Background
Displacement in Eastern Africa is predominantly of a protracted nature. At the end of March 2017, there were almost 13 million people displaced in the region. Although most have been displaced for several years or even decades, few have durable solutions prospects such as returning to their home, being integrated into their host communities or settle elsewhere.
The search for durable solutions to the protracted displacement situation in East and Horn of Africa is a key humanitarian and development concern. This is a regional/cross border issue, dynamic, with a strong political dimension, and which demands a multi-sectorial response that goes beyond the existing humanitarian agenda.
New approaches are needed for effective humanitarian-development coordination to find solutions to protracted displacement and give the millions of displaced persons a chance of a better life with dignity and self-reliance.
About the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat
The Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS) was created in March 2015 with the aim of maintaining a focused momentum and stakeholder engagement in the search of durable solutions for displacement affected communities in East and Horn of Africa. The secretariat was established following extensive consultations among NGOs in the region, identifying a wish and a vision to establish a body that can assist stakeholders in addressing durable solutions more consistently. ReDSS is managed through an Advisory Group comprising of 12 NGOs: ACTED, CARE International, Concern World Wide, DRC, IRC, INTERSOS, Mercy Corps, NRC, OXFAM, RCK, Save the Children and World Vision, with IRC and DRC forming the steering committee.
ReDSS is not an implementing agency but a coordination and information hub acting as a catalyst and agent provocateur to stimulate forward thinking and policy development on durable solutions for displacement affected communities in East and Horn of Africa. It seeks to improve joint learning and research, support advocacy and policy dialogue, capacity development and coordination.
Key duties and responsibilities
Research and knowledge management: promoting a culture of learning and reflection that leads to improvements in durable solutions programing and policies
- Coordinate and manage the implementation of ReDSS research and knowledge management agenda including initiating studies and developing processes to monitor uptake to improve Solutions programing and policies
- Analysis of regional durable solutions data, strategies, policies and legislation, and production and dissemination of quality reports.
- Ensure cross learning and coherence between the different countries and at regional level
- Facilitate and organize regular consultation/technical workshops and learning events/meetings on key issues of interest to ReDSS
- Manage and supervise solutions analyses and online database
- Responsible for quality control of ReDSS publications
Strengthening the capacity of practitioners and policy-makers in the field of durable solutions
- Support the roll-out of the technical and policy training package
- Support development of learning tools such as online tutorials
- Translate evidence and research into programing and policies guidance
- Direct support to country level ReDSS partners
- Ensure active engagement with displacement affected communities to ensure their ownership and support in order to make solutions lasting, locally relevant and feasible
Contribute and support policy actions based on evidence
- Initiate and support policy actions and engagement in collaboration with ReDSS members, based on evidence from ReDSS studies and analyses to improve solutions oriented policies at national and regional level
- Continue to implement and monitor ReDSS commitments to the Agenda for Humanity and SDGs
- Support existing forums and members to engage with governmental and inter-governmental actors on durable Solutions
- Proactive engagement and coordination with relevant stakeholders (governments, development and humanitarian actors, donors…)
- Proactive engagement in policy development processes such as CRRF
- Work closely with IGAD Secretariat on Forced Displacement to ensure coherence between national and regional policy processes
- Development and publication of key briefing papers and policy briefs based on evidence
External representation and coordination
- Ensure continued engagement with key players on displacement and Solutions in the region including regional and national authorities, UN agencies, humanitarian and development donors, relevant working groups
- Organize learning events/ think space – in coordination with key stakeholders
- Represent ReDSS in a number of working groups and meetings
Overall management of ReDSS Secretariat
- Manage Secretariat staff and consultants
- Monitor work plan and budget and identify new funding opportunities
- Provide overall implementation and strategic direction of the unit activities
- Organize Core Group meetings
- Monitoring, reporting and evaluation of progress and challenges
- Ensure internal information sharing and coordination among ReDSS members at country and regional level
Reporting Arrangements
- Strategic and Technical supervision and reporting: The overall strategy and outline for the work of the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat will be laid and approved by the Advisory Group of the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat. The Coordinator will report to the Advisory Group on a quarterly basis, and work according to the rolling 6 months’ work plans approved by the Advisory Group.
- Administrative supervision: The Coordinator of The Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat will be supervised by the DRC Deputy Regional Director for the Horn of Africa and Yemen. The ReDSS Coordinator line manages and supervises ReDSS secretariat staff and any consultants.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Advanced University degree in social studies, political science, international relations or relevant field
Experience
- Minimum 8 years of experience in similar positions involving knowledge management, research, evidence building, analysis and coordination of a consortium of partners
- Strong knowledge of the region and the socio-economic and political dynamics affecting it, more specifically on displacement trends with a demonstrated ability to manage politically sensitive contexts
- Proven experience in leading and conducting research Solid experience in capacity development of a wide range of actors including adult learning, mentoring and coaching, training of trainers and impact monitoring of capacity development activities
- Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization
Required skills
- Strong analytical and writing skills with proven experience in producing high quality research and policy briefs with ability to present complex information in a simple and accessible manner
- Strong experience in translating evidence and research into programming and policy guidance
- Excellent coordination and networking skills
- Inter-personal facilitation and communication skills to build trusted relationships with a wide array of humanitarian and development partners, donors, government agencies, etc
- Flexibility, proactive engagement, ability to work under pressure and to demonstrate high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability
Conditions
Availability: Immediately
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel within East and Horn of Africa. This is a non-accompanied position.
Contract: 6 months maternity cover with possibility to extend.
This position is graded as A12 on the DRC salary scale available at www.drc.dk or competitive salary for National staff as per DRC national staff terms of employment.
How to apply:
Application
Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the position.
We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.dk under vacancies no later than 31st May, 2017.
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact [email protected]
More Information
- Job City Nairobi
