Regional Advocacy Coordinator

Asia Region, Dhaka - Bangladesh 

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Regional Advocacy Coordinator for our Asia Region. 

A commitment to protection is at the core of DRC’s mission. The Regional Advocacy Coordinator is the organisation’s regional expert within the advocacy sector. In the Asia region (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar), protection concerns facing refugees, returnees, IDPs, as well as mixed migrant groups, are central to informing DRC’s programme and policy interventions. The purpose of the Regional Advocacy Coordinator is to play a leading role in shaping and driving regional/multi-country advocacy strategies to scale DRC’s programme impact and contribute to policy development and/or implementation and fundraising efforts.  

 About the job 

The position provides advocacy leadership and technical support, engaging DRC country programmes in the Asia region, as well as the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP) and the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC – Asia), ensuring that the programmatic response, research, and analysis that is generated is translated into concrete policy recommendations and subsequently disseminated through appropriate channels.  

  Your main duties and responsibilities will be: 

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT (10 %)  

• Develop, in consultation with Regional Protection, CO Heads of Programme, ADSP and MMC-Asia a regional advocacy strategy, theory of change, and work plan, in line with the global advocacy and protection priorities.   

• Provide technical support to Country Offices and ADSP to develop their own strategies and work plans.    

DURABLE SOLUTIONS (20 %)  

• Analyze and prioritize key actionable Durable Solutions recommendations to guide CO interventions and advocacy towards regional decision makers across the peace-building, humanitarian, human rights and development spheres  

• Share and document best practice on implementation of durable solutions programming. 

• Develop and implement training and guidance on durable solutions, in line with the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons, IASC guidelines and other tools to build collective awareness and understanding of principles relating to DS.  

• Facilitate collective monitoring of progress towards DS across the region, in support of planning, implementation and advocacy around durable solutions.  

TECHNICAL SUPPORT & ANALYSIS (35%)  

• Work closely with the Regional and CO Heads of Programme as well as ADSP and MMC, to ensure DRC policy positions are grounded in programme realities, that advocacy efforts support programmatic outcomes, and assess and advise on risk identification and mitigation within the regional and country specific strategies.  

• Suggest actions to national policy responses and policy frameworks, as well as other factors such as UN coordination, funding for the response, security and current and future challenges that have an impact on displaced populations and their access to humanitarian assistance and protection services.  

• Provide high quality analysis and lead the production of analytical reports, thematic research, policy products on the themes of interest identified and as per agreed workplan.   

• Actively contribute to the production and dissemination of ADSP and MMC briefing notes, policy papers, analytical reports, press statements, and other advocacy products.  

• Provide advice to country office advocacy staff including providing capacity building and training, supporting strategy and theory of change development and ensuring that key local priorities travel to the regional and global level.  

• Develop tools and processes to effectively share analyses, reports and meeting notes with the Asia RO and COs.  

• In collaboration with CO MEAL teams, support the monitoring and evaluation processes of advocacy work and ensure that advocacy implementation and impact are effectively monitored and evaluated.   

• Coordinate with CO, RO, and HQ levels, Business Development and Awards teams to ensure that advocacy is included in project proposals as much as possible and required resources are adequately budgeted for.  

COORDINATION & REPRESENTATION: (15%)  

External  

• Participate in regular Asia-wide advocacy coordination discussions and develop regular briefs and reporting on policy and advocacy activities and achievements.  

• Participate in relevant regional INGO forums to represent DRC’s policy positions as delegated, and report back.  

• Promote and maintain strong and productive working relationships with key actors in the region as agreed with the RHoP to ensure DRC has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and policy initiatives in the region, as well as relevant policy developments related to mixed migration.  

• Participate in ADSP- and MMC-organised meetings, briefings, workshops, conferences, and learning events for key regional actors (ASEAN, ASEAN member states, institutional donors, UN, NGOs, etc.).  

Internal  

• Work closely with the Regional Communications Coordinator to support and advise on public campaigns and to make optimal use of national and international media to influence key advocacy targets and public opinion.  

• Maintain an advocacy calendar with key moments and key opportunities for advocacy.  

• Participate in monthly meetings with the different DRC Representational offices and HQ to represent the Asia RO asks and provide the region with updates on ongoing and imminent policy initiatives led by HQ to inform regional planning accordingly.   

• Undertake and/or commission research, alongside ADSP and/or MMC on specific issues to inform present and future advocacy choices and to build DRC’s position.  

• In collaboration with the RHoP/RD, lead the strategic framing of and coordinate support to high-level visits to the Asia region.  

ALLIANCES & PARTNERSHIPS (10%)  

• Alongside ADSP and MMC, identify the scope for, design and manage regional advocacy initiatives/events.  

• Follow international and global policy and advocacy opportunities – in collaboration with DRC Representations in Geneva and Brussels – and suggest key advocacy opportunities and targets at regional and international levels (linking macro-regional-micro)   

• Establish strategic networks and alliances for policy and advocacy activities.   

• Develop and nurture relations with key advocacy coordination groups, organisations and forums (EG: AHAP, APRRN, AICHAR)   

• Work closely with other organisations to develop joint advocacy initiatives when and as relevant.  

CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL EFFORTS (10 %):  

• Develop clear recommendations on how to engage with global processes of interest to the work of the Asia RO at regional level, proposing activities, defining milestones and expected outcomes.   

• Provide analysis of and suggestions for national policy responses and policy frameworks within the Asia region.  

• Support the roll-out of global advocacy policies and guidelines in collaboration with the External Relations Unit in HQ.  

• Act as the interface between countries and HQ/External Relations Unit and DRC Representatives in Geneva and Brussels.  

About you 

To be successful in this role we expect you to Minimum 5 years of senior working experience in Advocacy and Policy analysis and development at field level for an I/NGO Moreover, we also expect the following:  

Required  

• Experience within and knowledge about displacement issues including refugee, IDP and vulnerable persons related international regimes and national policies   

• Experience of influencing, policy development and information provision on humanitarian and development issues  

• Extensive knowledge of refugee rights and international humanitarian and human rights law.  

• Understanding of UN and donor operations at country and regional level.  

• High level analytical and strategic thinking skills.  

• Contextual knowledge of the Asia region, particularly of the conflict dynamics in Afghanistan and Myanmar as well as the Mixed migration trends in South and South East Asia preferred.  

• Cultural awareness and ability to build relationships and alliances quickly with a wide variety of people.  

• Patience, adaptability, flexibility, ability 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.  

• Good IT command   

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:   

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.   

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.   

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.   

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.   

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. 

We offer 

Contract length: 2 years 

Band: F non-management 

Designation of Duty Station: Unaccompanied, non-family duty station 

Start date: 15 July 

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact anne.moenster@drc.ngo. 

Application process 

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered. 

Closing date for applications: 06/06/2021 

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.