Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in some 40 countries, providing emergency relief and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through 28 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient. The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.
IRC IN DEUTSCHLAND
IRC Deutschland was established in 2016 with a view to providing technical assistance and capacity enhancement support to state and non-state actors in the domestic refugee response, as well as to contribute to the thought leadership and policy dialogue on international humanitarian and development issues. Focus areas include education, labor market integration as well as protection. IRC Deutschland currently has a staff of 13 full-time employees across two offices (in Berlin and Bonn) and works with 12 project partners across 15 locations in 8 federal states.
IRC IN EUROPE
Our European headquarters, IRC-UK, were established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment, IRC - UK has grown rapidly and is now acknowledged for its high quality project management, technical expertise in economic recovery programmes, emergency response, and innovative thinking on early recovery and gender based violence. The IRC also has offices in Brussels, Berlin, Geneva, a sister organization in The Hague, and programme offices in the Balkans, Greece and Italy (in addition to Germany).
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) seeks a
Women’s Protection and Empowerment Policy and Advocacy Adviser
- Reports to: Head of Policy & Violence Prevention and Response Unit Location: Berlin or Bonn, Germany
- Salary: € 60,000
- Hours: 40 hours/week
THE POLICY & ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT
The core purpose of the Policy and Advocacy Department is to increase the IRC’s influence and profile, developing the IRC as a thought leader in Europe that can drive transformational change in the humanitarian sector. We aim to drive policy change to improve outcomes for people living in, and displaced by, conflict and crisis.
Violence Prevention and Response Unit (VPRU)
The IRC has made a commitment to addressing violence against women and girls across the organisation through programming, advocacy and public engagement. The Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Team is part of the wider Violence Prevention Response Unit and supports 26 country programs to facilitate the healing, dignity and self-determination of women and girls who have experienced violence. The team works alongside women and girls to transform their lives and to make their voices heard in pursuit of a safer, more equitable world. The IRC works in partnership with communities and institutions to promote and protect women’s and girl’s rights and to empower them to enjoy those rights. The IRC is also a leader in spearheading advocacy on this issue globally and in Europe, and engaging the public to take action in support of women and girls. Women’s protection and empowerment is one of the IRC - Europe’s key strategic priorities, and in the past four years the organisation has established itself in the UK and Europe as a ‘go to’ organisation in this area. Building on IRC’s expertise and track record this post will prioritise WPE policy and advocacy objectives in Germany, while maintaining engagement across other European targets including the UK, Sweden and EU institutions.
The Policy & Practice UK Department
Policy & Practice is a dynamic team combining our communications, policy and advocacy, and technical unit expertise in Europe. Its core purpose is to raise and develop the IRC as a thought leader in Europe and drive transformational change in the humanitarian sector, and specifically to dramatically increase the productivity of humanitarian aid and its ability to achieve outcomes for people living in and displaced by conflict and crisis.
The Purpose of the Role
Based in IRC Deutschlands office, the IRC WPE Policy and Advocacy Adviser will be part of a small, dynamic policy and advocacy team located in London a d Brussels. This role will work closely with the VPRU team in HQ and WPE staff in the field to support policy and practice that will ensure lasting and transformational change in women’s and girls’ lives. This position will increase IRC’s visibility in Germany and across Europe an targets and leverage the IRC’s technical expertise to mobilise European decision-makers to take action on women’s protection and empowerment. This position will be embedded in IRC Deutschland’s growing office in Berlin, participating in team meetings and building on pre-existing relationships with the German Federal Foreign Office to, spearhead the design and implementation of a new WPE advocacy strategy to influence Germany’s humanitarian policy and practice to ensure it reflects the needs, voices and solutions of women and girls, particularly around responding to and preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in emergencies.
Scope and Authority
Authority:
The WPE Policy Advisor will report to the UK Head of Policy, based in Lon don, with a functional line to the VPRU Team and ongoing coordination and communication with the Project Director of the ‘What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’ research project. The position will work closely with the Managing Director of IRC Deutschland, the Head of the IRC Brussels office and advocacy colleagues in UK and Sweden. This post will also liaise with the WPE Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer in Washington DC, as well as WPE technical advisors, technical specialists (including IRC Deutschland’s protection specialist), field programmes (WPE coordinators) and as well as other staff in IRC working on protection issues. The position will also work closely with IRC fundraising, communications and media teams to build awareness with the UK and European public.
Responsibility for Resources:
The WPE Policy and Advocacy Advisor is also responsible for implementing the European Policy and Advocacy Pillar within the IRC- Irish Aid partnership on GBV in emergencies and any similar partnerships on women’s and girls’ protection and empowerment advocacy that are created in Europe . As such, she is responsible for grant management, budget implementation, advocacy activities, field support, production of learning and reporting related to this partnership.
Key Working Relationships
- Line manager: Head of Policy, UK
- Co-supervision VPRU
- Communication/collaboration with:
- Policy and Advocacy team
- What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’ team
- Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) TAs, Coordinators and specialists
- IRC Deutschland
- Brussels Office and other European focal points
- WPE Field staff
- Communications and media staff
- Other technical units
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Strategy development and implementation ( 30 %)
- Work with the European policy and advocacy team, IRC Deutschland and the WPE Team to spearhead a German policy change agenda and advocacy strategy.
