Latin America Region Policy & Advocacy Officer

Mexico City

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Mexico City
Grade: Junior level - Junior
Occupational Groups:
- Legal - Broad
- Political Affairs
- Communication and Public Information
Closing Date: Closed

The Policy and Advocacy Officer is charged with strategically positioning IRC on key humanitarian policy debates in the Latin American region and raising its profile locally, regionally and internationally. As a member of the P&A team, working in partnership with the Latin America Regional Support teams, s/he will implement policy initiatives and work to: support country teams in removing bureaucratic, political and other barriers that prevent or impede program delivery; build the capacity of country program teams to advocate on priority issues; speak out in capitals on the realities encountered in our day-to-day work; and advocate for long-term solutions for displaced peoples as they move from conflicts to camps or urban settlements, resettlement, or repatriation. The Officer will engage in high level direct advocacy with government officials and international leaders and develop routine, high-quality content for external audiences.

Scope of work

•Using real-time, credible data, facilitate the development and implementation of influencing strategies and policies within the region in coordination with country programs and regional teams; ensuring consistency in messaging and information flow from the local to global arena

•Support representation of the IRC in regional fora, think tanks, policy institutes, and develop or strengthen networks/alliances to push forward topics of shared concern within the humanitarian community – bridging understanding of key issues from the local/national, to regional, to global level

•Support IRC engagement in an expanded and coordinated dialogue about improvements to international humanitarian and development architecture and corresponding systems and tools

Language Requirements: Fluency in both written & verbal Spanish & English.

Specific responsibilities

•Collaborate with Policy and Advocacy colleagues, the Crisis Response, Recovery and Development (CRRD) unit, and staff in the Latin America region, the U.S. and Europe, to design and implement advocacy strategies that are derived from the data and knowledge generated by IRC’s diverse programs, and that seek to raise awareness and influence decision makers to adopt effective solutions for identified operational challenges and country-based priorities

•Coordinate qualitative research projects within the region to ensure that advocacy themes are crafted around new evidence being generated

•Translate operational and country-specific strategies into global level priorities, including around violations of International Humanitarian Law, humanitarian access, and civilian protection, and advance them in global capitals in coordination with Policy and Advocacy staff across portfolios

•Work across the organization to align policy and advocacy work with programs, communications and the organizational strategy

•Build and nurture direct relationships and dialogue with high-level government policy and decision-makers and leaders within international organizations who have the power to change policy and influence practice

•Develop and maintain active working relationships with policy and advocacy colleagues in IRC partner organizations and other INGOs, and explore formal or semi-formal partnership opportunities with policy and research institutions

•Represent the IRC at high-level policy-related meetings, committees and fora with donors and key policymakers, including writing, speaking and presenting IRC's unique analysis and solutions on relevant issues

•Closely track policy debates and ensure relevant information is disseminated to colleagues throughout the IRC

•Support the team's Crisis Analyst in delivery of analysis products that support the IRC's international programs policy and advocacy agenda

•Other related duties as assigned

Key working relationships:

•Position reports directly to the Senior Director for CRRD Policy and Advocacy; and indirectly to the Deputy Regional Director for Latin America.

•Other Internal and/or external contacts: Policy and Advocacy (in particular the Resettlement, Asylum and Integration team) and CRRD colleagues (in the LatAm Region, Washington, DC as well as NY, London, Geneva, Brussels and other capitals); Humanitarian Action, Communications; President’s Office

Requirements:

•At least five years of experience in delivering policy and advocacy objectives responding to humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict environments; understanding of international humanitarian issues affecting populations in crisis and operational contexts

•Excellent analytical, presentation, communication and writing skills; experience drafting high-quality policy and advocacy materials and other documents, such as reports and briefs

•Creativity, ability to apply innovative thinking and problem solving skills

•Fluency in Spanish and English (written and spoken)

•Willingness and ability to travel to remote sites under challenging conditions

•Ability to work well in unstable security environments, and under significant administrative and programmatic pressures

•Lived experience with conflict or crisis-driven displacement, resettlement, asylum, immigration or migration is an asset in this role

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, Egalite, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.

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This vacancy is now closed.
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