Finance Compliance Officer Job Description s2

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Women’s Protection and Empowerment Policy Adviser Reports to: Head of Policy & Director of the Women’s Protection and Empowerment Unit Location: London Salary: Circa £32,000 Hours: Part-time-30 hours per week

BACKGROUND

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in some 40 countries, providing emergency relief and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through 28 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC IN EUROPE

Our European headquarters, IRC-UK, were established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment, IRC-UK has grown rapidly and is now acknowledged for its high quality project management, technical expertise in economic recovery programmes, emergency response, and innovative thinking on early recovery and gender based violence. The IRC also has offices in Brussels, Berlin, Geneva, a sister organization in The Hague, and programme offices elsewhere in Europe.

THE POLICY & ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT

The core purpose of the Policy and Advocacy Department is to increase the IRC’s influence and profile, developing the IRC as a thought leader in Europe that can drive transformational change in the humanitarian sector. We aim to drive policy change to improve outcomes for people living in, and displaced by, conflict and crisis.

Women’s Protection and Empowerment

The IRC has made a commitment to addressing violence against women and girls across the organisation through programming, advocacy and public engagement. The IRC is one of the only humanitarian organisations to maintain an independent Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Team dedicated to promoting the ongoing evolution of knowledge and practice in the prevention and response to violence against women and girls. Together, the WPE Team supports 26

country programs to facilitate the healing, dignity and self-determination of women and girls who have experienced violence. The team works alongside women and girls to transform their lives and to make their voices heard in pursuit of a safer, more equitable world. The IRC works in partnership with communities and institutions to promote and protect women’s and girl’s rights and to empower them to enjoy those rights. The IRC is also a leader in spearheading advocacy on this issue globally and in Europe, and engaging the public to take action in support of women and girls. WPE is one of the IRC- UK’s key strategic priorities, and in the past two years the organisation has established itself in the UK and Europe as a ‘go to’ organisation in this area.

The Policy & Practice UK Department

Policy & Practice is a dynamic team combining our communications, policy and advocacy, and technical unit expertise in Europe. Its core purpose is to raise and develop the IRC as a thought leader in Europe and drive transformational change in the humanitarian sector, and specifically to dramatically increase the productivity of humanitarian aid and its ability to achieve outcomes for people living in and displaced by conflict and crisis.

Team Chart

Senior Director of VPRU Head of Policy UK (HQ)

WPE Policy Advisor

The Purpose of the Role

As part of a small, dynamic policy and advocacy team based in London, the IRC UK WPE Policy Advisor will work closely with the WPE Team in HQ and WPE staff in the field to support policy and practice that will ensure lasting and transformational change in women’s and girls’ lives. This position will increase IRC’s visibility in Europe and leverage the IRC’s technical expertise to mobilise European decision-makers to take action on women’s protection and empowerment.

This position will build on IRC’s expertise and reputation, and spearhead (European) efforts to ensure that humanitarian policy and practice reflects the needs, voices and solutions of women and girls, particularly around responding to and preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in emergencies.

Scope and Authority Authority:

The WPE Policy Advisor will report to the UK Head of Policy, with a functional line to the Senior Director of the VPRU Team and ongoing coordination and communication with WPE technical advisors, technical specialists, field programmes (WPE coordinators) and global advocacy staff as well as other staff in IRC working on protection issues. The position will work closely with the WPE

Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer in Washington DC, the Head of the IRC Brussels office and other European offices, including Germany. The position will also work closely with IRC fundraising, communications and media teams to build awareness with the UK and European public.

Responsibility for Resources: The WPE Policy Advisor is also responsible for implementing the European Policy and Advocacy Pillar within the IRC-Irish Aid partnership on GBV in emergencies and any similar partnerships on women’s and girls’ protection and empowerment advocacy that are created in Europe. As such, she is responsible for grant management, budget implementation, advocacy activities, field support, production of learning and reporting related to this partnership.

Key Working Relationships - Line manager: Head of Policy, UK - Co-supervision: Senior Director of the VPRU - Communication/collaboration with: o Advocacy team o Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) TAs, Coordinators and specialists o WPE Field staff o Brussels and Germany Office o Communications and media staff o Other technical units

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy development and implementation (15%)  Work with the advocacy team and the WPE Team to assess progress to date, develop and/or update the global WPE advocacy strategy (particularly around sub-objectives, targets, asks and messages related to the UK and Europe), including clear indicators of success and progress to date.  Develop advocacy messaging and strategy, including media and communications, around WPE priority countries/emergencies and the IRC’s global WPE work in Europe.  Develop a phased implementation plan, including sharing new learning, reports and evaluations from the field.  Ensure that there is coherence between the strategies of the IRC, IRC-UK, Brussels office and the WPE Technical Unit on WPE related issues.  Draft and/or present occasional updates to the Board on the progress of the WPE strategy.

