Advocacy Coordinator At Danish Refugee Council

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1- Background

Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and its Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding technical unit – the Danish Demining Group (DDG), has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015. DRC Nigeria is the largest DRC country mission in the West Africa region and one of the largest DRC country missions globally. Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in the areas of armed violence reduction, humanitarian mine action, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 30+ Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno and Adamawa states in northeast Nigeria.

2- Purpose

The Advocacy Coordinator will be responsible for engaging key stakeholders to work on a diverse range of advocacy and policy issues that impact the effectiveness of DRCs programmes in support of the most vulnerable populations in Nigeria. Accordingly, the Advocacy Coordinator will guide DRC’s strategic positioning, technical policy development and implementation of advocacy work in Nigeria. Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Advocacy Advisor will be responsible for setting up and pushing forward the implementation of the DRC Nigeria’s advocacy strategy and to further develop DRC-Nigeria’s advocacy work. They will liaise with DRC’s regional and global advocacy teams as well as being the focal point for DRC Nigeria on external communications.

3- Duties and Responsibilities

1) Advocacy

• Maintain oversight and lead on the development and implementation of DRC Nigeria’s advocacy strategy and plan.
• Alert the Country Director, Head of Programme and Regional Advocacy Coordinator to relevant policy developments and provide high quality analysis on key humanitarian, durable solutions and displacement trends, preparing evidenced-based policy briefing papers, policy position statements, talking points and other public-facing advocacy products when strategic and relevant (with inputs into HQ/Regional initiatives, LHIF meetings, as well as key cluster/working groups, UN &/or donor and line ministry specific meetings/visits, etc.)
• Ensure advocacy coherence and reinforce effective synergies between programmes and advocacy by working closely with programme staff to integrate advocacy into programme planning and implementation.
• Liaise with key DRC partners, line ministries, UN, NGO, and other interlocutors in Nigeria to ensure DRC has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and response in the region.
• Participate in and support the relevant working groups of the Advocacy network, including supporting the planning and drafting of relevant products such as key messaging and briefings.
• Review materials related to Nigeria produced by DRC regional or headquarter teams to ensure consistency with DRC Nigeria policy positions and vice versa.
• Support the Head of Programmes, Technical Coordinators and Sector Managers to articulate/identify priority advocacy objectives, support in the development of sectoral policy briefs and messaging. Use evidence to inform advocacy priorities and positions.
• In coordination with the Head of Programme, Sector Manager and Technical Coordinator, ensure protection trends on priority areas of concern are analyzed and advocacy/policy briefs produced – including through the analysis of the DRC integrated assessment data. If relevant complement in – house data with commissioned academic or policy research by external parties.
• Suggest actions to national policy responses and policy frameworks, as well as other factors such as UN coordination, funding for the response, security and access, and current and future challenges that have an impact on humanitarian assistance and related services.
• Contribute to the DRC’s global and regional advocacy strategies and initiatives, ensuring that the DRC Nigeria specificities are reflected and captured.
• Ensure DRC’s regional office, headquarters, Brussels, and Geneva representation offices are in line with DRC Nigeria advocacy strategy and understand and promote its asks.
• Participate in, and conduct research to prepare for global advocacy joint calls on Nigeria and provide information and advocacy messages relating to the context.
• Organize regular private and public advocacy events to ensure DRC’s advocacy messages are shared with relevant stakeholders and DRC’s profile on key issue is raised.

2) Communications & Media

• Advise on media lines and media/communications strategy, ensuring potential risks associated with DRC’s positions are assessed and sign-off procedures are adhered to at all times. Liaise where required with DRC’s global press unit.
• Day to day supervision and support the activities of DRC Nigeria Communication Officer.
• Support the Communications Officer in the development of a communications strategy, ensuring communication materials/content is aligned with DRC Nigeria’s advocacy strategy and messaging.
• Support the Communications Officer in the production of communication products/SoPs as well as digital content/materials (e.g., fact sheets, stories, photos, blogs, social media posts).
• Act as the focal point for media/communications and safeguard DRC’s overall brand and identity

3) Additional Responsibilities

• Act as the focal point for externally commissioned research and policy briefs.
• Support programme staff in incorporating and integrating advocacy into all aspects of DRC’s programme activities, strategy, and budgeting.
• Ensure systematic training in advocacy, communication, and humanitarian principles – building capacity of key technical staff.
• Proactively participate in Senior Management (SMT) meetings.
• Represent DRC in advocacy, policy and coordination meetings or as otherwise delegated by the Country Director.

4- Qualifications

• At least 5 years of professional experience crafting and delivering policy and advocacy work responding to complex humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict situations.
• Strong understanding of the political and humanitarian context in Nigeria or the West Africa Region.
• Professional knowledge about protection principles and advocacy, and the use of media for public advocacy.
• Ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
• Understanding of the UN and international donor landscape, including challenges and constraints in Nigeria.
• Solid understanding of policy processes relating to forced displacement/refugee rights, migration, humanitarian response framework and international humanitarian law.
• Documented/proven results related to the position’s responsibilities, particularly in analysis, drafting of messages,
• Strong negotiation/influencing skills in coordination and networking in particular with UN, INGO, donors and humanitarian coordination forums.
• Strong communication (written and spoken), and interpersonal skills, with experience in coordinating multicultural teams.
• Commitment to Danish Refugee Council values.

5- General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request

6- Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor