Advocacy Manager, Erbil, IRAQ

REQUIRED PROFILE

- At least 5 years of professional experience 

- At least 3 years of professional experience in advocacy, communication and/or inclusion and human rights issues, in NGOs and/or institutions. 

- Previous experience in humanitarian contexts is mandatory

- Previous experience in Iraq or in another Middle Eastern country is a strong asset

- Previous experience with HI is an asset

- Proven representation experience

- Very strong communication skills

- Very strong writing and reporting skills

- Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills

- Ability to work under high pressure 

- English native speaker or excellent English speaker (both oral and written). 

- Arabic and/or Kurdish would be a strong asset

- French would be an asset

NGO DESCRIPTION

Handicap International is an independent and impartial aid and development organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside disabled and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. 

For further information about the association: http://www.handicap-international.org 

Present in more than 55 countries, Handicap International is composed of 2 operational divisions:

- The Humanitarian Action Division

- The Development Action Division

 

MISSION CONTEXT

 

Since the offensives of the group Islamic State (IS) in 2014, Iraq has been facing an internal armed conflict and a double humanitarian crisis, with high numbers of Iraqi internally-displaced people (IDPs) and Syrian refugees in need of humanitarian assistance. In 2015 the ongoing armed clashes have caused further waves of displacement. In January 2016, there were 3,290,000 recorded IDPs and 245,000 Syrian refugees in Iraq. 

Access to the displaced populations remains the main challenge. Most of the IDPs have settled out of the camps (both in urban and rural areas), are widely spread and move frequently among different host communities. In addition, Conventional Weapons (CW) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) continue to impose a devastating human toll in Iraq. In contaminated areas, local populations, IDPs and returning populations are all at risk of death and injury. It is estimated that an average of 324 IED incidents occur on a monthly basis.

Kirkuk governorate is currently hosting around 380,000 IDPs; most of them have received little humanitarian assistance during 2014 and the first half of 2015, in part due to access and security concerns for humanitarian actors. Diyala governorate hosts 112,000 IDPs and 90,000 returnees and has the second highest number of war-wounded civilians in Iraq (100 / 200 wounded monthly in the last months of 2015). Humanitarian needs are also very high in Baghdad governorate, which has the highest number of IDPs (around 580,000) and war-wounded civilians (600 / 700 monthly) in Iraq. 

The armed conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Iraq will continue throughout 2016. The most likely scenario includes the following elements: protracted conflict with periods of stalemate and localized battles for the control of key cities; new waves of displacement of new IDPs; intensification of the humanitarian needs of IDPs in protracted displacement; gradual return of part of the current IDPs. 

 

MISSION DESCRIPTION

 

Handicap International (HI) started its activities in Iraq in 1991.

HI’s strategy in Iraq for 2016 includes 3 main components:

-Long-term development projects: support to civil society, access to services for persons with disabilities, community-based rehabilitation.

-Emergency response for Internally Displaced Persons, returnees and vulnerable host communities.

-Mine Action: risk education, victim assistance, survey and clearance of contaminated areas.

 

HI has currently four offices in Iraq:

 

-Erbil coordination office

-Kirkuk field office (covering Kirkuk governorate and Tuz Khurmato district)

-Kalar field office (covering Kalar district and Diyala governorate)

-Suleymaniyeh support office

 

In addition, HI is planning to start activities in Baghdad through two Iraqi NGOs in the first half of 2016. HI is currently working on the registration process with the Iraq federal government in Baghdad. HI is considering the possibility of opening a field office in Baghdad once the registration is completed.

 

In 2016, HI has identified three potential areas for advocacy work in Iraq:

 

a)Advocacy on inclusion, disability rights, and access to services: HI has already worked hard on advocacy for persons with disabilities in Iraq in the past and is willing to do more in 2016.

 

b)Advocacy on mine action: the use of landmines and IEDs, and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, are main advocacy issues for HI at global level. HI’s Iraq mission might contribute to HI’s campaigns with Iraq-specific information and issues.

 

c)Advocacy on protection and International Humanitarian Law (IHL): HI is one of the focal points for the Rapid Protection Assessment (RPA) mechanism in Iraq. The collected information might be used for advocacy initiatives on key violations.

 

 

MAIN RESPONSABILITIES OF THE EXPATRIATE 

 

Base: Erbil, with regular travel to other areas 

Line management: Head of Mission

Collaboration with: Technical Unit Coordinator, Technical Officer, Humanitarian Operations Coordinator, Development Operations Coordinator, Project Managers, Advocacy focal points at HQ, Regional Communication Advisor   

 

MAIN RESPONSABILITIES OF THE POSITION 

 

•Develop and implement a humanitarian advocacy strategy for Iraq, in collaboration with the Head of Mission, the mission teams, and the advocacy focal points at HQ.   

•Develop relationships with a network of key contacts in Iraq, including NGOs, UN agencies, national authorities, donor agencies and governments, human rights organisations, and other relevant stakeholders. 

•Draft key messages, policy briefings, articles, speaking points and testimonies of cases relevant to regional advocacy objectives, in collaboration with the Regional Communication Advisor.

•Ensure coherent links and collaboration with the HQ Advocacy Unit.

•Ensure regular links to HI’s field staff with at least monthly field visits, in order to feed HI’s advocacy with concrete issues and testimonies.

 

JOB CONDITIONS 

 

- Status: salaried contract with salary according to experience

- Start: September 2016 

- Duration: 3 months, with possibility of renewal (depending on funding)

- Living conditions: guesthouse shared with other expatriates (no charges)

- Security conditions: low level of insecurity in Erbil, intermediate level of insecurity in Kirkuk and Diyala.

- Social insurance: 100% covered

To apply please follow this link: https://hi.profilsearch.com/recrute/fr/fo_annonce_voir.php?id=1622&idpartenaire=142