Rights in Exile Programme Coordinator (Part Time)

The Rights in Exile Programme was created in 2012 to provide access to knowledge, nurture the growing refugee legal aid and advocacy movement in all countries, and encourage active sharing of information as well as expertise among legal practitioners throughout the world. Legal aid is crucial to the realisation of refugees’ rights, especially the critical first step: recognition of refugee status.

 

The Rights in Exile website ( www.refugeelegalaidinformation.org ) brings together information for legal aid providers globally, including details of organisations providing pro bono legal aid to refugees around the world, details of specialists who can provide country of origin information on a pro bono basis, and maintains contacts with highly specialised legal advisors to assist with cases involving exclusion, apostasy, gender identity, unaccompanied minors etc. The website also provides learning materials on refugee law and case preparation and much more.

 

Since its inception the website has been managed by Dr Barbara Harrell-Bond and the International Refugee Rights Initiative. In January 2020, AMERA International agreed to take the website on board, acquiring all responsibility to manage, update and invest in it. A Business Development and Fundraising Consultant has been contracted separately.

 

Job summary:
The Rights in Exile Programme Coordinator will manage the current activities on the Rights in Exile website as well as further the objectives of the programme. The Rights in Exile Programme Coordinator is responsible for promoting exchange, collaboration and learning opportunities around programming initiatives between various themes in Rights in Exile programming. One main focus of this position is the development of the website in terms of its content, scope, ease of use, and design. Reporting to: AMERA International Board of Directors

 

General responsibilities:

 

• Keep the website resources updated, user and SEO friendly
• Prepare quarterly project progress reports
• Develop and disseminate materials to aid the implementation of Rights in Exile
• Keep abreast of and contribute to advocacy and policy developments on issues relevant to the Rights in Exile.
• Cultivate networks, potential alliances, and partnerships with organisations working on issues relevant to Rights in Exile
• Promote the Rights in Exile through social media
• Support and supervise interns where necessary
• Such other duties as may be required from time to time by mutual agreement, including travel

 

Specific responsibilities:

 

• Lead the implementation of activities
• Develop and maintain contacts with refugee legal aid specialists and lawyers who offer their services as resource persons to the Rights in Exile
• Expand the current database of training materials to include resources on areas that are of increasing interest, such as LGBTI, deportation, and family reunion
• Develop and maintain contacts with governmental, inter-governmental, and non-governmental partners to advocate for improvements in refugee protection and provide mutual support in developing activities based in the Rights in Exile tools
• Contribute to NGO consultations with UNHCR, participation in plenary meetings, organisation of side-meetings with participating legal aid organisations to further advocacy efforts, if possible, representation in panels and in coordinating the consultations
• Direct incoming emergency requests for assistance and information to appropriate external organisations and individuals that can address specific needs
• Liaise with other Rights in Exile supporters and AMERA Staff/Board to organise and provide training for refugee lawyers and advocates
• Maintain regular communication and updates on Rights in Exile across the organisation.

 

Qualification:

 

Advanced university degree in public international law, human rights law, asylum and refugee law, or related field.

 

Essential requirements :

 

• Minimum of three (3) years working experience in a refugee or human rights related field
• Knowledge of international refugee law
• Experience in advocacy and campaign development
• Experience in alliance and partnership building
• Analytical, research, and organisational skills
• Expertise in forced migration, refugee and asylum issues
• Well conversant with social justice issues in the global south
• Experience in managing a website, knowledge of HTML and working at the backend of a website
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written)
• Ability to work in a multicultural and diverse environment
• Ability to work alone as well as collaboratively and within a team
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Ability to work remotely
• Highly motivated, responsible, self-driven, and resourceful
• Committed and strongly motivated to achieve the objectives of the programmeDemonstrable commitment to social justice.

 

Desirable experience: 

 

• Experienced lawyer with practice in the provision of legal aid to refugees
• Experience in supervising legal staff and volunteers from diverse cultural backgrounds

 

Budget, type of contract and taxes:

 

The Rights in Exile Programme Coordinator will be contracted as a consultant for 12 months. The maximum budget for the project is £15,000, exclusive of travel and expenses. It is expected that the required time for this project is about 20 hours per week. AMERA has no responsibility for the payment of taxes and the consultant must ensure that they are responsible for the payment of income tax in accordance with the law of the country in which this work will be conducted.

 

Application process:

 

Applications will be assessed by the Board of Trustees of AMERA International. The key dates are below. Please submit a CV and a cover letter in a word or pdf format comprising the following:

 

• Your relevant experience;
• How you fulfil the requirements of this potion;
• Two referees.

 

Applications should be submitted by midnight on 27 June 2020 to tabea.dilling(at)amerainternational.org. Interviews will take place via Skype on 5 July 2020. Please contact Tabea Dilling on the above email if you have any questions.