Senior Policy Officer - Forced Development

The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) is a global network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that advocates for effective humanitarian action. ICVA brings the experience and views of around 75 national and international NGOs to international humanitarian coordination forums. In turn, it also provides its member agencies with up-to-date information and analyses on policy developments in humanitarian response.
 
 
 
 For its Secretariat in Geneva, ICVA is seeking to recruit a
 SENIOR POLICY OFFICER – FORCED DISPLACEMENT (100%)
 
 

Role description:
This new position has been created in order to further develop and carry out ICVA’s work on the protection of those who have been forcibly displaced. The Senior Policy Officer – Forced Displacement is a pivotal position in the organisation with regards to discharging ICVA’s policy and advocacy mandate on behalf of member agencies. S/He will report to the Coordinator and will work closely together with the Senior Policy Officer – Humanitarian Affairs and the Associate Policy Officer.

Responsibilities and Tasks:
The Senior Policy Officer – Forced Displacement has a specific responsibility with regards to identifying trends and issues in the area of forced displacement that are relevant for ICVA’s policy and advocacy work. S/He is responsible for providing analyses and developing views and positions on these issues in the context of UNHCR, UNHCR’s governing bodies, and other international forums that cover forced displacement.

S/He is also expected to represent ICVA, to engage with member agencies and partners, and/or to coordinate and facilitate NGO participation and present views in various forums related to forced displacement. S/He monitors and follows refugee protection matters and related UNHCR policy issues and formulates ICVA’s views and positions as and when relevant, including next year in the context of the anniversaries of the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1961 Statelessness Convention.

In consultation with the Coordinator and the other Senior Policy Officer, s/he will also contribute to ICVA’s work on the Global Humanitarian Platform. The Senior Policy Officer will participate and contribute to ICVA’s general humanitarian policy and advocacy work and to the further development of ICVA’s vision and strategic directions.

Qualifications:
-  A minimum of ten years’ working experience in the area of humanitarian action, of which a minimum of five years have been spent on refugee and asylum policy and protection;
- Extensive experience in working with, or relating to, organisations and actors who work in the field of forced displacement;
- Demonstrated experience and skills in formulating NGO views and statements and representing these views in international forums;
- Demonstrated experience and skills in analysing and conceptualising the rapidly changing  policy environment of forced displacement and explaining the importance of these changes for NGOs;
- Excellent understanding of current humanitarian issues and debates;
- Ability to contribute to ICVA’s mission and strategic directions;
- Excellent oral and written English, and the ability to present complex issues comfortably and effectively to diverse audiences;
- Advanced university degree in international law, international relations, or related academic field;
- Fluency in French is desirable; and
- Ability to work effectively and flexibly in a small team.

A full Job Description is available on the What’s New page of the ICVA website (www.icva.ch) for more details.

Applications:
A cover letter and CV should be sent to <secretariaticva.ch>,
indicating “Senior Policy Officer – Forced Displacement” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is 1 August 2010.

Interviews will be held in mid-August 2010. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.