Job Description
Job Title / Humanitarian Policy & Advocacy Adviser – migration and displacementJob Band / Grade 4 / Ref
Department / Humanitarian Policy /
Division
/ InternationalReporting To / Humanitarian Advocacy Manager / Location / UKO
Duration / 1 year, with a possibility to extend /
Last Updated
/ May 2017Scale and Scope
Direct / Indirect/overallBudgetary / Up to £500,000
Staffing / Consultants and interns
Accountability & Decision Making / Accountable for ensuring that advocacy is in line with the Fundamental Principles as well as legislation, regulations, internal and external policies, standards and best practice.
Reach & Impact / Provide flexible advocacy on specific projects and issues related to migration and displacement with support to the MENA regional strategy
Work with National Society partners and other components of the Movement to provide context-specific policy and advocacy support and to strengthen their capacity
Work with Movement partners, including the Heads of Sector in the Federation, the ICRC and other National Societies to ensure effective coordination of advocacy
Work collaboratively with programme and partnership managers and technical and advisory staff within a responsive and fluid matrix structure
Context
The British Red Cross (BRC) helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. BRC is a National Society of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; the world’s largest independent humanitarian network.
BRC responds to conflicts, natural disasters and smaller emergencies through our global voluntary network. We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives. Internationally, the British Red Cross works in partnership, supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and partner National Societies to deliver their work. We are committed to, and bound by, our Fundamental Principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
The Humanitarian Policy (HP) Department is made up of a group of advisers in BRC’s International Directorate tasked with ensuring high quality policy and advocacy that enables improved humanitarian outcomes. Our work currently focuses on a range of themes directly relevant to the work of the Movement:
· Civil military relations
· Fundamental Principles/Humanitarian Principles
· National humanitarian action
· Migration and displacement
· Advocacy on major emergencies
· Trends in humanitarian action
Overall Purpose of the Post
Develop and implement the BRC’s advocacy strategy on migration and displacement, with additional support to the MENA region. Strengthen BRC’s voice and influence on international migration processes and regional priorities through providing project-based, flexible policy and advocacy support
Strengthen the influence of the Movement on migration and in the MENA region through mentoring and providing other capacity strengthening support in policy and advocacy, including through short-term deployments to specific contexts
Work collaboratively with a wide range of programme and policy colleagues through an enabling approach which facilitates greater collective policy understanding and advocacy on regional and thematic policy priorities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall direction of the Humanitarian Advocacy Manager and in close partnership with RC/RC Movement stakeholders working on migration, BRC’s MENA Regional Team, and colleagues across the Humanitarian Policy Department, undertake the following:
International policy and advocacy:
Provide project-based policy and advocacy support on a range of different themes including on migration and displacement with a focus on MENA. This will involve flexible and short-term research, policy and advocacy work on different issues as defined by the Humanitarian Policy Department and the regional teams
Strengthen BRC’s advocacy in major emergencies through the development, implementation and coordination of policy and advocacy initiatives on major emergencies. This will involve a range of activities including stakeholder analysis, development of messaging, external representation, briefings and media work, working collaboratively with a range of different programme, policy, communications and fundraising colleagues to ensure that strategies are aligned and mutually reinforcing
Working with programme colleagues, monitor trends in policy and practice, providing advisory support, briefings and other forms of policy / advocacy support as required
Increase BRC’s representation and engagement on priority international issues, including by identifying policy processes and events relevant to BRC’s priority agendas and coordinating BRC’s effective participation. This will include representing the BRC at senior levels externally and within the Movement, or supporting the engagement of regional or country colleagues
Internal and external relationship management:
Take a leadership role in BRC’s engagement with Movement policy, humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy. This includes developing effective relationships with relevant stakeholders in the IFRC Secretariat and Zones and with other National Societies across the Movement, providing input and support to Movement initiatives and where relevant, providing direct policy and advocacy support
Build and maintain a strong network of policy makers, academics, practitioners and advocates engaged on humanitarian issues policy helping to ensure that BRC is a strong and influential voice on key humanitarian issues
Work closely with BRC’s domestic Policy, Research and Advocacy team ensuring coordination of relevant activities, in particular on migration and displacement
Represent the BRC at key national and international policy and other fora, proactively building and developing stakeholder relationships to influence sector and Red Cross Red Crescent Movement policy on priority areas
Organisational strategy and development
Develop BRC’s evolving advocacy and external engagement agendas ensuring that BRC’s voice on international issues is increased in a way that is evidence-based, in line with our Fundamental Principles and is improving the lives of those affected by humanitarian crises
Build and enable the advocacy capacity of colleagues within the International Division and of staff and volunteers of partner Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies. This will involve the use of effective advocacy methods and approaches that are appropriate to International’s priority issues and Fundamental Principles and are coordinated with other approaches used by colleagues working on advocacy in the UK
Provide input and support to the annual planning and budgeting process of the Humanitarian Policy Department and regional and country teams and monitor implementation in relation to advocacy
Manage budgets, consultants and interns to ensure that resources and capacities are used effectively and efficiently
Other
Uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and work within the Society’s equal opportunities policy
Person Specification
Education/ Training
/ Degree level or higher in Humanitarian Assistance, Development Studies, International Relations or other relevant subject **Experience
/ Demonstrable overseas field experience in a humanitarian or influencing role **Significant experience of humanitarian advocacy, representation and communications with evidence of impact or influencing policy makers **
Experience of undertaking policy or advocacy on one or more of BRC’s priority policy issues ** - experience of working on migration or refugee issues and/or the MENA region
Experience of establishing effective relationships with decision-makers and opinion formers**
Significant experience of managing or coordinating projects, including proven experience of working successfully and independently to objectives and deadlines**
Experience of delivering advocacy training and/or capacity building, particularly with national actors**
Experience of working with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (desirable)
Experience of working with research institutions and consultants (desirable)
Knowledge/ Technical Skills
/ Good knowledge of current humanitarian policy issues, particularly in MENA and Europe**Strong understanding of policy processes and of decision-making in the UK and internationally
Excellent communication skills - ability to communicate complex ideas and messages to diverse audiences, orally and in writing
Good analytical skills, both quantitative and qualitative
Personal skills
/ Good representational, influencing and networking skillsStrong leadership and negotiation skills
Good individual and project management skills
Good team player with abilities to work flexibly and manage and support projects across multiple teams
Cross cultural sensitivity and ability to interact well with diverse groups of people
Commitment to upholding the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Special Circumstances
/ Willingness to work out of office hours when necessaryAble to travel and deploy to the region for periods of up to a month /flexible regarding working conditions
**Minimum short-listing criteria. N.B. All disabled candidates who meet these criteria must be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two- tick symbol scheme.
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