Engagement Coordinator – Philippines and Thailand (National)

About the Organisation

Geneva Call is a neutral and impartial non-governmental organization dedicated to strengthening the protection of civilians affected by conflicts involving armed groups and de facto authorities (AGDAs). Geneva Call works to increase respect for international humanitarian norms, based on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) as well as relevant local and religious norms, by AGDAs, towards positive policy and behaviour change, while supporting communities’ efforts to improve their protection.

In the context of armed conflict, Geneva Call focuses its efforts on the protection of children, education, healthcare, humanitarian access and cultural heritage; preventing forced displacement and food insecurity; prohibiting sexual violence and working towards the elimination of gender discrimination; as well as curbing the use of anti-personnel mines and other means and methods which are not in compliance with humanitarian norms.

Geneva Call employs a mix of direct and indirect strategies to advocate for the added value of humanitarian engagement with armed actors, with the aim of preventing protection risks in humanitarian crises. Equipping local stakeholders for humanitarian engagement is equally a centrepiece of Geneva Call’s strategy, which aims for sustainability and local ownership.

Geneva Call consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. Geneva Call is an inclusive working environment for all its staff. Applications are particularly encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Summary of the Role

The role contributes to the development and updating of humanitarian engagement-related strategies across the operations, which are translated into action plans. The role provides leading and providing technical guidance and support to programme staff, on humanitarian engagement with key stakeholders, including armed actors. The role is also intended to provide support to the HoM in high-level engagement and to strengthen the country security plans, especially vis-à-vis context and stakeholder analysis.

S/he will be based at Geneva Call’s office in Cotabato City. This role focuses on the Bangsamoro context in the Philippines and Patani/Thailand’s Deep South, with regular travel to Malaysia.

Core responsibilities

For all tasks: The job holder respects the confidentiality of all programmatic, administrative and financial information.

• Develop stakeholder and context analysis to ensure the Geneva Call is kept updated on conflict dynamics;
• Support country security plans based on stakeholder and context analysis;
• In close consultation with HoM and the programme team, design humanitarian engagement strategies with armed actors and local constituencies;
• Collect, analyse, and utilize field level protection related data and feedback to identify opportunities to engage with armed actors for humanitarian purposes;
• Develop contacts with relevant stakeholders and key constituency members;
• Act as a positive representation of Geneva Call to all national, regional and local stakeholders;
• Build thorough knowledge of Geneva Call’s humanitarian engagement approach, as well as its added value and ensure staff development on the topic;
• Support the design and development of innovative and contextualised humanitarian engagement tools to operationalize engagement strategies;
• Support the development of the content and facilitation of activities (workshops, awareness-raising seminars, meetings, etc.) including in the provinces;
• Work closely with the programme team to ensure the synergies between programme plans and humanitarian engagement strategies and to mentor staff in engagement techniques, humanitarian diplomacy, stakeholder and context analysis;
• Maintain thorough knowledge and understanding of the international and national legal framework surrounding humanitarian engagement to contribute to risk mitigation as well as the development of advocacy papers and activities;
• Contribute to and support overall knowledge management, research and learning within the Philippines mission;
• Any other task assigned by the supervisor.

Professional and personal qualifications

Education

• Master’s Degree or advanced degree in Law or Political Science.
• Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and relevant domestic legislation and bilateral agreements between conflict parties is a distinct asset.
• Knowledge in Islamic Law is a distinct asset.

Languages

• Excellent English and Tagalog required, with knowledge of Malay and Thai a distinct asset;
• Local dialects (Patani Malay, Maguindanaoan, Maranao, Iranun, Tausug, Yakan etc.) preferred.

Technical skills

• Strong analytical, representation and writing skills;
• Develops and implements sustainable strategies;
• Proficient in facilitating workshops, seminars and awareness sessions;
• Positive, solution-oriented approach;
• Upholds organizational and ethical norms;
• Strong capacity-building and mentoring skills.

Work experience

• Minimum 5 years equivalent work experience in a humanitarian organization;
• Proven experience in engaging high-level interlocutors, in particular armed organizations on humanitarian issues;
• Experience working in conflict-affected parts Southeast Asia, with experience in Bangsamoro and Deep South Thailand;
• Experience working with protection of civilians;
• Experience in capacity building and mentoring, team leadership and management.

Performance management

The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with the GC Performance Management p. The following documents will be used for performance reviews:

• The Job Description
• The individual Work- and Professional Development Plan
• The Competency Framework

Conflict of interest

Any candidate affiliated to, or openly supporting, one or more interest groups opposed to the Foundation’s principles and values, or whose previous position could engender safety issues for co-workers at Appel de Genève / Geneva Call, will be excluded from this selection process.

Conditions

• Position : Engagement Coordinator
• Type of Contract: Fixed-Term (National Contract)
• Activity rate: 100%, full-time position
• Work place: Cotabato City, the Philippines – this role covers the Philippines, with a focus on the Bangsamoro, and Thailand, with a focus on Patani/the Deep South, with regular travel in the region (Malaysia, Thailand)
• Preferred start date: 1st June, 2024