Gender and humanitarian advocacy advisor at Trocaire

Job Description

• You will analyse the issues, devise clear strategies and policy solutions and work in civil society networks for effective change. You will engage with media and lobby decision-makers in Ireland, within the EU and at the UN.
• You will be based in Ireland, UK or Kenya with overseas travel.

About you

• To carry out this exciting role, you will have the ability to analyse complex humanitarian and political issues and devise appropriate solutions.
• You will have an excellent gender analysis and be familiar with humanitarian contexts, policy issues and institutions.
• You will be a strategic thinker and an effective advocate, skilled at communicating complex policy issues to different audiences and decision-makers. You will have excellent report writing skills.

Reporting to the Head of Policy and Advocacy, this is a 3 year contract. This role is responsible for delivering a programme of policy influencing in close collaboration with colleagues in the Policy team, the Humanitarian team and the wider Public Engagement and International teams.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and implement effective advocacy for bringing about change on humanitarian advocacy priorities.
• In collaboration with other relevant staff members, develop and implement a humanitarian advocacy strategy, in line with Trócaire’s best practice approach to advocacy, including a strong gender analysis.
• Ensure advocacy and policy is informed by the experience in country programmes and supports the organisational ambition around partnership and localisation.
• Engage in advocacy with relevant duty bearers at the UN, EU and in the Irish political system as appropriate.
• Progress Trócaire’s humanitarian advocacy priorities, particularly on women, peace and security, as part of the Ireland’s seat on the UN Security Council.
• Policy development
• Develop and advance Trócaire’s policy positions in relevant fora on the protection of women and girls (including GBViE; voice, leadership and the role of women-centre organisations; accountability; and the women, peace and security agenda) and on displacement.
• Develop high quality policy and advocacy materials, including position papers, briefing papers, research and advocacy reports.
• Identify and develop partnerships with policy and research institutes.
• Develop and maintain an excellent working knowledge of current and emerging policy trends to underpin Trócaire’s humanitarian work (including through maintaining strong links with Trócaire’s localisation hub).
• Work with country offices
• Provide support to staff in country offices and partners on humanitarian policy and strategic advocacy.
• Elevate the humanitarian issues and trends from country teams to influence policy change.
• Engage and work closely with country teams to ensure Trócaire’s policy positions are grounded in direct experience and capture key trends and issues.
• Develop and manage new research in collaboration with at least two in-country teams (undertake desk study, define research questions, manage research agency).
• Representation and reporting
• Represent Trócaire effectively in key external networks (including CI and other INGOs) and at relevant national and international humanitarian policy discussions.
• Provide regular updates to management, humanitarian team, and country offices on emerging global and regional issues and trends within the sector.
• Ensure regular reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the advocacy strategy.
• Provide ‘rapid response’ policy and advocacy support to Trócaire CEO /Deputy CEO and management as required.

Person Specification – Essential Requirements

• Qualification Relevant third level degree – in humanitarian law/action, international relations, conflict studies, human rights law or similar.
• Experience At least 5 years’ experience of policy analysis and advocacy in a relevant area (including gender, humanitarian, development and/or human rights).
• Experience developing and implementing effective advocacy strategies.
• A proven track record in effective advocacy and lobbying at UN, EU or Irish level.
• A proven track record of policy development, research and production of advocacy materials on a relevant policy area, with a strong gender lens.
• Skills Familiarity with key policy frameworks and advocacy fora relating to gender based violence; the protection of women and girls; women, peace and security and displacement.
• Knowledge of international humanitarian architecture.
• Familiarity with the operations of key humanitarian institutions, including international human rights institutions.
• Ability to analyse complex humanitarian and political issues and devise appropriate policy solutions.
• Demonstrable capacity and commitment to working in collaborative fashion with programme staff, international staff and partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and willingness to undertake media and public speaking work.
• Qualities A proven commitment to teamwork and working in networks.
• An ability to maintain a positive attitude working in an environment where results are difficult to achieve and quantify.
• Other Willingness to travel and work in developing countries and crises zones, where and when required, at short notice