Regional Durable Solutions Coordinator, Great Lakes At Danish Refugee Council

The history of the Great Lakes has been characterized by large-scale forced and protracted displacement within, and to a lesser extent outside, the region. The main drivers of displacement are poverty, political instability or crisis, armed conflict between and within countries, ethnic tensions and control over land and natural resources. The search for durable solutions to the protracted displacement situation in the Great lakes is a key humanitarian and development concern. This is a regional/cross border issue, dynamic, with a strong political dimension, and which demands a multi-sectorial response that goes beyond the existing humanitarian agenda.

New approaches are needed for effective humanitarian-development coordination to find solutions to protracted displacement and give the millions of displaced persons a chance of a better life with dignity and self-reliance.

About the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat
ReDSS GL is inspired by ReDSS East and Horn of Africa, which was established following extensive consultations among INGOs in the region, identifying a wish and a vision to establish a body that can assist stakeholders in addressing durable solutions more consistently.
The Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat for the Great Lakes (ReDSS GL) has been established in 2019 after consultations with ReDSS members who wished to establish a separate ReDSS secretariat with the aim of establishing an effective, focused stakeholder engagement to address and promote durable solutions for displacement affected communities in the Great Lakes region. ReDSS GL serves as secretariat and as coordination platform of 10 INGOs: DRC, IRC, NRC, Oxfam, Mercy Corps, ACTED, Save the Children, World Vision, Care and Concern Worldwide. DRC, IRC and NRC form the Steering Committee of ReDSS GL.
Initial priorities are Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the primary focus during the start-up phase will be on the Tanzania-Burundi situation with later expansion to other relevant displacement situations in the Great Lakes.
Learning from the ReDSS East Africa’s experience and its work with IGAD, ReDSS Great Lakes is being established with its HQ in Bujumbura and is creating similar approaches for the Great Lakes by working with the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
ReDSS is not an implementing agency but a coordination and information hub acting as a catalyst and agent provocateur to stimulate forward thinking and policy development on durable solutions for displacement affected communities in the Great Lakes. It seeks to improve joint learning and research, support advocacy and policy dialogue, capacity development and coordination.

Key responsibilities
Research and knowledge management: promoting a culture of learning and reflection that leads to improvements in durable solutions programing and policies

• Maintain an established coordination platform of ReDSS GL and makes sure it continues to serve as a credible actor in displacement with governments, development and humanitarian actors, donors by identifying key areas where ReDSS GL can add value.
• Oversee the implementation of ReDSS GL research and knowledge management agenda including review of what has been done, what is useful and then initiating studies and developing processes to monitor uptake to improve Solutions programing and policies
• Analysis of regional durable solutions data, strategies, policies and legislation, and production and dissemination of quality reports.
• Ensure cross learning and coherence between the different countries and at regional level
• Facilitate and organize regular consultation/technical workshops and learning events/meetings on key issues of interest to ReDSS GL
• Manage and supervise solutions analyses and online database
• Responsible for quality control of ReDSS GL publications

Strengthening the capacity of practitioners and policy-makers in the field of durable solutions

• Support the roll-out of the technical and policy training package
• Support development of learning tools and online tutorials
• Translate evidence and research into programing and policies guidance
• Direct support to country level ReDSS GL partners
• Promote active engagement with displacement affected communities to ensure their ownership and support in order to make solutions lasting, locally relevant and feasible
• With ICGLR, organize regional learning events for practitioners (including local stakeholders such as refugee associations, the private sector, the social partners etc.,) and policy makers on key themes identified in the research agenda and support dissemination and uptake

Contribute and support policy actions based on evidence

• Initiate and support policy actions and engagement in collaboration with ReDSS GL members, based on evidence from ReDSS GL and external studies and analyses to improve solutions-oriented policies at national and regional level
• Continue to implement and monitor ReDSS commitments to the Agenda for Humanity and SDGs
• Support existing forums and members to engage with governmental and inter-governmental actors on durable Solutions
• Proactive engagement and coordination with relevant stakeholders (governments, development and humanitarian actors, donors) and facilitate ReDSS GL members participation
• Proactive engagement in policy development processes such as CRRF and support and facilitate ReDSS GL members engagement
• Work closely with ICGLR to ensure coherence between national and regional policy processes and other relevant bodies and forums
• Development and publication of key briefing papers and policy briefs based on evidence

External representation and coordination

• Ensure continued engagement with key players on displacement and Solutions in the region including regional and national authorities, UN agencies, humanitarian and development donors, relevant working groups
• Keep close coordination with development actors, and in particular with ICGLR on the local integration agenda to ensure that displacement is addressed as a development issue with humanitarian components
• Promote exchanges between representatives of local stakeholders in the region, including refugee associations, the private sector, the social partners etc, to share knowledge and experience
• Organize learning events/ think space – in coordination with key stakeholders
• Represent ReDSS GL in working groups and meetings and support ReDSS members participation representing ReDSS

Management of ReDSS Secretariat

• Project management
• Manage Secretariat staff and consultants
• Engage in active fundraising
• Create/Monitor workplan and budget and identify new funding opportunities
• Provide overall implementation and strategic direction of the unit activities
• Organise Core Group and Steering committee meetings
• Monitoring, reporting and evaluation of progress and challenges
• Ensure internal information sharing and coordination among ReDSS members at country and regional level
• Provide timely, digestible and relevant information and analysis through user-friendly channels and systems to increase information uptake and application.

Reporting Arrangements
Strategic and Technical supervision and reporting: The overall strategy and outline for the work of the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat will be laid and approved by the Steering Committee (DRC, NRC, IRC). The Coordinator will report to the Steering Committee and work according to annual work plans approved by the SC and annual regional directors’ meeting.

Administrative supervision: The Coordinator of the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat will be supervised by the DRC Deputy Regional Director. The ReDSS Coordinator line manages and supervises ReDSS secretariat staff and any consultants.

About you
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced University degree in social studies, political science, international relations or relevant field
• Minimum 8 years of experience in similar positions involving knowledge management, research, evidence building, analysis and coordination of a consortium of partners
• Strong knowledge of the region and the socio-economic and political dynamics affecting it, more specifically on displacement trends with a demonstrated ability to manage politically sensitive contexts
• Proven experience in leading and conducting research
• Solid experience in capacity development of a wide range of actors including adult learning, mentoring and coaching, training of trainers and impact monitoring of capacity development activities
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization

Required skills

• Knowledge on the political, humanitarian and security situation in the Great Lakes region
• Strong analytical and writing skills with proven experience in producing high quality research and policy briefs with ability to present complex information in a simple and accessible manner
• Strong experience in translating evidence and research into programming and policy guidance
• Excellent coordination and networking skills
• Inter-personal facilitation and communication skills to build trusted relationships with a wide array of humanitarian and development partners, donors, government agencies, etc.
• Flexibility, proactive engagement, ability to work under pressure and to demonstrate high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability
• Fluent in both French and English (Speaking, writing, and reading)

Conditions
Contract:One year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for international staff. This position is graded at Employment band NM.F

Availability: Immediately

Duty station: This position is based in Bujumbura, Burundi. It is a non-accompanied position.**A**

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.