Location:London (UK)/Overseas
Salary range: £36,201-£42,285 gross per year
Job description:
Promote peace building processes and governance systems that are inclusive, fair,
responsive and accountable, and address the root causes of conflict
The Adviser(s) will work within the Policy, Advocacy and Communications Division (PAC).
PAC proposes and advocates for improved policies and practices relating to conflict,
security, aid, governance and arms control. It works closely with in-country
programmes, both to strengthen the quality of programming across the organisation and
to ensure that our policy recommendations are grounded in evidence and experiences
from conflict-affected contexts as well as being responsive to people’s needs and
perspectives. Activities typically include: conducting targeted advocacy towards opinionshapers
and decision-makers; developing research programmes on key policy areas;
providing in-country mentoring, training and programme development support;
contributing to cross-organisational learning processes; and delivering seminars or
workshops to relevant government, NGO and business actors.
The exact focus of these posts will depend on the expertise of the successful candidates
in relation to the needs of the team, but the successful candidates will have policy and
programmatic expertise in at least two of the following thematic areas:
Upholding peace commitments in the Sustainable Development Goals
Promoting constructive alternatives to counter-terrorism and stabilisation
Security and justice
Governance/state-society relations
Inclusive peace processes
Policyolicy advisers are expected to show considerable leadership within the
organisation, and the successful candidate will be asked to make a significant
contribution to objectives on these themes. The Adviser may also be required to
contribute support in other policy priority areas.
In addition, organization is committed to integrate conflict- and gender-sensitive
approaches to all its work. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their
understanding and experience applying these approaches.
Job Purpose:
Contribute to and lead aspects of policy development,
research and advocacy work, and provide technical and mentoring support to in-country teams and external partners.
Undertake policy research and analysis, provide expert advice and capacity-building,
develop and implement advocacy strategies in relation to the thematic areas specified
above.
Develop relationships and collaborate with civil society, governments and corporate
actors as relevant.
Summary of key areas of responsibility:
1. Strategic planning and development of new and innovative policy agendas
2. Designing and conducting field research and developing policy recommendations
3. Working with SW country teams to develop and implement integrated strategies
4. Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships and coalitions
5. Technical support to governments, development agencies, corporate actors
6. Organisational learning, monitoring and evaluation
7. Proposal development and donor relations
Duties:
1. Strategic planning and development of new and innovative policy agendas
Contribute to the development and implementation of organization Strategic Plan
2017 – 2020, and in particular to the implementation of strategies to uphold peace
commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, constructive alternatives to
counter-terrorism and stabilisation, security and justice, governance and statesociety
relations, and inclusive peace processes, in close partnership with other parts
of PAC and with the regional programmes.
Contribute to, and support, the development and implementation of other PAC-led
strategies and projects as appropriate.
Identify and build synergies between policy plans/strategies and the plans and
strategies of regional/country programmes.
Contribute to the design, monitoring and evaluation of policy, advocacy
and communications work and the feeding of relevant lessons into ongoing strategy
development and programme design.
2. Designing and conducting field research and developing policy recommendations
Design, manage and implement research activities that advance understanding of key policy challenges and responses, particularly with regard to
SDG implementation, counter-terror/CVE and stabilisation approaches, security and
justice, governance and peace processes.
Develop, manage and implement research activities that advance understanding of these issues on the ground in conflict-affected states: particularly
what works in supporting peaceful, just and inclusive societies.
Write high quality research reports, briefings, policy papers and training materials
aimed at donor governments, international institutions, parliamentarians and
journalists.
Promote organization priority issues through liaison with relevant officials in
government, security agencies and the judiciary, international institutions,
parliaments, NGOs, academia, the private sector and the media and represent organization and partners in national and international events (in partnership with the
Advocacy Team).
Deliver presentations and facilitate training sessions on the above issues, as
appropriate.
3. Working with SW country teams to develop and implement integrated
strategies
Engage with selected country/regional teams in order to ensure coherence and
complementarity between country strategies and global policy objectives
Work with specific country teams jointly to develop and implement national-level
strategies that reflect our global policy objectives, and will in turn inform them
Provide capacity building to organization staff and partners and support them in
relation to relevant policy processes or thematic areas
Provide policy advice and technical assistance as appropriate to regional
programmes, including in Africa, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia and the
Middle East.
4. Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships and coalitions
Initiate, develop and maintain positive working relations with strategic partners in
the policy community, including multilateral agencies, government departments,
think-tanks, universities, INGOs and the private sector
Regularly assess the rationale and cost-benefit of these partnerships to ensure they
continue to advance organization strategic objectives, and in an effective manner
Ensure that how we engage with partners is consistent with principles
and values
5. Technical support to governments, development agencies, corporate actors
Provide policy advice, capacity building or technical assistance as appropriate to external partners, for example through ‘helpdesk’ requests and shortterm
consultancies.
6. Organisational learning, monitoring and evaluation
Work with other members of the policy team, regional advisers, and the
Organisational Development Unit to strengthen processes for cross-organisational
learning on key policy processes and thematic issues.
Participate in (or lead) learning exercises on particular issues relating to the SDGs,
CT/CVE, security & justice, governance and peace processes,
Participate actively in, and strengthen, internal M&E systems, including regular
outcome harvesting.
Work with country programmes to develop and share learning on programme
effectiveness within and beyond Organization
7. Proposal development and donor relations
In coordination with the Funding team, actively explore new funding opportunities for organization work
Play a lead role in drafting concept notes, funding proposals and budgets; and
similarly in reports to donors.
Ensure accurate reporting and monitoring of project funds.
Manage consultancies for relevant policy/technical work and deliver high quality
advisory support to external partners/clients.
PERSON SPECIFICATION :
Knowledge
A post-graduate degree in international relations, conflict/peace studies or a similar
discipline, or equivalent professional experience
Understanding of key conflict drivers and major approaches to addressing them
Knowledge of research methodologies
Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation
Experience
A minimum of 6 years’ relevant experience, with demonstrable knowledge and
understanding of international development, peacebuilding and conflict prevention,
Particular expertise in at least two of the following areas: security and justice,
promoting peacebuilding alternatives to counter-terrorism/countering violent
extremism, governance/state-society relations, application of human rights
approaches in conflict affected contexts, inclusive political settlements or the
sustainable development goals, including relevant international discourses,
frameworks, policies and key actors.
Proven experience in designing robust and rigorous research methodologies and
conducting high quality social research on the above issues
Experience of working in at least two conflict-affected or fragile contexts
Experience of working with national governments, international organisations, large
multi-mandate development NGOs, the corporate sector, and civil society actors –
particularly in conflict-affected and fragile contexts
Solid understanding of key concepts and principles behind conflict and gender
sensitivity, and experience of integrating conflict- and gender-sensitive approaches
into humanitarian, development and security initiatives in a range of contexts.
Experience in providing professional advice, including on a consultancy basis, to the
private sector, multilateral bodies and/or governments would be an advantage
Experience in workshop design, facilitation, training and capacity-building
Track record of influencing policy and/or practice of governments and other actors on
peace, security, justice and/or governance themes.
Skills
Rigorous analytical, research and/or evaluation skills
Demonstrable ability to write research reports, policy papers, briefings and articles,
as well as in other styles, as well as communicating in other forms, such as blogs and
vlogs
Excellent written and oral communication skills. Fluency in written and spoken
English, and preferably one other language
Proven ability to work alongside, and to learn from, a wide range of people and
organisations, including Southern partners (governments and civil society
organisations)
Creativity, flexibility, self-motivation and the ability to prioritise workloads to meet
deadlines
Commitment to improving international engagement in conflict-affected contexts and
experience-based ideas as to how this can be achieved.
Other
Willingness to travel overseas (for up to approximately three months in the year,
typically not for more than 1-2 weeks per trip)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Probation:
There will be a probationary period of three months.
Salary range: £36,201-£42,285 gross per year.
Holidays:
There are 28 days holiday a year (Jan-Dec) in addition to relevant public
holidays.
Pension: 9% employer’s contribution to a personal pension fund (with 2%
contribution from employee).
Hours: Standard working week is 37.5 hours a week. However, the demands of the
job are likely to be such that a willingness to work longer hours, as required, will be
necessary.
How To Apply:
To apply please email full CV and covering letter, detailing how you meet the selection
criteria to xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.com .
Deadline for applications: 11 January 2017.