Protection & Advocacy Coordinator (National Contract)

Background

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been active in the South Caucasus since 1996 in addressing the displacement of approximately 900,000 IDPs in the region as a result of three main conflicts (in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh). Currently DRC works on the issues related to the displacement of 273,944 IDPs in Georgia proper and in Abkhazia. The caseload consists of a complex mix of old and new IDPs in Georgia proper and returnees in Abkhazia. Recently, Syrians of Caucasian origin and Ukrainians in Abkhazia were added to the group targeted by DRC interventions.

Currently DRC works through 4 offices in Georgia (including a main office in Tbilisi) in the following sectors:

• Protection monitoring, advocacy and civil society development;
• Livelihoods and rural development;
• Education and access to community services;
• Shelter and Rehabilitation of community infrastructure; 
• Technical Assistance & Capacity building of Government institutions at the central and municipal levels.

DRC’s current donors are EU Delegation in Georgia, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNHCR, BPRM and Danida.

General Requirements

The successful applicant will play a key role in our efforts to support the protection of IDPs and other conflict-affected persons through projects focusing on empowering IDPs and their host communities, capacitating local NGO partners and relevant other non-state actors, and possibly liaising with central and municipal duty bearers to improve DRC overall response to promote durable solutions for IDPs in Georgia.

The successful applicant is expected to have an in-depth understanding of and extensive work experience on IDP and vulnerable population issues in cooperation with non-state actors including national and regional NGOs, CBOs and communities as well as proven track record in the field of advocacy.

Main Areas of Responsibility

The main areas of responsibility of the Protection and Advocacy Coordinator will be as follows:

• Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection-related programming with partners and revise accordingly existing Protection Strategy for DRC in the South Caucasus in line with DRC latest global requirements;
• Contribute to and facilitate an evidence-based and results-based protection programming through a consultative process with sector and/or cluster partners;
• Ensure that DRC’s age, gender and diversity approach to protection is consistently applied through community-based protection methods;
• Build up the protection capacity of DRC internally, national and local government, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities;
• Contribute to the development of training curricula in the field of protection and/or Human Rights when appropriate;
• Contribute to and take the lead for the production of reports, survey and position papers on key protection gaps and related issues in Georgia Proper and Abkhazia (when possible);
• Liaise with competent authorities to ensure the respect and abidance to protection and human rights principles;
• With the support of a pool of Legal Counsellors in the field oversee and coordinate assistance to individual protection cases, including those on SGBV and child protection. Monitor and intervene in special cases and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners;
• With the support of a pool of Legal Counsellors, refine DRC approach in terms of pprovision of legal advice and guidance on protection issues to persons of concern;
• Contribute to the ddevelopment of innovative and evidence-based policy solutions that contribute to DRC’s global strategic priority on Advocacy;
• Contribute to the development of DRC Advocacy Strategy in the South Caucasus to facilitate the adoption of these policy solutions;
• Undertake research into the policy solutions and service delivery models that are best placed to end support integration of IDPs in Georgia proper mainly;
• Build alliances and seek to influence policies and decisions that are of priority to DRC;
• Represent DRC at any Temporary Expert Group meetings on legal issues when relevant in agreement with Strategic Partnerships Coordinator;
• To take the lead of development and management of DRC Program Accountability Plan in line with DRC compliance tools including the coordination of DRC Code of Conduct Response Mechanism.

Duty Station

Tbilisi (with extensive travel throughout Georgia proper, and potentially to countries outside Georgia)

Reporting

The Protection & Advocacy Coordinator will report to the Strategic Partnerships Manager and in her/his absence to the DRC Country Director.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful applicant is expected to have the following qualifications and expertise:

•  An academic degree in Law is required M.Sc.;
• At least 5 years of work experience within initiative or programmes focusing on IDP and vulnerable persons protection and/or integration issues - preferably within a national or International NGO, the UN or Government agencies;
• Experience within and knowledge about IDP and vulnerable persons related Government policies aimed at supporting the integration of IDPs. These include, but not limited to: health and social support, durable housing solutions and livelihoods;
• Deep knowledge and understanding of NGO/CBO work and their best practices in regards to protection and integration of IDPs and vulnerable persons in Georgia;
• A demonstrated high level tutorial expertise – well versed in delivering trainings and/or presentations on the Guiding Principles, Human Rights and/or IDP issues;
• Professional proficiency in both English and Russian, and excellent writing skills in both languages;
• Willingness to travel, work flexibly and, when necessary long hours;
• Ability to work independently and on his/her initiative is essential.

Skills & Qualities

• Strong communication and organization skills;
• Ability to follow strict timetables;
• Team work, ability to integrate and interact with the team of diverse backgrounds;
• Proven training skills.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation or age.

Conditions

Availability: By the 15^th March 2018.

Duty station: Tbilisi, Georgia.

Position Type: Full-time.

Contract: Until December 2018 (with three month probation period) with possibility of extension depending on performance and funding.

Application process 

All applicants must send their CV, cover letter and contact information of 3 references. All three must be in the same language as this vacancy note. Applications should be sent to no later than 28^th February, 2018 by clicking the apply button.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview. DRC retains the right to conduct interviews prior to the application deadline.

DRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In this regard, equal opportunity shall be provided to all staff members and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, nationality, status, or disability.

Further information

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk