Regional Advocacy & Communications Coordinator

About the job

The Regional Advocacy & Communication Coordinator (RACC) for the Middle East Regional Office (MERO) of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) plays a critical role in pursuing change for the benefit of DRC’s target groups. This involves engaging stakeholders, building alliances, and providing evidence-based messaging. The coordinator defines the vision and strategic direction for DRC’s communication work in the Middle East, aligning it with global priorities. They work closely with country operations and the Durable Solutions Platform (DSP) to translate programmatic responses and research into concrete policy recommendations. The RACC supports MERO in shaping policy positions on key humanitarian issues, represents DRC in technical working groups like the Syria INGO Regional Forum, and leads the production of internal advocacy documents. Additionally, the coordinator ensures that global DRC policies are effectively implemented in the region and maintains communication channels between country offices, representation offices, and HQ

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead on Middle East wide advocacy and communication strategy and theory of change.
• Suggest actions to national policy responses and policy frameworks, as well as other factors such as UN coordination, funding for the response, security and current and future challenges that have an impact on displaced populations and their access to humanitarian assistance and protection services.
• Follow international and global policy and advocacy and communication opportunities – in collaboration with DRC Representations – and suggest key advocacy opportunities and targets at regional and international levels (linking macro-regional-micro)
• Draft and otherwise support the creation of advocacy and communication products as outlined in the advocacy and communication strategy for use at the country, regional and international levels.
• Support the generation of high-quality analysis and lead the production of analytical reports, thematic research, policy products within the MERO on the themes of interest identified and as per agreed workplan. Ensure the translation of country and regional evidence and research into advocacy messaging.
• Develop clear recommendations on how to engage with global processes of interest to the work of MERO —the Global Compact on Refugees (GRF), the Global Compact on Migration (GCM), the Under Secretary Generals Action Agenda on Internal Displacement among others—at regional level, proposing activities, defining milestones and expected outcomes.
• Establish strategic networks and alliances for policy, advocacy and communication activities.
• Participate in regular Middle East wide advocacy/communication coordination discussions, and contribute to Middle East wide reporting on policy and advocacy activities and achievements
• Engage Country Directors across DRC’s Middle East region to discuss advocacy stategy and key contextual updates, analyse and discuss risks in relation to advocacy tools and tactics, and identifying areas for MERO support in advocacy and communications.
• Work closely with the Regional Head of Programme and technical leads in the regional office to ensure that DRC advocacy and communications work is aligned with programmatic objectives and seeks to support programmatic outcomes.
• Provide advice to country office advocacy/communication staff in the region through remote support as well as in-country missions including providing capacity building and training, supporting strategy and theory of change development and ensuring that key local priorities travel to the regional and global level.
• Lead the strategic development of targeted communication strategies on various themes as well as on the overall promotion of the DRC mission and mandate and support the roll-out of global advocacy and communication policies and guidelines.
• In collaboration with the ED and OD, lead the strategic framing and coordinate support to high-level visits to the Middle East region.
• Contribute to a coherent and sensitive communication strategy development, ensuring that research and policy products are presented in formats relevant for the intended audiences.
• Provide analysis of and suggestions for national policy responses and policy frameworks within the Middle East region with a particular focus on ‘solutions’ discussions, as well as on issues such as UN coordination, funding for responses and current and future challenges that have an impact on displaced populations and their access to humanitarian assistance and protection services.
• Promote and maintain strong and productive working relationships with key actors (UN, NGO and other interlocutors) in the region as agreed with the RD to ensure DRC has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and policy initiatives in the region.
• Participate in the relevant regional INGO forums to represent DRC’s policy positions as delegated, and report back.
• Participate in regular meetings with the different representational offices and HQ to represent the MERO asks and provide MERO with updates on ongoing and imminent policy initiatives led by HQs to inform regional planning accordingly.  Forge strong advocacy alliance with likeminded partners and stakeholders.
• Set the strategic direction for the overall communications work of the regional office, including online platforms and social media, traditional media, publications, blogs, branding materials, events and campaigns for greatest impact.
• Coordinate with advocacy staff in country offices, the regional office and HQ to ensure the communications strategies and activities are aligned and consistent for maximum impact.
• Coordinate and consolidate country office input to design, develop and create country specific overviews (annual report, newsletter, leaflet, DRC profile) of DRC’s work to be used by programme staff and senior management for external purposes (donor meetings, events, news outlets etc.).
• Prepare press materials and advise senior management on press engagement; Together with HQ Communications Department, assist in organizing press events, handling interviews requests, and providing responses to requests from media in regards to DRC’s work.
• Undertake field trips to the various field offices with media representatives, and make sure that official visitors have access to information about DRC programmes and activities.
• Explore innovative means of advocacy communicating the activities and impact of DRC’s work within the region.

The post-holder is also responsible for the following:

• Achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility.
• Making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
• Making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC.

Education (include certificates, licenses etc.)

Master’s degree in International Relations, Law, Human Rights, Communications or similar. Qualifications in migration or refugee issues preferred.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• At least (5) to (7) years of work experience within initiatives or programmes focusing on displacement, preferably within a national or International NGO, UN or Government agencies.
• Proven skills in advocacy and communication work.
• Experience within and knowledge about displacement issues including refugee, IDP and vulnerable persons related international regimes and national policies
• Experience of influencing, policy development and information provision on humanitarian and development issues
• Extensive knowledge of refugee rights and international humanitarian and human rights law.
• Understanding of UN and donor operations at country and regional level.
• High level analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Contextual knowledge of the Middle East and the crises in Iraq, Syria and Yemen preferred.
• Cultural awareness and ability to build relationships and alliances quickly with a wide variety of people.
• Patience, adaptability, flexibility, ability to improvise and remain responsive and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure.
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organize a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities.
• Strong communication (written and spoken), and interpersonal skills, with experience in coordinating multicultural teams.

Languages

• English (fluent)
• Arabic (preferred)

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: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: (24) months

Start date: September 1st, 2024

Duty station: Amman

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates or Nationals. This position will be placed at Non-Management (F) band.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: July 22nd, 2024

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.