Humanitarian Policy Advisor

Job title: Humanitarian Policy Advisor

Employment category: G

Reporting to: Country Director

Subordinates: N/A

Unit/department: Yemen Country Office

Location: Sana’a

Authorization level: N/A

DRC Yemen

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in conjunction with Danish Demining Group (DDG) has been operating in Yemen since 2008 using a protection of human rights framework. DRC initially worked in Yemen with mixed migrants coming from the Horn of Africa who are displaced by conflict and drought. Since then, DRC expanded its sectors of intervention and is now providing humanitarian assistance in nineteen governorates throughout the country. There are currently over 550 staff working between the Sana’a main office, two hub offices in Aden and Hajja, and six field offices. Current programme sectors include protection (mixed migration, IDP, child), FSL, WASH, Shelter, HMA and CCCM. Our operations in Yemen have both grown and changed as needs escalate following the country’s descent into civil war in 2015.

Overall purpose of the role

The Humanitarian Policy Advisor will be responsible for engaging key stakeholders to work on a diverse range of policy issues that impact the effectiveness of humanitarian programmes in support of the most vulnerable populations in Yemen.  Accordingly, the Humanitarian Advisor will guide DRC’s strategic positioning, technical policy development and implementation of advocacy work in Yemen.

Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Humanitarian Policy Advisor will be responsible for setting up and pushing forward the implementation of the DRC Yemen’s advocacy strategy and to further develop DRC Yemen’s advocacy work.

The Humanitarian Policy Advisor will liaise with DRC’s regional and global advocacy teams as well as being the focal point for DRC Yemen on external communications.

Responsibilities:

• Lead on the establishment and implementation of the DRC Yemen advocacy strategy.
• Develop policy and advocacy materials including talking points, briefing notes, position papers and advocacy reports.
• Liaise with key DRC partners, line ministries, UN, NGO and other interlocutors in Yemen to ensure DRC has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and response in the region.
• Participate in and support the relevant working groups of the Yemen based INGO network, including supporting the planning and drafting of relevant products such as key messaging and briefings.
• Alert the Country Director to relevant policy developments and provide analysis and input for Humanitarian Country Team meetings, as well as key cluster/working group meetings.
• Review materials related to Yemen produced by DRC regional or headquarter teams to ensure consistency with DRC Yemen policy positions.
• Support the Head of Programmes and Sector Managers to articulate priority advocacy objectives and develop programme-specific advocacy strategies.
• Develop advocacy products and policy briefs including analysis of information produced through DRC's programs and information management systems.  Use evidence to inform advocacy priorities and positions.
• Suggest actions to national policy responses and policy frameworks, as well as other factors such as UN coordination, funding for the response, security and access, and current and future challenges that have an impact on humanitarian assistance and related services.
• Contribute to the DRC’s global and regional advocacy strategies and initiatives, ensuring that the DRC Yemen specificities are reflected and captured.
• Ensure DRC’s regional office, headquarters, Brussels and Geneva representation offices are in line with DRC Yemen advocacy strategy and understand and promote its asks.
• Participate in, and conduct research to prepare for global advocacy joint calls on Yemen and provide information and advocacy messages relating to the Yemen humanitarian crisis.
• Represent DRC in advocacy, policy and coordination meetings or as otherwise delegated by the Country Director.
• Oversee and support the activities of DRC Yemen Communication Officer.

Experience and technical competencies:

• At least 3 years of professional experience crafting and delivering policy and advocacy work responding to complex humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict situation and at least 5 years of applicable professional experience in total.
• Strong understanding of the political and humanitarian context in Yemen and the region
• Ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
• Understanding of the UN and international donor landscape, including challenges and constraints in Syria.
• Experience in negotiation with UN, INGO, donors and coordination forums. Yemen
• Knowledge of refugee rights and international humanitarian law.

Behavioural competencies:

• A passion for advocacy and humanitarian outcomes.
• Good attention to detail.
• High level analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Cultural awareness and ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people.
• Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure.
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities.
• Strong communication (written and spoken), and interpersonal skills, with experience in coordinating multicultural teams.
• Commitment to Danish Refugee Council values.

Education:

• Bachelors degree in human rights, social sciences, media, or related discipline is compulsory. Advanced degree such as Masters or a combination of disciplines, is advantageous.

Find the definition of DRC’s Core competencies here

Languages:

• Full proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic is desireable.

Key stakeholders:

• DRC Yemen’s Senior Management Team
• DRC Programme team
• National and International NGOs
• SCMCHA, Government of Yemen ministries and other stakeholders.
• Donor and international government/embassy focal points.

Last updated: 12 January 2020

• Basic: I master the essentials, but may at times need help from others
• Advanced: I can work independently at full professional level.
• Expert: I am the go-to person when others need help.