Technical policy guidance/advice (40%)  Active and ongoing technical involvement in donor policy, including attending or convening consultations/events, feeding into policy documents and participating in/initiating policy development forums.  Work closely with global advocates and country programmes on the inclusion of women and girls’ needs within IRC global advocacy priorities and strategies and develop appropriate joint strategies and activities; join monthly advocacy calls, calls on specific priorities and regional/international meetings.  Support IRC-UK’s fundraising, communications and media to develop compelling and coherent campaigns highlighting key priorities like comprehensive approaches to tackling

violence against women and girls, the IRC’s approach to WPE in emergencies, domestic violence, etc.  Act as IRC liaison for the DFID VAWG helpdesk (initiate queries, internal communication with TU and IPT, draft queries, review/edit queries, attend technical meetings).  Provide technical WPE support to UK Policy and Advocacy Team and technical policy support to the WPE team.  Work closely with the WPE Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer in DC and the wider Advocacy Team to develop proactive policy positions on WPE, ensuring IRC’s programmes and research findings on WPE inform wider IRC policy.  Respond to requests and be proactive in offering donors and policy-makers technical presentations, trainings and materials.  Lead IRC responses in the UK and Europe to formal consultations by donors, government departments, and UK parliament Select Committees on WPE issues.  Lead on all strategic relationship management and technical policy work informing WPE/GBV partnerships that include and fund WPE advocacy in Europe (such as the Irish Aid Partnership on GBV in emergencies and the SIDA partnership on Call to Action), working closely with IPT and WPE TU advisors in related countries/positions.

Representation, networking and profile building (35%)  Conduct advocacy with high-level UK/European advocacy targets on WPE (particularly DfID, Irish Aid, ECHO, SIDA, EU), and provide support and train other staff conducting such advocacy.  Act as main liaison and responsible person for WPE advocacy with key advocacy partners/donors that fund WPE advocacy in Europe (such as the Irish Aid Partnership on GBV in emergencies).  Identify and represent IRC at UK/European networks, fora, conferences and events, and seek similar opportunities for IRC field staff & technical staff.  Produce materials for advocacy (reports, papers, advocacy briefs, op-eds, blogposts), communications and media on the IRC’s WPE learning, approach and research.  Advice and input into key communications materials (website, information, materials, annual report).  Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of women’s rights organisations, networks and movements in UK/Europe including the Gender and Development network (GADN) and GAPS UK.

Other (10%)  Lead and/or participate in events and campaigns related to Women’s Protection and Empowerment in the UK and Europe, depending on their relation to WPE advocacy priorities.  Provide expert advice to UK media, development and fundraising activities, ensuring the integrity of messaging around WPE.  Identify and contribute to funding opportunities for advocacy, both for field programmes as well as for advocacy activities)  Provide regular updates and analysis of UK policy developments to UK and international staff.  Execute WPE advocacy related budgets and activities, draft reports and implement WPE advocacy partnerships effectively (such as the Irish Aid Partnership on GBV in emergencies).

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:  Masters degree in public policy, international relations, gender studies or a related field.  Deep knowledge of technical protection issues, particularly women’s rights and protection in humanitarian and fragile settings, and gender theory and practice.  Excellent understanding of humanitarian aid, including key policy issues.  Excellent knowledge of women’s rights.  Excellent ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing; strong presentation skills.  Strong networking skills.  Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work in close collaboration with team members and remote field offices  Good analytical skills, and first-class attention to detail  Commitment to team work  Highly motivated self-starter  Flexibility  The right to work in the UK

Experience:  At least 5 years’ experience of working on women’s protection, gender-based violence and/or Women’s Protection and Empowerment issues in an international development context (either programming and/or policy).  At least 3 years experience in policy and advocacy, preferably related to gender-based violence, women’s rights or humanitarian assistance or in women’s protection and empowerment programming.  Experience working with UK donors and policy-makers, preferably in a policy and advocacy function.

Desirable  Experience in implementing protection, GBV and women’s empowerment programming in a humanitarian aid context.  Experience of working with European donors such as ECHO and SIDA, preferably in a policy and advocacy function.  Experience working in other related humanitarian protection areas (refugee/migrant protection, child protection, etc).  French language skills  Experience of public speaking and working with the media (including writing and broadcast interviews)

To Apply Please send a CV (two pages maximum) and cover page (two pages maximum) to: [email protected]

Please state clearly in your cover letter:  Your reasons for applying  How you meet the skills, knowledge and experience specified in the person specification part of the job description  Where you saw the job advertised  Current salary

The closing date is: 10am on Wednesday 29th August 2017

Interviews will be on Monday 11th September 2017.

In order to minimize administrative costs, IRC-UK will only contact short listed candidates.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

IRC-UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC-UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.