Background: The IRC’s Horn, East Africa and Zimbabwe (HEAZ) region consists of some of the world’s most complex ongoing crises – South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia and Burundi – as well as the neighboring countries most-impacted by the conflict and natural disaster induced migration caused by these crises – Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Zimbabwe, which is an increasingly fragile state, is also part of this dynamic region.
Position Summary: The Regional Advocacy Coordinator is a key member of IRC’s HEAZ regional support team and the Global Policy & Advocacy team, charged with strategically positioning IRC on key humanitarian policy debates and raising its profile locally, regionally and internationally.
S/he reports to the Deputy Regional Director and works closely with the Global Policy & Advocacy’s International Programs Director and advocacy officers in the U.S. and Europe.
Scope of Work
- Using real-time, credible data, facilitate the development and implementation of influencing strategies and policies within the region in coordination with country programs and regional teams; ensuring consistency in messaging and information flow from the local to global arena;
- Represent the IRC in regional fora, and develop or strengthen networks/alliances to push forward topics of shared concern within the humanitarian community – bridging understanding of key issues from the local/national, to regional, to global level;
- Foster an expanded and coordinated dialogue about improvements to international humanitarian and development architecture and corresponding systems and tools for more effective response.
- Assist in developing and implementing regional advocacy strategies and ensure timely revisions as the context evolves
- Ensure that country priorities are integrated into appropriate strategy documents and plans
- Help develop the capacities of country programs on influencing response in complex contexts
- Work closely with advocacy and communications staff in Washington DC, New York, London, Brussels and Geneva, sharing the strategy and other information
- Closely monitor policy debates and ensure relevant information is disseminated to advocacy colleagues throughout the IRC
- Act as IRC spokesperson on advocacy issues where appropriate and take part in relevant country and international policy/advocacy fora as guided by key stakeholders
- Support on qualitative research projects within the region to ensure that advocacy themes are shaped by new evidence being generated
- At least three years of experience in delivering advocacy and policy development work responding to complex humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict environments;
- Must have at least five years of professional experience in humanitarian affairs; protection; refugee affairs; and international human rights;
- Demonstrated creativity, ability to apply innovative thinking and problem solving skills;
- Excellent analytical, presentation, communication and writing skills;
- Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential;
- Must be willing to travel to remote sites under challenging conditions;
- Ability to work well in unstable security environments, and under significant administrative and programmatic pressures.
Works Closely With: Global Policy & Advocacy team in the U.S. and Europe
IRC leading the way from harm to home.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
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