Job title: Humanitarian Policy Advisor

Employment category: G

Reporting to: Country Director

Subordinates: N/A

Unit/department: Yemen Country Office

Location: Sana’a

Authorization level: N/A

DRC Yemen

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in conjunction with Danish Demining Group (DDG) has been operating in Yemen since 2008 using a protection of human rights framework. DRC initially worked in Yemen with mixed migrants coming from the Horn of Africa who are displaced by conflict and drought. Since then, DRC expanded its sectors of intervention and is now providing humanitarian assistance in nineteen governorates throughout the country. There are currently over 550 staff working between the Sana’a main office, two hub offices in Aden and Hajja, and six field offices. Current programme sectors include protection (mixed migration, IDP, child), FSL, WASH, Shelter, HMA and CCCM. Our operations in Yemen have both grown and changed as needs escalate following the country’s descent into civil war in 2015.

Overall purpose of the role

The Humanitarian Policy Advisor will be responsible for engaging key stakeholders to work on a diverse range of policy issues that impact the effectiveness of humanitarian programmes in support of the most vulnerable populations in Yemen.  Accordingly, the Humanitarian Advisor will guide DRC’s strategic positioning, technical policy development and implementation of advocacy work in Yemen.

Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Humanitarian Policy Advisor will be responsible for setting up and pushing forward the implementation of the DRC Yemen’s advocacy strategy and to further develop DRC Yemen’s advocacy work.

The Humanitarian Policy Advisor will liaise with DRC’s regional and global advocacy teams as well as being the focal point for DRC Yemen on external communications.

Responsibilities:

• Lead on the establishment and implementation of the DRC Yemen advocacy strategy.
• Develop policy and advocacy materials including talking points, briefing notes, position papers and advocacy reports.
• Liaise with key DRC partners, line ministries, UN, NGO and other interlocutors in Yemen to ensure DRC has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and response in the region.
• Participate in and support the relevant working groups of the Yemen based INGO network, including supporting the planning and drafting of relevant products such as key messaging and briefings.
• Alert the Country Director to relevant policy developments and provide analysis and input for Humanitarian Country Team meetings, as well as key cluster/working group meetings.
• Review materials related to Yemen produced by DRC regional or headquarter teams to ensure consistency with DRC Yemen policy positions.
• Support the Head of Programmes and Sector Managers to articulate priority advocacy objectives and develop programme-specific advocacy strategies.
• Develop advocacy products and policy briefs including analysis of information produced through DRC's programs and information management systems.  Use evidence to inform advocacy priorities and positions.
• Suggest actions to national policy responses and policy frameworks, as well as other factors such as UN coordination, funding for the response, security and access, and current and future challenges that have an impact on humanitarian assistance and related services.
• Contribute to the DRC’s global and regional advocacy strategies and initiatives, ensuring that the DRC Yemen specificities are reflected and captured.
• Ensure DRC’s regional office, headquarters, Brussels and Geneva representation offices are in line with DRC Yemen advocacy strategy and understand and promote its asks.
• Participate in, and conduct research to prepare for global advocacy joint calls on Yemen and provide information and advocacy messages relating to the Yemen humanitarian crisis.
• Represent DRC in advocacy, policy and coordination meetings or as otherwise delegated by the Country Director.
• Oversee and support the activities of DRC Yemen Communication Officer.

Experience and technical competencies:

• At least 3 years of professional experience crafting and delivering policy and advocacy work responding to complex humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict situation and at least 5 years of applicable professional experience in total.
• Strong understanding of the political and humanitarian context in Yemen and the region
• Ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
• Understanding of the UN and international donor landscape, including challenges and constraints in Syria.
• Experience in negotiation with UN, INGO, donors and coordination forums. Yemen
• Knowledge of refugee rights and international humanitarian law.

Behavioural competencies:

• A passion for advocacy and humanitarian outcomes.
• Good attention to detail.
• High level analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Cultural awareness and ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people.
• Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure.
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities.
• Strong communication (written and spoken), and interpersonal skills, with experience in coordinating multicultural teams.
• Commitment to Danish Refugee Council values.

Education:

• Bachelors degree in human rights, social sciences, media, or related discipline is compulsory. Advanced degree such as Masters or a combination of disciplines, is advantageous.

Find the definition of DRC’s Core competencies here

Languages:

• Full proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic is desireable.

Key stakeholders:

• DRC Yemen’s Senior Management Team
• DRC Programme team
• National and International NGOs
• SCMCHA, Government of Yemen ministries and other stakeholders.
• Donor and international government/embassy focal points.

Last updated: 12 January 2020

• Basic: I master the essentials, but may at times need help from others
• Advanced: I can work independently at full professional level.
• Expert: I am the go-to person when others need help.