Switzerland: Humanitarian Policy Advisor

Organization: Norwegian Refugee Council
Country: Switzerland
Closing date: 24 Nov 2014

NRC Geneva leads Norwegian Refugee Council’s representation and activities in Geneva, especially with the IASC mechanisms and UN agencies, as well as leading on humanitarian policy globally. NRC strives to assist and protect vulnerable and displaced people during crises, especially in situations of conflict. Established in 1946, NRC is an independent, humanitarian, non-profit, non-governmental organisation working in over 25 countries with approximately 4,500 staff. NRC employs a rights based approach, challenging those with responsibility to uphold the rights of displaced people set out within national and International Laws. NRC endeavours to secure the acceptance of local stakeholders for activities and is committed to the principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality.

NRC, with the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) advocates towards decision-makers at local, national, regional and global levels in order to obtain full respect for the rights of displaced and vulnerable people. Advocating with the United Nations, especially with protection mandated agencies, is a priority in order to strengthen humanitarian response. NRC seeks to engage with all relevant actors in order to secure and maintain access to displaced and vulnerable people, and promote the achievement of durable solutions.

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships.

Role and responsibilities

NRC requires an experienced Humanitarian Policy Advisor to be based in Geneva and coordinate NRC’s humanitarian policy work in the areas of risk management/counter-terrorism, humanitarian financing and with selected IASC processes. This work will be in support of the overall leadership of the Head of Humanitarian Policy and Director of NRC Geneva and in close collaboration with Oslo and country offices. The Advisor will also support fundraising efforts; coordination of projects; organisation of events; networking with internal and external stakeholders; and they will draft messages, briefing papers and other products as required. The Humanitarian Policy Advisor will be expected to work closely with other members of the Geneva humanitarian policy team under the management of the Head of Humanitarian Policy, and closely collaborate with other NRC departments and field offices, especially Field Operations and Organisational Development.

For the purposes of the counter-terrorism project, a variety of activities and products are contemplated for the production of an inter-agency Counter-terrorism tool-kit. These activities will mainly centre on European and North American capitals, with some field missions in the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. The Advisor will be expected to coordinate and contribute to these events as required.

Specific responsibilities

1) Project coordination and accountability

In support of the Head of Humanitarian Policy:

• · Coordinate the continued development and implementation of the NRC counter-terrorism and humanitarian action strategy including delivery of products and events
• · Seek opportunities to promote NRC’s humanitarian policy engagement on risk management/COTER and humanitarian financing and dissemination of products in Geneva and internationally
• · Ensure timely and regular circulation of information across NRC on activities, and keep updated NRC’s Head Office, Representation offices and programme staff on developments, debates and events within the international humanitarian sector on risk management/COTER and financing
• · Attend UN and other briefings in Geneva as requested, and represent NRC’s priorities as required
• · Actively seek out and draft fundraising proposals for the project.
• · Maintain budgets and ensure timely and appropriate reporting to donors.
• · Engage interns and manage work as required
• · Undertake other tasks as set by the Head of Humanitarian Policy.

2) Drafting and other

In support of the Head of Humanitarian Policy:

• · Draft talking points, briefs, papers, updates and other material as required for representation by NRC staff and management on risk management/COTER and humanitarian financing policy events or processes
• · Draft website updates and communications material as required
• · When requested, provide support to the NRC Europe, AU and Gulf Representation offices; Oslo Head Office and Regional/County Offices on broader humanitarian policy concerns, including attending UN and other briefings
• · Support the Director of Geneva with selected IASC processes and coordination mechanisms, including direct support for NRC’s Co-Chairing of the IASC Principled Humanitarian Action Task Team and participation in the IASC Humanitarian Financing Task Team
• · Provide support to Oslo HQ/the NRC Europe office and act as the Geneva focal point for the various standards, accountability and certification processes
• · Contribute to the positioning and representation of the organization

Generic professional competencies:

• · Three years work experience relating to humanitarian action, with expertise in international humanitarian law and/or policy
• · University degree in social science, human rights, law or other relevant field
• · Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• · Proven research, analytical and documentation skills
• · Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

Context/Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• · Understanding of the IASC, risk management or humanitarian financing
• · Coordination, networking and event organisation experience
• · Field experience with an humanitarian organisation is preferable
• · Proven project management experience, including with donor reporting and budget processes
• · Knowledge of or fluency in languages relevant for the position is an asset, especially French, Spanish and/or Arabic.

How to apply:

Please note that NRC can only consider applications that are registered on NRC's Webcruiter .
The Webcruiter can be accessed through the vacancy page on NRC's website:

http://www.nrc.no/?aid=9127676