Country: Bangladesh
Closing date: 04 Apr 2019
Job Description
Program Brief:
Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. We work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions affected by the impact of displacement.
The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since then we have quickly expanded our integrated emergency health and protection activities response and now provide primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection services. In 2019, the IRC will work with Rohingya refugees and the host community in Cox’s Bazar. We will address existing vulnerabilities that are compounded by cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons and seek to expand our work to other parts of Bangladesh.
Purpose:
Working with the IRC Country Leadership Team, you will develop IRC’s advocacy strategy for the Rohingya crisis on key issues including, but not limited to: humanitarian protection and the needs of women and girls; responses to protracted displacement for refugee and host communities; strategies to bridge humanitarian and development interventions; and the promotion of refugee and international humanitarian law.
Using IRC data, evidence from operations in Bangladesh and Myanmar, external sources, and working with advocates at capital level (DC, London, Brussels), you will generate evidence, messaging and positions to contribute to policy change. You will also continuously monitor the evolving humanitarian and political context in Bangladesh to understand the implications for IRC’s programming, policy messaging and for affected communities.
Your additional responsibilities will also include: representing IRC in external discussions and working groups to contribute to the development of inter-agency positions; working with IRC’s communications teams locally and in HQ to ensure public messaging is in line with country program advocacy priorities and objectives. You will report to the Country Director.
Key qualifications: a deep understanding of refugee protection and programming approaches for refugees; a good understanding of refugee and international humanitarian law; excellent writing, communication, critical thinking and analysis skills, combined with proven prior experience of developing advocacy strategies. Field experience in a humanitarian context, including high level coordination and representation with donors, Embassies, UN agencies, and NGOs, is desirable.
Major Responsibilities:
• Write a targeted advocacy strategy that promotes the protection of refugees and steps to mitigate the impact of the crisis on host communities.
• Working in collaboration with IRC advocacy colleagues in US, Europe and IRC’s think tank partners, develop and drive policy messages targeting in-country, regional, and international policy-makers, ensuring field priorities and perspectives are integrated and prioritized.
• Write analysis papers, briefing notes, key messages, articles, presentations and other documents for internal and external locally and globally.
• Monitoring the evolving humanitarian and political context in Bangladesh (and where necessary Myanmar) to provide written and verbal updates to senior staff in the country program, HQ, and to external IRC partners.
• Represent IRC in external meetings in Bangladesh.
• Build and manage relationships with diverse, like-minded organizations, groups and individuals to develop networks and increase collective impact.
• Lead efforts to build a shared organizational understanding of IRC’s advocacy goals and define the roles different staff members can play in achieving them.
• Work with communications colleagues, to develop communications products to advance IRC’s key messages in line with the advocacy strategy
• Contribute to development of IRC’s global advocacy strategy for the Rohingya crisis to ensure global level IRC staff can better able influence national policy.
Major Challenges/Difficulties of this role:
• Coordinating effectively partners across INGOs, L/INGOs, UN, and government of Bangladesh.
Deliverables/KPI:
• IRC’s Bangladesh Rohingya crisis advocacy strategy.
• Evidence and data to inform advocacy strategy and decision-making.
• Coordinate closely with global policy and advocacy, comms and media teams.
• Policy messages, briefing/research papers.
Experience
• 5-7 years of relevant work experience preferably in humanitarian and refugee settings.
• Previous experience of developing, implementing and monitoring advocacy strategies and an ability to critically evaluate and apply different influencing approaches.
Specific Educational Qualification:
• Graduate (post graduate preferred) in International relations, law, social science, human rights or related field required.
Knowledge, Skills & Competences:
• Knowledge of international standards for the protection of refugees.
• Demonstrated capacity for critical thinking and ability to communicate effectively and build consensus among a range of internal and external partners.
• A deep understanding of the international humanitarian coordination and response architecture.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Knowledge or prior work experience in Bangladesh or Myanmar is desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Capacity to work well under pressure, strong organizational skills, and the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively cross‐culturally is essential.
• Bangla is an advantage
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
How to apply:
Applications to be submitted on: