Country: Switzerland
Closing date: 10 Jun 2018
What we do
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.
Purpose of the post
The Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN - please visit https://frontline-negotiations.org/ ) is a common undertaking of 5 organisations (UNHCR, WFP, ICRC, MSF-Switzerland and HD) that aims to facilitate the capture, analysis and sharing of humanitarian negotiation practices on the frontline to support the efforts of humanitarian practitioners in seeking access to and protection of populations affected by armed conflicts and other situations of violence. It intends to contribute to a community of practice among humanitarian negotiators across agencies and regions centered on the specificities of humanitarian negotiation. The CCHN is administratively hosted under the auspices of the ICRC.
The CCHN is recruiting a Negotiation Support Specialist, with an emphasis on Research and Facilitation on Humanitarian Negotiation in South and Southeast Asia, focusing primarily on Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar. This position should further develop the research, policy, training and networking capabilities of the CCHN in the region in analyzing humanitarian negotiation practices at contextual and regional level and further strengthen the CCHN ability to develop and deliver curriculum components and tools pertaining to humanitarian negotiation and mediation.
S/he will mobilize the South and Southeast Asia larger humanitarian community on the practice of such tools.
Scope & Impact
- The Negotiator Support Specialist will play a critical role in maintaining a connection between the different CCHN events, linking information and participants with the wider deliberations on frontline humanitarian negotiation in the said region, and bridging negotiation knowledge with humanitarian agencies and NGOs based in South and Southeast Asia to ensure an effective support to practitioners/negotiators and a sound response to operational challenges.
- Geographical remit: South and Southeast Asia
Main responsibilities
- Conducting interviews of humanitarian negotiations' practitioners primarily in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar;
- Contributing to a thorough analysis of humanitarian negotiation practices at a technical professional and strategic level;
- Gathering and analyzing information and trends, opportunities and challenges related to humanitarian negotiation practices across the agencies and the larger community in South and Southeast Asia;
- Reaching out to and networking with humanitarian practitioners based in South and Southeast Asia, to foster the emergence of a community of practices in humanitarian negotiation;
- Contributing to the development of policy tools and methods on the planning and evaluation of humanitarian negotiation and mediation in the region;
- Facilitating designated sessions of the Regional Workshops the CCHN is organizing;
- Contributing to the mobilization of humanitarian negotiators in the design of the Annual Meeting of Frontline Humanitarian Negotiators.
Background and Experience required
- Master's degree in international relations, political science, law or equivalent;
- 2 to 4 years of professional experience;
- Solid experience in conducting interviews as well as writing political and social analysis with a particular focus on negotiation and conflict mediation, as well as international affairs;
- Experience in the organisation and facilitation of professsional exchange events;
- Good understanding of the humanitarian system and trends affecting humanitarian action;
- Professional experience working in/or government, academia, international organizations of international NGOs;
- Field experience an asset.
Profile and skills desired
- Proven ability to think critically, succinctly and creatively;
- Capacity to work independently under pressure with tight deadlines;
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including good public presentation skills, and capacity to work effectively in a small team;
- Excellent writing, editing and analytical skills, and ability to translate complex questions into policy options leading to practical recommendations;
- Fluent in English, French would be an asset;
- Available for regular field missions (at least one week per month);
- Political and/or academic knowledge on the South and Southeast Asia region an asset.
Additional information
- Location : Geneva
- Type of contract : Open ended
- Activity rate : 100%
- Estimated start date : ASAP
- Application deadline : 10.06.2018
How to apply:
To apply, please visit: http://bit.ly/2Gm8FWB