Policy and Advocacy Temporary Consultancy At Norwegian Refugee Council

1. Consultancy assignment background

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. We work in crises in more than 30 countries to provide quality emergency and long-term assistance to populations in need. We promote and defend displaced people’s rights and dignity in local communities, with national governments and in the international arena. NRC’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva is a global leader in monitoring, reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country. NRC has representative offices in Brussels, Geneva, London, Berlin, and Washington D.C. to enable our strategic engagement with institutional donors and private foundations and to coordinate our global policy and advocacy work.

2. Objectives and scope of work

2.1 Objectives

Temporary replacement of EU Senior Advocacy and Policy Adviser on Principled Humanitarian Action plus additional support to the Humanitarian Policy Unit on issues related to the impact of counterterrorism (CT)/sanctions on principled humanitarian action (PHA), international humanitarian law (IHL), protection of humanitarian space, and principled humanitarian assistance as required.

NRC’s Partnerships and Policy (PnP) Department is responsible for NRC’s strategic relations with institutional donors and private foundations and for managing and coordinating global policy and advocacy. Within PnP, NRC Europe steers NRC institutional dialogue toward the EU and its Member States (MS) through policy and partnership development.

These terms of reference will be implemented under the direct supervision of NRC Europe Director, in close partnership with NRC Policy Section in Geneva.

2.2 Scope of work

The consultancy will be part-time: 60-80%

Leads NRC policy engagement at European level on Principled Humanitarian Action (PHA), including restrictive measures (CT, sanctions)–30%

1. Guided by NRC’s Counterterrorism(CT)/sanctions Plan of Action, act as main focal point to advance and deliver on NRC’s policy objectives at European level on issues related to Principled Humanitarian Action (PHA), including the impact of restrictive measures.
2. In cooperation with NRC Humanitarian Policy Section, lead on roll-out and dissemination of upcoming NRC products related to PHA, CT/sanctions to relevant EU and Member States decision-makers and relevant audiences. This includes (but is not limited to) an upcoming study on humanitarian exemptions and derogations, a research piece on the impact of domestic CT measures on humanitarian needs and principled humanitarian assistance, as well as NRC’s Risk Management toolkit.
3. Under the supervision of NRC’s policy section, and in close cooperation with NRC EU office and the Secretary General Office, support the development of talking points and policy lines on PHA, CT/sanctions in advance of opportunities at EU and global levels EU and global level.
4. In coordination with the relevant Senior EU International Partnership Advisers and NRC Policy Section, advance NRC’s engagement with development donors to ensure clauses in grants agreement are compatible with humanitarian principles. This includes developing advocacy policies, products and strategies, representing NRC in meetings with targets, leading coordination and coalition-building work with like-minded peer organisations.
5. Monitor policy developments at EU/MS levels with regards to PHA, CT/sanctions and identify opportunities for NRC engagement. Maintain a network of contact with relevant policy makers across the EU and MS (European Commission, Council, European External Action Service), represent NRC in external meetings or organise lobby meetings for NRC colleagues as relevant.
6. Engage with the EU and MS to ensure that CT measures and sanctions regime do not hinder principled humanitarian action. This includes engaging on an ad-hoc basis in advance of the development of new/updated CT measures and sanctions regimes, at EU, MS, or United Nation Security Council (UNSC) levels.
7. Coordinate and engage with other non-governmental organisations (NG0s) at EU and MS level on the above issues and initiatives as relevant.

Coordinates the preparation of the European Humanitarian Forum (EHF) – 20%

1. Under the direct supervision of NRC Europe Director, oversees NRC’s engagement with European interlocutors and peers ahead of the European Humanitarian Forum.
2. Coordinate NRC’s internal efforts to provide input, influence and support the organisation of the forum and preparatory sessions/webinars, as well as redact specific advocacy and policy products as required.
3. Leads on the organisation of NRC-led/co-led events on relevant matters, which could include for example international humanitarian law, EHDP (European Humanitarian Policy Development Framework), restrictive measures.

Support the Humanitarian Policy Unit on issues related to CT/sanctions, protection of humanitarian space, and PHA under the supervision of the Head of Humanitarian Policy Unit – 10-30%

1. Support implementation of grants covering CT/sanctions, protection of humanitarian space, and principled humanitarian assistance, including through roll-out and dissemination of upcoming NRC products related to PHA, CT/sanctions to relevant stakeholders.
2. Provide support to country offices as relevant on issues and challenges related to CT/sanctions. PHA, and protection of humanitarian space.
3. Draft talking points, position papers, and briefing notes as required.

3. Institutional and organisational arrangements

The consultancy will be under the direct supervision of NRC Europe Director, in close partnership with NRC Policy Section in Geneva.

Edouard Rodier – NRC Europe Director

Email: edouard.rodier@nrceurope.be

Skype: edouard_rodier

4. Position duration

ASAP October 2021 – 30th April 2022

The ideal candidate will be available for four days per week, however there is some flexibility on this depending on availability.

5. Experience and qualifications

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, international affairs, law, or related topics. A first level university degree combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of documented relevant experience within the humanitarian sector and/or international humanitarian law, ideally in a role related to humanitarian access, advocacy, or policy;
• Knowledge and understanding at operational level of humanitarian standards and coordination mechanisms, including the IASC, humanitarian principles, humanitarian access, and humanitarian financing;
• Ability to rapidly acquire knowledge in relation to the impact of CT and sanctions on humanitarian action;
• Demonstrated research and analysis skills, and experience of producing high quality briefing notes, key messages and other policy products;
• Demonstrated experience of clearly and effectively communicating complex topics to non-technical audiences;
• Experience of working in the field, preferably on issues related to the impact of CT and sanctions on humanitarian action (which could include experience related to access negotiations, engagement with non-state armed groups, risk management and the operationalisation of the humanitarian principles) for example in roles encompassing humanitarian access, advocacy, or policy;
• Experience with humanitarian coordination mechanisms and ability to work constructively, collaboratively, and professionally with stakeholders from a variety of different organisations and perspectives;
• Prior experience with NRC would be an asset;
• Fluent in both written and spoken English, and French would be an asset.

The consultant must be a registered company or a sole trader and provide proof of registration.