AIDA Policy & Advocacy Coordinator

The Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) is a membership body and coordination forum of international non-governmental and non-profit organizations (INGOs) that share common values and a shared interest in promoting quality development and humanitarian programs in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

AIDA aims to be a proactive and accountable network of INGOs which work in a coordinated and coherent way to respond to emergencies or humanitarian crises and towards sustainable and equitable development, human rights, social inclusion, poverty reduction and good governance in the oPt.
AIDA works to achieve this by addressing issues that affect member’s ability to deliver effective and accountable humanitarian assistance and development programming.

AIDA supports its members to apply a rights based, gender sensitive, and conflict sensitive approach, focusing on advocacy and policy change addressing practices or violations of international law that create vulnerability and poverty.

Reporting to the AIDA Director, the post-holder is responsible for the policy analysis and strategic planning support for AIDA members, reflecting AIDA-identified priority issues within the political, operational, and humanitarian spheres. The post-holder will provide or support leadership, coordination, representation and action among or between various actors to allow for more effective and efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance and recovery and development programming in Palestine. The AIDA Policy and Advocacy Coordinator will support the Secretariat and Executive Committee to engage effectively in the various fora available to AIDA to effect policy change. The post holder is responsible for supporting the overall strategic planning with the Membership, together with the director, and will deliver regular reports, briefing papers, or position papers as required. The post-holder safeguards the AIDA relationship to the Humanitarian Country Team’s Advocacy Working group and ensures effective participation and synergies where possible. The post-holder will likewise be responsible for outreach and coordination to local NGO networks to support coordinated advocacy work in Palestine.

The post holder is a member of a small team within the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), and will be based in Jerusalem or Ramallah, with frequent travel to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip when necessary. The Policy and Advocacy Coordinator will work closely and in collaboration with the AIDA Coordinator, the Executive Committee members, AIDA members, local authorities, donors, UN, diplomatic missions, and other stakeholders.
 
Job description
 
-IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES FOR AIDA MEMBERS
-Stay abreast of political developments and humanitarian trends in the OPT, informing AIDA members where relevant.
-Ensuring sufficient capacity and knowledge to support policy analysis and strategic planning around the humanitarian architecture and operational issues (mainly with the host governments)
-Represent AIDA at meetings with external advocacy targets.
-Liaise with external advocacy partners, including Crisis Action, InterAction, EMHRN and The Humanitarian Initiative, to identify advocacy and lobby opportunities out of country.
-Develop a calendar of upcoming advocacy opportunities which can be used by AIDA members and partners
 
-LEADING THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF THE AIDA ADVOCACY STRATEGY:
-The Policy and Advocacy Coordinator is responsible for developing, updating and implementing AIDA advocacy strategies on behalf of the AIDA membership.
-Lead the process of drafting AIDA positions and related advocacy strategies based on priorities identified by the Advocacy Subcommittee, Gaza Subcommittee, Administration Subcommittee and Executive Committee.
-Advising and contributing to and coordinating the development of AIDA positions, managing various communication activities, leading on the communication of AIDA positions amongst key stakeholders including national and international media, and the wider humanitarian community.
-Serves as chair and provides leadership to the AIDA Advocacy Subcommittee and the implementation of decisions taken at their meetings.
-Coordinates and monitors advocacy messages and initiatives to ensure impact and that AIDA external advocacy is in line with good humanitarian and development principles
-Updates the AIDA advocacy strategy in collaboration with the AIDA membership and Executive Committee, developing a periodical review and feedback of the implementation of AIDA advocacy activities.
 
-COORDINATING AIDA, INTERNALLY AND ALSO WITH EXTERNAL ACTORS
-Increases communication and coordination between INGOs and NGO forums and working groups
-Fosters relationships with political and diplomatic stakeholders, raise awareness about the AIDA advocacy strategy and messages among political stakeholders
-Ensures more effective and consistent communication and engagement with the UN, the local authorities, donors, embassies and other stakeholders
-Organises and facilitates AIDA Advocacy Subcommittee meetings in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This will be linked to the work of the Aida Executive Committee and General Assembly.
-Develops strong links and clear ways of working between AIDA and local NGOs.
-Ensures coordination and division of responsibility with the HCT Advocacy Subcommittee. Other UN bodies that the policy officer will be required to liaise with include the Protection Cluster Working Group and Displacement Working Group.
 
-MANAGEMENT
-Responsible for personnel management, as required.
 
Qualifications
-Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Administration or any other related field.
-Relevant work experience in policy analysis, advocacy strategic planning, Communications, research, media, data gathering and/or information management.
-Demonstrated capacity to develop and implement advocacy strategies with clear theories of change.
-Fluency in English required, with demonstrated writing skills.
-Computer literacy in using Microsoft Office (in particular Excel) and email/internet.
-Prior experience working with a national or international NGO.
-Prior experience coordinating a large number of diverse actors
-Background including knowledge of developments and trends in Palestine.
-Experience with web design or maintenance
-Experience using Microsoft Publisher or other relevant software.
-Written and spoken Arabic (Desirable).
 
Education field
-Administration / Organisation / Management
 
Education level
-College / University, Master / Phd grade
 
Personal qualities
-To network with various stakeholders.
-To understand and strategically use information.
-To produce high-quality documents, materials and other communications in English.
-To deal with confidential and sensitive information requiring tact and firm handling.
-To effectively administer, initiate, plan work strategically and independently.
-To work towards tight deadlines, often on an ad hoc issues that require immediate attention.
-To work under pressure and prioritize effectively.
-Willingness to travel to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
-Willingness to travel abroad if required
 
Language
-English
 
We offer
-Commencement: 1st February, 2016
-Contract period: 24 months
-Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s general directions
-Duty station: Jerusalem
-Approved health certificate will be requested before contract start
 
-Application procedures and CV registration:
-Please note that you are required to enter the GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION for all your previous positions while registering your CV. There is no specific field for this information in our CV form, but you can use the "Company name" field for BOTH company and location
-NRC may be required to verify the identity of its partners and to check that its partners have not been involved in illegal activities. NRC reserves the right to use electronic screening tools for this purpose.
 
Miscellaneous info
-Travel: Some travelling must be expected

You can apply using the following link for the online application: