Regional Context Analyst

Beirut | Erbil | Amman | Tunis

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Beirut | Erbil | Amman | Tunis
Grade: Junior level - Junior
Occupational Groups:
Closing Date: Closed

In Syria, more than a decade of conflict and crisis has forced people from their homes and increasingly into acute poverty. Millions more have become refugees in neighboring Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. In Iraq, tens of thousands of IDPs and returnees struggle to access durable solutions. While in Lebanon and Libya, political turmoil continues to have a negative impact on vulnerable people’s access to basic services. Across the region communities are grappling with the effects of declining economies, high youth unemployment and rising food insecurity, all more recently compounded by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IRC responds to people’s acute and longer-term needs with integrated programs that improve health and safety, prioritize children’s education, foster economic wellbeing, and empower communities to regain control over their lives. Our work gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, conflict sensitivity, coordination, and impact.

Position summary

With a dual reporting line to the IRC’s MENA Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications and the Regional Safety and Security Director, the Regional Context Analyst will provide comprehensive analytical support and advice to IRC in the Middle East & North Africa Region (MENA, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Libya). The incumbent will provide predictive analysis by examining the impact of political, security and military developments on displaced and conflict-affected populations and on IRC programs and operations in order to support strategic decision-making at the country program, regional and headquarter levels. By delivering analytical briefings and leading efforts to embed analysis into decision-making, this position will enhance the effectiveness of IRC’s programs, operations and, policy and advocacy initiatives undertaken to assist those affected by the conflict in the region.

Responsibilities

Support Strategic Decision-Making

• Serve as technical advisor on conflict and contextual analysis across MENA, leading cultural change that puts conflict and contextual analysis at the heart of IRC’s strategic thinking and operations.

• Monitor and assess prevailing trends in the political, security and socio-economic situation in the region, identify and evaluate implications for IRC’s programs, operational posture and risk management strategies, and produce actionable policy briefs for IRC leadership. Ensure that reporting has analytical rigor and is benchmarked internally and/or externally.

• Support Country Programs to map and understand shifting operating contexts for the purpose of policy & advocacy and security risk mitigation.

• Advise key colleagues in the Country Programs (including Country Directors and Deputy Directors) to ensure that analysis guides decision-making and the strategic impact of significant developments are assessed on a regular basis.

• Establish and lead a Community of Practice across the region to ensure that analysis is driven by colleagues who are closest to the context and clients.

• Deliver training or organize workshops to build the capacity of Country Programs to maintain situational awareness and develop their contextual understanding in a structured manner.

Policy, Advocacy & Communications:

• Lead initiatives to integrate qualitative and quantitative methodologies to produce comprehensive analyses to guide IRC policy positions and decision-making.

• Assist in the development of messaging and policy asks that are appropriate and timely given the situation in the region, and which are informed by a strong understanding of the varying agendas at play. Review outputs from the Policy, Advocacy and Communications team to ensure that the content is contextually relevant.

• As required, provide briefings on the situation in MENA to key internal and external stakeholders, including leadership in New York, journalists, donors and high-profile visitors.

• Contribute to new initiatives, including expanding regional programs and exploring regional fundraising avenues, devised to enhance IRC’s strategy, position and effectiveness in the region. For example, providing context analysis on a country that the IRC is considering entering.

• Identify, consolidate and maintain a network of contacts from other INGOs, CSOs, UN agencies, think-tanks, analytical networks inside and outside the MENA, as well as regional analysts and community-based organizations.

Humanitarian Access & Security:

• Engage regularly with the Regional Safety and Security Director and Humanitarian Access personnel to ensure sharing of information and analysis between country programs and the regional office.

• Support the Humanitarian Access & Security team to ensure their contextual updates are high quality and analytically sound. Support scenario planning and contingency planning efforts in the Country Programs.

• During periods of heightened tensions, support the team in providing regular updates to leadership in collaboration with the Policy, Advocacy and Communications team.

• Provide input on key Humanitarian Access and Security tools/reports such as Security Risk Assessments, Security Management Plans, Daily Situation Reports.

• Support the RSSD in analyzing trends in security incidents and access challenges across the region for response and planning purposes.

• Support RSSD in due diligence efforts on potential donors, visitors and other individuals/organizations as requested by MENA leadership.

Key working relationships

* Position Reports to: Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications and Regional Safety & Security Director

* Key internal relationships: MENA Regional Communications Manager, MENA Regional Media Manager MENA Regional Vice President, Country Directors and country program staff, PAC Coordinators, Humanitarian Access and Security Coordinators and IRC US/UK Policy & Advocacy and Communications colleagues

* Key external relationships: Public and private donor agencies, international and national NGOs, UN agencies.

Requirements

• Degree in Government, Political Science, International Relations, Strategic Studies, or related discipline.

• At least 3 – 5 years of directly relevant professional experience.

• Knowledge of global humanitarian system and/or a specific region experiencing conflict and multiple and frequent humanitarian crises.

• Demonstrated ability to research, analyze, write and edit documents on tight deadline, of highest quality and in response to requests that come on short notice, and keen interest in a career that requires regular writing assignments.

• Excellent networking, interpersonal, communication, relationship-building and negotiation skills and an ability to cultivate and maintain a personal network of sources and contacts working in similar or related fields.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of colleagues in IRC and externally to build trust that sensitive information will be handled with discretion.

• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, delivering high-quality products in a high-pressure environment.

• Ability to persuade and influence colleagues not under supervisory authority.

• Some knowledge of statistical systems and methodologies is desirable.

• A demonstrated understanding of political complexities in the Middle East.

• Culturally sensitive - able and interested in working with a multi-diverse team.

• Strong commitment to the IRC’s mission, purpose and values.

• Fluency in English is essential both oral and written; Arabic language ability is strongly preferred.

* Strong verbal presentation skills and ability to tailor briefings to audiences of varying seniority from staff in the Country Programs to the IRC’s CEO.

• Must be willing and able to travel frequently within the region.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality 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 Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

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