay particular attention to support political engagement, alignment on maritime security priorities, including critical maritime infrastructures, and coordination among key stakeholders. Her/his role also includes identification of short-term expertise and management of short-term experts recruited.
Description of tasks:
- Identify opportunities to develop maritime security activities for the Gulf of Guinea region.
- Upon validation of the European Union (EU) and the Head of Project, implement activities for the Gulf of Guinea’s beneficiaries.
- Develop joint and/or coordination actions with other EU-funded maritime projects or initiatives, including EU coordinated maritime presences.
- Develop and maintain strong relations with maritime national and regional stakeholders of the region, as well as international partners.
- Provide support to maritime national and regional stakeholders to express needs for support and relay requests to the project’s management and EU services.
- Identify needs for ad-hoc expertise as well as relevant experts. In collaboration with the Head of Project, manage and coordinate the short-term experts recruited for a specific activity/matter.
- Contribute to the preparation and participate to official meetings and events with the European Union, Expertise France, and national/regional stakeholders.
- Report on activities implemented and provide further maritime security expertise, including on critical maritime infrastructure, in support of project management and the EU, including written contributions to documents, presentations, and communication materials.
- Contribute to the official reporting to the European Union on project activities and to project reviews organised by Expertise France’s HQ.
- Support the data collection process undertaken by the MEAL expert.
- Any other required tasks.
Project or context description
In the maritime domain, the Gulf of Guinea is faced with major trans-regional challenges and threats, including piracy and illegal trafficking by sea (narcotics, illegal bunkering, counterfeit products and medicines, human trafficking, etc.). The region is evolving from a simple transit zone into a hub for redistribution and local consumption of illicit goods, making the security response more complex and requiring enhanced coordination among multiple actors. Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU fishing) and the damage caused to the environment affect maritime security and pose a threat to the sustainable development of the region, especially for the development of a blue economy. While the maritime security and safety situation in the GoG region has improved overall over the past few years, isolated incidents and persistent structural challenges remain.
For several years, the European Union has been committed to improving maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea through the implementation of strategies and cooperation projects. Maintaining and improving maritime security is vital for the EU and its Member States, as the protection of maritime routes and critical maritime infrastructures is essential to ensure the stability of global trade, data and energy flows. The Gulf of Guinea has been designated as a Maritime Area of Interest and selected as a pilot case for the implementation of the concept of Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP). This tool aims to increase the EU’s capacity to act as a reliable partner and maritime security provider., ensuring a permanent and coordinated maritime presence, and promoting maritime cooperation and partnerships at sea.
In this context, the new EnMAR+ project aims to enhance maritime security and governance in the Gulf of Guinea, the Red Sea, and the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) through a more political, coordinated and visible EU approach. The project will work under the supervision of the European External Action Service’s Senior Coordinator for Maritime Security and FPI. It follows an initial phase (EnMAR – 2022-2026), which focused exclusively on the Gulf of Guinea, while this new phase will also cover the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean. Furthermore, EnMAR+ will act as a Facility to provide support based on requests received from stakeholders.
The EnMAR+ project has three (3) specific objectives:
- To deepen the EU’s maritime diplomacy, political influence and partnerships in the GoG, Red Sea and WIO by fostering political dialogue and enhancing collaboration with regional and national stakeholders, including the protection of critical maritime infrastructure.
- To streamline the EU’s maritime security efforts across targeted regions and to optimise the use of resources, enhance operational synergy, and prevent duplication.
- To bolster the EU’s role as a leading maritime security provider through strategic communication efforts that enhance visibility, promote EU values, and highlight the benefits of collaborative security initiatives.
In the Gulf of Guinea, EnMAR+ will seek to work with regional maritime security architectures, in particular the Yaoundé Architecture. Partnerships will also be developed and continued with women’s associations, think tanks, universities, and media.
Organisation of the project team:
The Maritime Security Expert for the Gulf of Guinea will join a team of 6 members, placed under the supervision of the Head of Project based in Brussels:
- A technical unit composed of the Strategic Communication Manager and another Maritime Security expert for the Red Sea and WIO region.
- A support unit composed of an Administrative and Financial Officer and a Logistics Officer, supporting the Head of Project in daily implementation of the project.
- Ad hoc expertise will be mobilised based on requests for support.
Relevant EU services will closely monitor the project in order to support the identification and validation of activities proposed under the facility modality.
The project is implemented by Expertise France, the French public agency for international technical cooperation and a subsidiary of the AFD Group. Expertise France designs and implements projects that strengthen public policies in partner countries. It works across various areas such as governance, health, climate, security, and education, and operates in nearly 150 countries.
Required profile
Qualifications and experiences:
- Master degree in law, political sciences, international relations, administration, and/or Naval College, or any other field relevant for the position.
- Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in maritime security.
- Sound understanding of the maritime security and defence cooperation of the European Union and its Member States. Working experience with EU member states’ navies is valued.
- Proven experience in the implementation of maritime events, including coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders with divergent interests.
- Excellent understanding of maritime challenges affecting the Gulf of Guinea. Working experience in this region is appreciated.
- Experience in high-level political discussions.
- Experience in critical maritime infrastructure or new maritime threats valued.
Skills and qualities:
- Language:
- French: full proficiency
- English: full proficiency
- Portuguese: proficiency appreciated
- Interpersonal:
- Strong diplomatic, representation, and liaison skills.
- Capacity to work in a multicultural and multi-stakeholder environment.
- Ability to build relationships of trust.
- Writing: Proven analytical skills. Ability to synthesise complex information into clear briefings. Ability to prepare high-quality reports and formulate recommendations.
- Others:
- Good oral communication.
- Strong team spirit.
- Proactivity and flexibility to respond to ad hoc needs.
Additional information
Application:
All applications must be sent in English via Expertise France's GEX recruitment platform and must include the following documents:
- CV, including 3 professional references (max 3 pages)
- Cover letter (max 1 page)
Selection:
The process of selection will occur in several phases:
- A shortlist will be established by Expertise France.
- Selected candidates will be invited to a technical interview.
- Selected candidates may then be invited to a second interview.
Interviews may be conducted remotely. Any expenses incurred in travelling to Paris for the above-mentioned interviews will be borne by the candidate and will not be reimbursed.
The contract is a long-term service provider contract for individual expertise. The contract will last one year with possibility of extension. 10 to 15 working days per month are foreseen, depending on needs. At the end of each month, the expert will produce an invoice along with a timesheet and a monthly report.
The expected start date is 15 June 2026.
Selection criteria for applications
The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :
- Candidate’s training/skills/experience
- Candidate's knowledges related to local context (country or region intervention)
Deadline for application : 2026/05/25 23:55
Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :
- democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
- peace, stability, and security ;
- climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
- health and human development ;
In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.