- Assess progress to date, develop and/or update the wider European WPE advocacy strategy (particularly around sub-objectives, targets, asks and messages related to the UK, Sweden and the Europe an Union), including clear indicators of success and progress to date.
- Develop advocacy messaging and strategy, including media and communications, around WPE priority countries/emergencies and the IRC’s global WPE work in Europe.
- Develop a phased implementation plan, including sharing new learning, reports and evaluations from the field.
- Ensure that there is coherence between the strategies of the IRC, IRC - UK, Brussels office and the WPE Technical Unit on WPE related issues.
- Draft and/or present occasional updates to the Board on the progress of the WPE strategy.
Representation, networking and profile building (30 %)
- Conduct advocacy with high-level German and European advocacy targets on WPE (particularly GIZ, BMZ, DfID, Irish Aid, ECHO, SIDA, EU), and provide support and train other staff conducting such advocacy.
- Act as main liaison and responsible person for WPE advocacy with key advocacy partners/donors that fund WPE advocacy in Europe (such as the Irish Aid Partnership on GBV in emergencies).
- Identify and represent IRC at German/European networks, fora, conferences and events, and seek similar opportunities for IRC field staff & technical staff.
- Work closely with technical staff to produce materials for advocacy (reports, papers, advocacy briefs, op-eds, blogposts), communications and media on the IRC’s WPE learning, approach and research.
- Advise and input into key communications materials (website, information, materials, annual report).
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of women’s rights organisations, networks and movements in UK/Europe including the Gender and Development network (GADN) and GAPS UK.
Technical policy guidance/advice (30 %)
- Active and ongoing technical involvement in donor policy, including attending or convening consultations/events, feeding into policy documents and participating in/initiating policy development forums.
- Support IRC Deutschland’s fundraising, communications and media to develop compelling and coherent campaigns highlighting key priorities such as comprehensive approaches to tackling violence against women and girls, violence against adolescent girls, the IRC’s approach to WPE in emergencies
- Support the ‘What Works’ team in research uptake
- Work closely with European and global advocates and country programmes on the inclusion of women and girls’ protection and empowerment needs within IRC global advocacy priorities and strategies and develop appropriate joint strategies and activities; join monthly advocacy calls, calls on specific priorities and regional/international meetings.
- Work closely with the WPE Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer in DC and the wider Advocacy Team to develop proactive policy positions on WPE , ensuring IRC’s programmes and research findings on WPE inform wider IRC policy.
- Respond to requests and be proactive in offering donors and policy-makers technical presentations, trainings and materials.
- Lead on all strategic relationship management and technical policy work informing WPE/GBV partnerships that include and fund WPE advocacy in Europe (such as the Irish Aid Partnership on GBV in emergencies and the SIDA partnership on Call to Action), working closely with IPT and WPE advisors in related countries/positions.
Other (10 %)
- Grant Management of Irish Aid and other institutional grants in partnership with the Award Management Team (AMU), including managing budgets, writing narrative report and assessing impact against logframes.
- Lead and/or participate in events and campaigns related to Women’s Protection and Empowerment in the Germany and Europe, depending on their relation to WPE advocacy priorities.
- Identify and contribute to funding opportunities for advocacy, both for field programmes as well as for advocacy activities)
- Provide regular updates and analysis of German, UK and EU policy developments to UK and international staff such as the VPRU.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:
- Masters degree in public policy, international relations, gender studies or a related field.
- Deep knowledge of technical protection issues and gender theory and practice, particularly violence against women and girls and women’s rights in humanitarian and fragile settings,
- Excellent understanding of humanitarian aid, including key policy issues.
- Excellent knowledge of women’s rights.
- Excellent ability to communicate effectively in German and English, both verbally and in writing; strong presentation skills.
- Strong networking skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work in close collaboration with team members and remote field offices
- Good analytical skills, and first-class attention to detail
- Commitment to team work
- Highly motivated self-starter
- Flexibility
- The right to work in Germany
Experience:
- At least 5 years’ experience of working on women’s protection, gender-based violence and/or Women’s Protection and Empowerment issues in an international development context (either programming and/or policy).
- At least 3 years experience in policy and advocacy, preferably related to gender-based violence, women’s rights or humanitarian assistance or in women’s protection and empowerment programming.
- Experience working with German donors and policy-makers, preferably in a policy and advocacy function.
- Experience of working with UK and European donors such as ECHO and DFID, preferably in a policy and advocacy function.
Desirable
- Experience in implementing protection, GBV and women’s empowerment programming in a humanitarian aid context.
- Experience working in other related humanitarian protection areas (refugee/migrant protection, child protection, etc).
- French language skills
- Experience of public speaking and working with the media (including writing and broadcast interviews)
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wpe_policy_advisor_jd_nov_2017_final_english.pdf Berlin, Deutschland