Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager

IRC Bangladesh seeks a Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager to support country programme leadership in developing and implementing an advocacy strategy as part of IRC’s humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis. The post holder will continuously monitor the evolving humanitarian and political context in Bangladesh to understand the implications for IRC’s programming, policy messaging and for affected communities. 

Through extensive use of IRC data, evidence from IRC’s operational presence in Bangladesh and Myanmar, external sources, and working with advocates at capital level (DC, London, Brussels), the Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager will lead the generation of evidence and messaging to inform advocacy and policy positions and contribute to policy change. This position will develop and drive a country-level advocacy strategy focusing on key issues including, but not limited to: humanitarian protection and the needs of women and girls; responses to protracted refugee and host community needs; strategies to bridge humanitarian and development interventions; durable solutions and underlying rights concerns including promotion of refugee and international humanitarian law; development financing for the refugee response; and issues of refugee returns. The Senior Advisor will also coordinate closely with advocates in global capitals in the development and launch of a global advocacy strategy related to the Rohingya crisis.

In coordination with senior management, the Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager will also represent IRC in a range of external discussions and working groups to contribute to the development of inter-agency positions. Additional responsibilities include working with IRC’s communications teams locally and in HQ to ensure any public messaging is in line with country programme advocacy priorities and objectives.

The Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager reports to the Country Director, and collaborates closely with senior programme and operations staff. Key qualifications include a solid understanding of refugee protection concerns and programming approaches for refugees as well as a good understanding of refugee and international humanitarian law. Excellent writing, critical thinking and analysis skills will be essential, combined with demonstrable prior experience of developing advocacy strategies, including mapping of targets, tactics and key messages that are tailored and calibrated to navigate sensitive political contexts. In addition, the post holder must be able to effectively communicate IRC positions and contribute to discussions and deliberations with external parties on shared messages and commitments. Field experience in a humanitarian context, including high level coordination and representation with donors, Embassies, UN agencies, and NGOs, is desirable.

•In close collaboration with country programme senior management, lead the development of a targeted advocacy strategy that, through application of appropriate rights frameworks, promotes the protection of refugees and steps to mitigate the impact of the crisis on host communities.  

•Based on IRC field presence Bangladesh and where appropriate Myanmar, conceptualize and support the generation of evidence that contributes to IRC’s advocacy objectives at national and global levels 

•Working in collaboration with IRC advocacy colleagues in US and Europe and IRC’s think tank partners, develop and drive policy and advocacy messages and products for in-country, regional, and international stakeholders and policy makers, ensuring field priorities and perspectives are integrated and prioritised. Draft analysis papers, briefing notes, key messages, articles, presentations and other documents for internal and external use in support of IRC’s advocacy locally and globally.

•Continuously monitor the evolving humanitarian and political context in Bangladesh and where necessary Myanmar, and provide written and verbal updates and analysis to senior staff in the country programme, HQ and to external IRC partners. 

•In close coordination with the Country Director and senior management team, convene and represent IRC in within the humanitarian community in Bangladesh.

•Build and maintain relationships with diverse, like-minded organizations and individuals to develop networks and increase collective impact such as but not limited to NGO Advocacy Core Group, NGO coordination platform etc.

•Contribute to building a shared understanding of IRC’s advocacy goals and position across the country programme and the roles different staff members can play in contributing to IRC’s collective advocacy objectives in Bangladesh

•Working with communications colleagues, oversee development of communications products to advance IRC’s key messages in line with the advocacy strategy

•Coordinate with IRC’s global advocacy team and contribute to development of IRC’s global advocacy strategy for the Rohingya crisis. Support the development of talking points, messaging and recommendations, for use in public and private settings to contribute to IRC’s efforts to ensure global level actors are better able to influence national policy. 

•Will coordinate with and seek guidance from Regional Office including Regional Vice President and DRDP and other stakeholders on policy and advocacy issues. 

Major Challenges

• Coordinating effectively with many stakeholders across INGOs, L/NNGOs, UN, and government of Bangladesh who have divergent agendas and positions.
• Communicating IRC positions publicly and privately in effective, diplomatic terms to secure maximum impact. 
• Staying abreast of evolving situations and producing concise, evidence-based talking points and position papers to inform time sensitive advocacy.