Position:
Advocate (Priority region: Asia)

Reports to:
Regional Director

Purpose:
The Advocate is the core program position at the staff level for Refugees International. Advocates travel to countries and regions experiencing humanitarian crises and carry out assessments of the level and causes of displacement. These assessments involve interviews and discussions with displaced persons, UN and NGO personnel, and government officials. Upon completion of the assessment missions, Advocates are responsible for writing up their findings in short reports called bulletins and devising and carrying out an advocacy strategy to advance their recommendations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Working with a colleague or with an external consultant, conduct assessments of humanitarian crises and the level and causes of displacement. Assess the impact of crises on particular individuals and communities through interviews with the displaced. Conduct interviews with other individuals knowledgeable about the situation, including NGO and UN personnel and government officials.
2. Summarize the analysis of humanitarian crises and how to address them in four-page policy pieces called field reports.
3. Using the recommendations in the field reports as a starting point, devise and carry out an advocacy strategy to assure the implementation of the recommendations. Work closely with colleagues in headquarters, including the President and Vice President for Policy, to develop and carry out the agreed strategy.
4. Hold frequent meetings with U.S. government officials, UN agency personnel, and other relevant actors to advance the overall advocacy agenda of the organization or to carry out a plan of action related to a particular region.
5. Write longer reports and pieces for the agency website.
6. Develop media contacts and conduct interviews as needed to advance the advocacy agenda of the organization.
7. Represent the agency at coordination meetings organized by NGOs, the U.S. government, the UN, think tanks, and other relevant institutions.
8. Collaborate with fellow advocates and other RI staff to advance agency thinking on key issues and to support the achievement of the agency’s mission.
9. Contribute to agency fund raising efforts by meeting donors, contributing to donor reports, helping to organize Board and donor tours, and giving public talks on refugee issues.
10. Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

1. Five years or more professional experience involving some combination of overseas work, preferably with refugees or in crisis situations, and advocacy and policy work. This position requires significant, field based experience in Asia , with a preference for prior experience in Afghanistan.
2. Study of international humanitarian issues, preferably at the Masters level.
3. Familiarity with the key agencies of the international humanitarian system and the strengths and weaknesses of this system.
4. Communication skills, especially writing and public speaking. Familiarity with digital cameras and knowledge of photography very useful.
5. English language fluency and working knowledge of another language of value to the agency’s overseas work, such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, etc.
6. Ability to work well with others in small teams.
7. Willingness to travel to dangerous and isolated places up to three months per year.
8. Flexibility and sense of humor.

HOW TO APPLY
Please apply by February 19, 2010 to jobs@refintl.org. Please put "Advocate (Priority region: Asia)" in the subject line and include a cover letter, CV, writing sample and 3 references. Only Finalists will be contacted to set interviews.