The Advisor for Humanitarian Policy and External Engagement will work closely with the Director for Humanitarian Policy to contribute to Geneva-based awareness, knowledge and influence into our advocacy priorities. The post holder will build relationships with key stakeholders, including policy makers, thought leaders and other humanitarian NGOs for the purpose of increasing WVI’s access to and influence over the development of relevant humanitarian policy.
The Advisor will engage in Geneva-based coalitions, facilitate World Vision participation in Geneva-based events. The post holder will serve as a Geneva expert for the Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy team, reporting back on Geneva-based policy processes, critical donor and UN dialogues, and trends in humanitarian topics.
The Advisor will also support the Senior Director for External Engagement and Resource Development, based in Geneva, in their advocacy and external relations with Senior UN Representatives, Member States and NGO Coalition Leaders and Boards.
The Advisor is responsible for developing constructive working relationships and maintaining a network of UN, Member State and NGO contacts related to their area of work to effectively advance World Vision’s humanitarian policy priorities.
This position is part of the External Engagement and Resource Development division of HEA (HEERD) and is managed within the HEERD Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy team. It is located in the UN Liaison Office in Geneva reporting to the Director for Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy.
- Engage and influence Member States on humanitarian sector reform and refugee response reform to ensure they carry forward their commitments on humanitarian aid and the Global Compact on Refugees. In particular this role will focus on humanitarian financing; and on promoting and strengthening the rights to protection for children on the move.
- Engage and influence Member States in Geneva during crisis response to advocate for increase accountability for child rights, international humanitarian law, and for an effective, efficient and timely humanitarian response.
- Build constructive relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, policy makers, influencers and other humanitarian NGOs; and represent World Vision in Geneva based platforms and coalitions to increase World Vision’s access and influence over relevant humanitarian policy.
- Proactively engage with World Vision global colleagues on advocacy coordination and work closely with technical teams and field based counter-parts to develop policy and ensure advocacy in Geneva is rooted in technical and field experience.
- Identify and facilitate opportunities for senior World Vision staff to build relationships with top-level Geneva decision makers to directly advance World Vision’s thought leadership agenda in Geneva.
- Facilitate World Vision participation and leadership in Geneva-based events relevant to advancing the organisation’s global advocacy agenda, including UNHCR NGO consultations, ECOSOC/Humanitarian Affairs Segment, among others.
- 6 or more years relevant work experience considered without post-graduate degree). Candidates with first-hand experience of forced displacement and humanitarian financing are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Professional fluency in English.
- A sound overview of International Humanitarian Law and empirical knowledge of humanitarian sector and its derivate standards, guidelines and tools. Candidates with first-hand knowledge.
- In depth understanding of civil society leverage points throughout the Geneva-based humanitarian community including strong familiarity with relevant UN and coalition processes.
- Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent narratives that resonate with policy makers and peers.
Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
- Professional-level fluency in a second UN language (esp. French or Arabic).
- Experience in humanitarian operations, ideally in a context of forced displacement.
- Ability to think strategically, synthesize complex information and develop innovative policy approaches.
- Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate successfully with players in all segments of the humanitarian field, including high level decision-makers.
- Initiative and ability to work independently on fast-paced issues, tight deadlines and juggle competing demands.
- Proven capacity to achieve results through collaboration, leadership through influence and virtual teams.
- Ability to travel internationally including support to field programmes in remote and challenging environments.
Work Environment/Travel:
- The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time, including to humanitarian response environments.