Military doctrine and practice researcher - Health Care in Danger initiative

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Purpose

The Research and Methodology Adviser provides expertise on research methodology, presentation and interpretation on humanitarian law and action in general and conduct the research project on how different armed forces ensure that the protection of the medical mission is translated into concrete measures in their doctrine and policies, their training manuals and sanction system and other relevant documents in that regard.

The ambition is to understand the current practice and challenges that state armed forces face with this issue when operationalizing military manuals and make use of such an analysis to better shape the ICRC’s way of addressing the issue and of providing advice and guidance on preventing violence against health care.

KEY DELIVERABLES

• Internal and external/public report that provides the analysis on how different armed forces ensure that the protection of the medical mission in armed conflict and other emergencies is translated into concrete measures in their doctrine and policies, their training, sanction system as well as practice and other relevant documents in that regard – with special emphasis on good practice and feasible and tested solutions, challenges and areas for improvement.
• A set of recommendations for the ICRC on how it can improve its advice and guidance for arms carriers on preventing violence against health care

Accountabilities & Functional responsibilities

• Develops research frameworks and indicators to guide research work, synthesizes analysis and facilitates linkages and collaboration/information-sharing as appropriate and carries out comprehensive desk research.
• Draws a detailed project plan with policy and operational contexts in mind. Incorporates quantitative and qualitative methodologies as appropriate within research aims and practical requirements.
• Carries out field research and maintains research partnerships to ensure effective work and mutual benefit, including meetings with relevant military officials and in collaboration with head of Health Care in Danger initiative and the ICRC unit for relations with arms carriers liaises with delegations and militaries.
• Understands available internal data and information resources. Identifies and facilitates links between relevant work areas by consulting ICRC archives, public libraries and internal databases for relevant materials.
• Disseminates data and research findings (and associated recommendations) with a written internal and external reports.
• Provides policy and research analysis to enhance corporate understanding and decision-making. In collaborations with the ICRC unit for relations with arms carriers recommends concrete method facilitating the inclusion of protection of healthcare into military doctrine and practice; discusses linkages between policy and operational issues/knowledge and acts as the chief subject-matter expert during potential consultative events convened within the process.

People management responsibilities

No

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with colleagues from the ICRC unit for relations with arms carriers, the Department of Operations and delegations
• Externally, interacts with relevant military officials.

Certifications / Education required

• University degree or postgraduate studies in law, international relations, social science or similar, covering research methodology
• Excellent English writing and communication skills, additional languages are of benefit
• Computer proficiency

Professional Experience required

• At least 5 years professional experience in analysing legal, policy and/or military issues with humanitarian or other large-scale organizations.

• Good knowledge of the ICRC and other humanitarian organizations and IHL in particular, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and military affairs.

• Excellent capacity to analyse and synthesis and translate observations into conclusions and recommendations.
• Prior experience in designing and managing research approaches within complex policy/operational environments, like conducting research on organisational, structural and possibly cultural aspects of how IHL and other relevant provisions (incl. HCiD recommendations) are implemented into operational practice by armed forces.

• Extensive knowledge of how provisions of IHL are being implemented by the military through manuals, training, sanctions and doctrine (specific knowledge on the issue of violence against healthcare is an asset).
• Previous experience in complex stakeholder engagement and relationship management, with extensive and practical knowledge of internal functioning of armed forces. Capacity to establish working relationships with armed forces.

• Experience in working independently and designing working tools and methods in accordance to the needs of the project; capacity to adapt working methods as appropriate.

Desired profile and skills

• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work
• Self-motivated and able to manage deadlines
• Available to travel extensively (up to 25%)

Additional inofrmation

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Type of contract: Maximum term contract
• Activity rate: 100%
• Length of assignment : 18 months
• Estimated start date: ASAP
• Application deadline: 29/07/2018