Regional Partnership & Localization Advisor

Are you passionate about a more inclusive humanitarian ecosystem and local leadership in humanitarian responses? Do you want to support one of the largest humanitarian NGOs in operationalizing its ambitions to support localization – to reinforce rather than replace or compete with existing local initiatives and capacities? Do you understand the challenges and opportunities of contexts characterized by conflict, displacement, fragility and political instability? Do you understand the contexts of West Africa and/or Latin America, especially with regard to local actors and systems relevant to working with people affected by conflict and displacement? And do you bring the seniority, expertise and personality necessary to contribute to the cultural, programmatic and organizational change process needed for those ambitions to become reality? If so, you might be the right candidate for the role as DRC’s Regional Partnership & Localization Advisor in the West Africa, North Africa and Latin America Region!

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1- Background

DRC has been operating in West Africa since 1998 and in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2011. The DRC West-North Africa & Latin America (WANALA) Regional Office is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers several countries. Led by the Regional Executive Director, the DRC WANALAC oversees, supports, and provides strategic directions for DRC’s Country Offices within the above-mentioned regions. From May 2022, it will includes Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Tunisia, Venezuela.

The Regional Program Team has a range of technical capacities, including the partnership coordinator.

2- Purpose

The objective for the position is to support the operationalization of DRC’s localization and partnership ambitions through technical support and strategic guidance to regional and country operations, with a view to developing relevant structures and competitive programming that ensure an effective localization approach and enables DRC to shift some of its fundraising in support hereof.

While the focus of responsibilities lies in direct support to DRC regional and country operations (app. 80%), the position will also be part of and include commitments to the global localization team (app. 20%), feeding regional/local experiences with localization into global learning and the development of processes related to localization ambitions.

The position can be based in one of three locations: DRC WANALA regional office in Senegal (Dakar) or Colombia head office (Bogota). Extensive and often longer-term travel (30-40% of time) will be required across DRC operations (priority countries to be decided).

The position is open for local and international applicants.

Geographical scope: This role has a regional focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within DRC WANALA region and potential development in neighbouring areas covered by the regional office.

The role defines the regional sectoral strategy and contributes to the development of country and multi-country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks.

3- Responsibilities

Country and multi-country specific support for the areas covered by the position

Regional level:

Resources, training and learning

• Be the go-to person for technical support with the use of global tools and resources, including (acceptable) adaptations to fit to specific contexts in the region.
• Support staff learning and development in the region, including providing induction for new staff in the region.
• Support partner capacity development, when relevant and within own expertise
• Engage local networks, partners, stakeholders in systematic discussions and learning loops

Technical advice and support to program development

• Provide technical programmatic and operational advice to develop and mainstream a localized approach to programming in DRC operations
• Support the development of regional/country-level structures that enable localization ambitions
• Collaborate closely with country level support staff to ensure a localized approach is embedded in support functions
• Contribute to scoping for new programmatic and funding opportunities to improve and increase localization efforts
• Contribute to the identification and conceptual development of model program concepts under the heading of localization and partnership engagement, for potential replication
• Collaborate closely with regional and country-level sector and platform technical advisors to ensure localization is mainstreamed across DRC ‘s response framework
• Provide support on proposal writing with key partnership elements
• Support Countries and the region on the identification and selection of partners.

Strategy and policy

• Support with the strategic direction of localization ambitions, with a special focus on but not limited to feeding into Regional and Country Strategic Plans.
• Lead on localization operationalization analysis and planning in selected countries (in collaboration with the global Go Local lead (Civil Society Engagement Unit)
• Support the development of strategic alliance and partnership

Other

• Engage in other regional and global tasks and collaborations in pursuit of Go Local ambitions.

Global level:

Resources, training and learning

• Support the development of global compliance-related guidance, tools and resources led by the Civil Society Engagement Unit CSEU (and other global leads, where relevant), and lead on the roll out and relevant contextualization at regional/country level (towards ensuring that compliance-related resources are fit for purpose at country level, enabling localization programming)
• Collaborate closely with relevant global units to ensure uptake of learnings from local to regional and regional to global level, in support of global learning and development in support of localization ambitions.

Strategy and policy

• Participate in the development of the global localization framework (guidance and tools) led by the global Go Local lead (CSEU)
• Contribute to global strategic & position-related development as well as general advisory tasks as required by the global Go Local lead

Other

• Support the Go Local lead on other relevant localization-related tasks

4- Required Qualifications

• 6 years demonstrable experience in similar advisory or operational roles in international humanitarian and/or development organisations, preferably in a mix of country and regional roles and at senior level.
• You should have demonstrable experience developing equitable partnerships, raising funds for, and overseeing programming with local stakeholders.
• You have substantial experience working with local partners, a strong understanding of the compliance-aspects of partnering
• Experience with rolling out organizational change processes and documenting learning is highly desirable.
• Social science master’s degree in development or humanitarian studies, sociology, political science, human geography or similar
• Knowledge of engagement concepts, participatory techniques and methodologies applied by projects in humanitarian and/or development contexts

5- Desirable:

• Previous experience in Latin America and/or North Africa or similar context

1. Required Skills & Qualities

• Demonstrable skills with the design and facilitation of trainings and workshops
• Excellent communication skills for writing and presentation
• Demonstrable abilities in problem solving as well as taking a flexible and innovative approach to working
• Demonstrable skills with the design of programming concepts for fundraising
• Demonstrable ability to lead and support change processes at management level
• Able to travel up to 40% of the time
• Able to operate in a physically demanding working environment
• Full professional proficiency in English
• Professional proficiency in Spanish and/ or French depending on the work place.
• In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

. Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process

. Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback

. Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation

. Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly

. Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor

6- General Regulations

The employee shall follow :

• DRC regulations on safety, health, COVID-19 norms and hygiene
• The Code of Conduct and all ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Rules for the use of the DRC guesthouse, which is a working accommodation

In addition :

• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request