Advocacy Advisor At Danish Refugee Council

Who are we?

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been operating in Yemen since 2008 using a protection of human rights framework. DRC initially worked in Yemen with mixed migrants coming from the Horn of Africa who are displaced by conflict and drought. Since then, DRC expanded its sectors of intervention and is now providing humanitarian assistance in nineteen governorates throughout the country, supporting internally displaced populations, host communities, migrants, and other marginalized groups. Current programme sectors include protection, food security & livelihoods, WASH, Shelter, humanitarian mine action and camp coordination and camp management.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 450 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level, food security & livelihoods, WASH, Shelter, humanitarian mine action and CCCM.

About the job

Overall purpose of the role

The Advocacy Advisor will be responsible for engaging key stakeholders to work on a diverse range of policy issues that impact the effectiveness of humanitarian programmes in support of the most vulnerable populations in Yemen. Accordingly, the Advocacy Advisor will guide DRC’s strategic positioning, technical policy development and implementation of advocacy work in Yemen.

Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Advocacy Advisor will be responsible for the implementation of the DRC Yemen’s advocacy strategy and to further develop DRC Yemen’s advocacy work. The Advocacy Advisor works closely with DRC’s regional and global advocacy teams as well as being the focal point for DRC Yemen on external communications.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Advocacy

  • Develop and update advocacy strategy, talking points, topline messaging, briefing papers, advocacy reports and other advocacy asks for the local DRC team
  • In line with DRC’s Partnerships & Localization (P&L) strategy and working with the DRC Yemen P&L department, support advocacy initiatives with local partners and civil society.
  • Lead on the implementation of the DRC Yemen advocacy strategy
  • Follow up on the implementation of DRC’s Communication strategy and communication commitments with support from the regional office
  • Participate in and support the relevant working groups of the Yemen based INGO network, including supporting the planning and drafting of relevant inter-agency products such as key messaging, public statements, high profile letters, briefings etc.
  • Remain up to date on key issues at the national and regional level, through engagement with relevant stakeholders
  • Alert the SMT to relevant policy developments and provide analysis and input for various inter-agency meetings such as the Technical Monitoring Group, the Humanitarian Country Team and others.
  • Support the Head of Programmes and Technical Coordinators to articulate priority advocacy objectives and develop programme-specific advocacy strategies. In addition, work with Sector Managers, Technical Coordinators and Area managers on key issues within clusters, working groups and area specific forums.
  • Contribute to the DRC’s global and regional advocacy strategies and initiatives, ensuring that the DRC Yemen specificities are reflected and captured.
  • Participate in, and conduct research to prepare for global advocacy joint calls on Yemen and provide information and advocacy messages relating to the Yemen humanitarian crisis.

Representation & Communication

  • Liaise with key UN, INGO, NNGO, civil society partners and other interlocutors in country to ensure DRC has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and response in the region.
  • Engage with the region and HQ on shared advocacy messaging and campaigns
  • Establish strategic relationships with media outlets to ensure push of key advocacy messages and communication materials.
  • Support in developing messaging for and actions around key national policy responses and frameworks, as well as other factors such as UN coordination, protection concerns, funding for the response, security and current and future challenges that have an impact on displaced populations and their access to humanitarian assistance and protection services;
  • Build networks of key informants and stakeholders in country
  • Represent DRC in advocacy-related and (as relevant) regional fora related to advocacy or as otherwise delegated by the CD, including the Advocacy Working Group.

Supervisory Responsibilities

  • Coordinates and supervises the daily activities of communication and advocacy team
  • Contribute to recruitment, capacity building, and performance appraisal of members of the team

Required experience and competencies

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

  • Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
  • Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
  • Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
  • Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
  • Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

About you

Experience and technical competencies

  • At least 3-5 years’ experience working in advocacy on humanitarian issues, refugee rights, human rights, and/or development issues.
  • Experience of influencing and advocacy work including lobbying, policy development and information provision in humanitarian issues.
  • Excellent skills in advocating towards government officials.
  • Experience of and strong skills in developing and implementing humanitarian advocacy strategies and campaigns.
  • Knowledge of human rights, international humanitarian law, rights-based programming, and protection principles
  • Understanding of UN and donor operations at country and regional level.
  • Understanding of political and humanitarian context in the region and/or in Yemen
  • Demonstrated experience in context analysis

Experience in producing and/or supervising production of communications materials

Education:

  • Bachelors degree in human rights, social sciences, media, or related discipline is compulsory. Advanced degree such as Masters or a combination of disciplines, is advantageous.

Languages:

  • Full proficiency in spoken and written English. Arabic is considered an asset.

Key stakeholders:

  • DRC Yemen’s Senior Management Team
  • DRC Programme teams
  • DRC Representation offices in Brussels and Geneva
  • DRC Global External Secretariate
  • DRC Regional Office
  • National and International NGOs
  • Local authorities
  • Donors and representatives of stakeholder states

We offer

Contract length: We are providing a one-year contract, renewable based on both good performance and Funding. This position is reporting to the Country Director.

Work place: Sana’a.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level (G1 Non-Manager).

How to apply

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV in English. Apply online on our link below. Applications sent by email will not be considered:

Advocacy Advisor (hr-manager.net)

Closing date for applications: March 4th 2023, interviews will take place, CVs will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

Further information

For questions regarding the vacancy please contact yem-recruitment@drc.ngo. If you are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo

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