Project Lead-RRLI At Asylum Access

About Asylum Access

Asylum Access believes it’s time to put power back in the hands of people who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries.

Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally and go to school. By supporting refugees as they assert their rights, we help restore their power and agency. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honors refugees’ freedom, dignity and autonomy, and empowers them to make choices about their own lives.

Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organizations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organizations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to better uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Project Description

The Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative (RRLI) is a six-organization strong global coalition dedicated to shifting power and resources to refugee-led organizations (RLOs). The initiative is convened by Asylum Access, and includes 5 prominent RLOs around the world: Basmeh & Zeitooneh in Lebanon, Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) in Egypt, Refugiados Unidos in Colombia, Refugees and Asylum Seekers Information Centre (RAIC) in Indonesia, and Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) in Uganda. Together, the initiative aims to assist 45 RLOs to access 40 million USD across 10 countries in 5 years. We were the recent recipient of the USD 10 million Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award, which has kickstarted the effort, and funded the administration of the project, including this position.

Position Description

The Project Lead is key to the successful implementation of our audacious vision for change. This person will aid the overall strategy and implementation planning of our two-pronged strategy: (1) unlocking over $40 million USD in funding for RLOs and (2) the capacity building of RLOs across 10 countries. This role will coordinate and document coalition activities across multiple time zones and cultures, and manage a small team of leaders across Africa and/or the Middle East to promote progress and impact in both strategies.

The Project Lead will be expected to speak articulately to the activities and impact of the coalition organizations and other RLO grant recipients, in an effort to call broad attention and support to the role RLOs are playing in the ecosystem. The Project Lead will be tasked with developing cross-coalition governance mechanisms that ensure the consideration of views of member organizations. Similarly, they will be expected to assist the coalition in developing strategic and implementation plans in coordination with coalition members. The Project Lead will assist in the development of fundraising and advocacy strategies for the coalition and pursue fundraising opportunities as tasked by the coalition. This position will be part of a four-person, refugee majority project management team that will assist the coalition as it implements its innovative funding and aid initiative. The ideal candidate must have experienced forced displacement.

Key Responsibilities

All duties are carried out in combination with and the guidance of the coalition. An excellent joint working relationship with coalition members is essential to the success of this role. The Project Lead will perform a wide range of duties including the following:

Coordination and Coalition Aid (35%)

• Designs and convenes regular bi-monthly coalition coordination meetings (setting agendas, sending out invitations, and agendas, following up with members via email and phone, creating and printing handouts, facilitating and taking minutes).
• Identifies in coordination with coalition members issues and opportunities requiring immediate follow up from the coalition, and convenes extraordinary meetings accordingly.
• Develops and updates project implementation plans.
• Identifies needed aid and resources for the successful operation of the coalition, and seeks approval from the relevant working groups.
• Intently participates in or chairs working groups developed by the coalition for the implementation of activities.
• Provides administrative and technical assistance to the chairs of working groups, and ensures effective liaison among the different working groups.
• Aids the development of cross-coalition fundraising strategies, and identifies.
• Assists the coalition to develop fundraising materials, and funding proposals for new grants for the coalition.

Communication and Reporting (15%)

• Assist the coalition’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager to ensure that members adhere to the Project’s monitoring and evaluation plans, and promote the implementation of consistent monitoring and evaluation practices.
• In coordination with the Project team and the coalition, ensure the timely handling of donor and external partner communication in coordination with the relevant working groups.

Advocacy & External Engagements (20%)

• Effectively represents the Project to external stakeholders, including by comprehending and articulating the activities and impact of the coalition organizations and other RLO grant recipients.
• Identifies cross-coalition advocacy issues, assists the development of advocacy plans, and prepares advocacy materials/meetings as assigned by the coalition.
• Aids the development of strategic partnerships between the coalition and external stakeholders, particularly refugee-led initiatives and organizations to further the coalition’s advocacy goals.

People Management and Culture (15%)

• Promote the success of the Project team, including the professional growth and development of each staff person.
• Supervises the coalition’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager.
• Supervises the coalition’s Program Officer.

Financial Activities (15%)

• Assist the coalition’s Finance Manager in implementing the coalition’s financial plans.
• With the guidance of the coalition’s Finance Manager monitors the administration of funds to RLO grantees.
• Develops standard procedures and selection criteria for awarding grants to RLOs in collaboration with the Project Administration Working Group.
• As a member of the Project Administration Working Group contributes to the selection of RLOs to be awarded grants from the coalition’s RLO fund.
• Develop in coordination with the coalition and the Finance Manager financial controls for the use and allocation of the coalitions common funding.

Reports to: Director of Partnerships and Engagement, Asylum Access

Required Qualifications:

• Excellent oral and written English. Fluency in Spanish and/or Arabic is an advantage.
• Strong writing skills, with experience in developing and reviewing program plans, proposals, and reports.
• Exceptional relational skills, with an ability to develop and maintain nuanced relationships according to interests, requirements, and need.
• Knowledge and experience of fundraising and donor relations. Knowledge of funding through foundations and other flexible funding opportunities is highly desired.
• Demonstrated experience in program or organizational management.
• Extensive experience in management within the nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment autonomously and with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated experience working with refugee-led organizations or involvement in community-led initiatives is an asset.
• The ideal candidate must have experienced forced displacement.

The Project Lead should demonstrate the following skills:

• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the coalition.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough, and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of StARS and to create new opportunities.
• Foster Teamwork: Work together and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make choices that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the coalition.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information, and activities.
• Plan: Establish strategies to move StARS forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Hours and Location of Work

This is a full-time remote position and candidates should be aware that flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take off hours calls and meetings with international colleagues. The Project Lead will ideally be located in one of the countries of operation of the coalition members in the Latin America, Middle East or Africa.

Compensation

The position comes with a well-paying nonprofit salary commensurate of experience, and suitable to the location of the Project Lead. The Project Lead will also receive a robust benefits package.

Application Instructions to Candidates

Please send a resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample in English. In your cover letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, and how you learned about the position.

Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expertise of those who have experienced displacement, and encourage people with such lived experience to apply.

For more information about our organization, visit www.asylumaccess.org.