Cyber Outreach Associate At International Committee of the Red Cross

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) responds to worldwide humanitarian needs through its global network of delegations. The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.

The humanitarian sector has been undergoing a significant digital transformation in recent years, creating both opportunities and risks. On the one hand, people affected by humanitarian emergencies are increasingly connected, and humanitarian organizations are developing and offering digital humanitarian services. On the other hand, unauthorized access to or extraction of humanitarian data by malicious actors, to gain operational advantages or for other non-humanitarian purposes, can create significant risks for the dignity and safety of vulnerable people whilst undermining the work of humanitarian actors.

The recent creation of an ICRC Delegation for Cyberspace aims at strengthening its capacity to be operational, also in a digital space, according to the standard working modalities of the ICRC. The ICRC Delegation for Cyberspace aims at exploring new ways to support, enable, and protect the ICRC’s digital footprint, which is made up primarily of the data that affected populations entrust it with. The Delegation also aims at creating a safe R&D environment to develop a response to the challenges brought by digitalization, notably in conflict settings, and anticipate those that will continue to emerge with its expansion. Understanding what adherence to the fundamental principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence of exclusively humanitarian action means in a digital world, and adapting its operating modalities and technology choices accordingly, is a key component of this. This is essential for the ICRC to gain and preserve the trust of affected populations as well as interlocutors, to continue to have access to affected areas, also by digital means, to ensure that affected communities access essential humanitarian services, and to ensure the acceptance and safety of its own staff.

Purpose

Digitalization and new technologies have an increasingly important role in today’s humanitarian activities. As humanitarian organizations become more active in and reliant on new and digital technologies, they evolve from being simple bystanders to being fully-fledged stakeholders in cyberspace, vulnerable to adverse cyber operations that could impact on their capacity to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict or other situations of violence. This shift makes it essential for humanitarian organizations to understand and properly map their resulting cyber perimeter. Humanitarian organizations can protect themselves and their activities by devising appropriate cyber strategies for the digital environment. Clearly defining the digital boundaries within which they carry out operations lays the groundwork for humanitarian organizations to develop a strategy to support and protect humanitarian action in the digital environment, channel available resources to where they are most needed, and understand the areas in which their operational dialogue and working modalities need to be adapted for cyberspace.

As a fully integrated member of the ICRC Delegation for Cyberspace / Global Cyber Hub in Luxembourg, the Associate will support the Delegation’s objectives particularly in relation to raise awareness and position the ICRC as thought leader in digital humanitarian space, while integrating different experience and perspectives.

Accountabilities & Functional responsibilities

The Associate will be working closely with and supporting a team of policy advisers and technologists, under the supervision of the Outreach coordinator, in relation to a number of tasks, including:

• Support on key stakeholder mapping exercise incl. media and cyber/tech journalists, major events, conferences and forums where a humanitarian use of technologies or impact of digital technologies in humanitarian / conflict / crisis settings can be discussed and presented.
• Support on building outreach and engagement strategies to stakeholders identified. As needed, draft / contribute to the drafting of blogs, reports, FAQs, press updates, and diverse portfolio of communication materials targeting internal and external stakeholders to socialize and raise awareness of the delegation’s various work streams.
• Effectively communicate and collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, to promote cyber security policies and best practices contributing to the responsible, ethical and principled use of digital humanitarian technologies.
• Monitor latest geopolitical debates and policy development vis-à-vis cyber and new tech and provide biweekly environment scanning update.
• Support on the organization of Symposium on Cybersecurity and Data Protection in Humanitarian Action incl. preparing background documents, identifying and engaging with experts, communication and logistical tasks.
• Contribute to the preparation and documentation of weekly team meetings.
• Participate in the annual planning and budgeting process (Planning for Results), monitor and report on impact/outcomes on a quarterly basis.
• Any administrative tasks which may be required for the running of the ICRC Delegation for Cyberspace in Luxembourg.

Certifications / Education required

University degree and, ideally, master’s degree in one of the following areas: international relations, public policy, humanitarian affairs, security studies, law, cybersecurity, science and technology, or a related field.

Professional Experience required

• At least one-year professional working experience in technology policy, cyber security policy, humanitarian affairs, or a related field.
• Experience in communicating technology to non-technical audiences is an asset.

Desired profile and skills

• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and staying abreast of the challenges and opportunities brought by the increasing digital footprint of the humanitarian sector.
• Demonstrated interest in cybersecurity policy, geopolitics of cybersecurity, and basic understanding of the digital transformation of the humanitarian sector and its implications therein.
• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work and international relations.
• Creative, solution- and service-oriented.
• Open-minded and adaptable, empathic and diplomatic.
• Ability to manage multiple work streams with flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to drive process improvements, showcasing a proactive approach to refining and optimizing workflows.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized, ensuring precision and thoroughness in all work.
• Solid understanding of the mandate and modus operandi of the ICRC and the Movement is an asset.

Language

• English, excellent written and oral communication skills
• French, an asset

Our Values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.

What we offer

• This is a full-time, paid internship position (Luxembourg social minimum wage for qualified employees p.a. non-negotiable).
• The traineeship will provide an invaluable opportunity for a motivated Associate to learn about the challenges faced by an International Humanitarian Organization in cyberspace, and about how to bridge the legal, technical, operational, policy and strategy sides of cybersecurity in humanitarian action, as well as to be exposed to a stimulating and highly innovative humanitarian environment at the ICRC.
• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment.

Additional information

• Location: Luxembourg
• Duration: 6 months
• Estimated starting date: September 2024
• Activity rate: 100%
• Type of contract: Traineeship
• Application deadline: 15 July 2024