Policy and Advocacy Officer

Saint Andrew's Refugee Services, Cairo
Vacancy Announcement: Policy and Advocacy Officer
Founded in ‎1979, StARS is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that
works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants
through five broad program areas: education, psychosocial, legal, community
outreach and unaccompanied youth and children support services. We provide
high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we
provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a
community. We work for refugees, with refugees, to make rights recognition a
reality.
StARS' Mission: Driven by a commitment to justice and fairness, StARS works as
displaced people and for displaced people to respect human dignity and enhance
quality of life.
StARS' Vision: Displaced people lead in the creation and implementation of
responses to different forms of migration to establish safe, just, welcoming,
and inclusive communities globally.
We serve people from many places, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia,
South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
To learn more please visit our website: www.stars-egypt.org or our Facebook
page https://www.facebook.com/standrewsrefugeeservices?fref=ts
Role
Under the supervision of the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, the Policy and
Advocacy Officer is responsible for the preparation of advocacy documents
addressing issues affecting refugees in Egypt. The Policy and Advocacy Officer
will have a particular focus on education, and will act as the StARS focal
point on education-related advocacy. The Policy and Advocacy Officer works
across StARS programs, liaising especially with the Education Department.
Drawing on the practical experience of StARS staff members, the Policy and
Advocacy Officer works towards preparing practical and evidence-based
proposals for reform and improvement of processes and assistance programs
relevant to refugees in Egypt.
Responsibilities
All duties are carried out under the supervision of the Policy and Advocacy
Coordinator.
Technical
* To draft advocacy documents outlining areas for improvement and proposing practical amendments in processes and assistance programs relevant to refugees in Egypt.
* To maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR Egypt's policies and procedures and refugee assistance programs administered by partner organizations in Egypt, particularly those relating to education.
* To attend meetings with UNHCR and other partner organizations relating to StARS' advocacy efforts as appropriate.
* To maintain familiarity with the protection environment for refugees in Egypt, including gaps in protection and education.
* To deliver training sessions and participate in capacity-building on effective advocacy for refugee community leaders and StARS colleagues.
Programmatic
* To promote greater meaningful inclusion of refugees in decision-making inside and outside of StARS, particularly in relation to education.
* To determine the areas on which StARS should focus its advocacy efforts, in consultation with the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator.
* To build and maintain relationships with staff from the different StARS programs to ensure collaboration and coordination on StARS's advocacy efforts.
* To provide information to other members of StARS programs regarding issues facing the refugee population in Egypt.
* To attend and contribute to relevant meetings.
Administration
* To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
* To finish administrative tasks linked to the position.
Communication/Reporting
* To communicate regularly with the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, StARS Directors and management staff on issues faced by refugees in Egypt, particularly education related.
* To provide reporting data to the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Director of Programs as requested in order to accurately report work to senior management, funders, and others.
* To promote information-sharing within StARS on all issues affecting the populations we serve.
* Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Experience
The ideal candidate will be energetic, articulate, and comfortable interacting
with diverse segments of society and will have excellent writing and
analytical skills. She or he will have demonstrated a firm commitment to human
rights and refugee issues.
Essential qualifications
* Bachelor or Master's degree in a related field (e.g., international development, international law, development studies, Middle East studies). In lieu of these educational requirements, applications will also be accepted from candidates with a minimum of two or more years of relevant work experience.
* English being the official language of UNHCR Egypt and StARS, the Policy and Advocacy Officer must be fluent in oral and written English. Fluency in Arabic or other languages spoken by the main refugee populations in Egypt is an advantage.
* Excellent research and drafting skills.
* Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
* Ability to exercise sound judgment and apply a practical and strategic advocacy approach.
* Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines and procedures and the general protection situation and vulnerabilities of refugees in Egypt.
* An understanding of the education context in urban refugee settings.
* A demonstrated commitment to and sensitivity toward vulnerable or displaced people.
* Ability to live and work in a fluid security environment.
* Demonstrated ability to work in a team as well as independently.
Working Hours: The Policy and Advocacy Officer is expected to be at work for
‎40 hours per week, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, from Sunday to Thursday.
Longer hours, evening and weekend work are sometimes necessary. Work will be
conducted both in StARS premises and also in refugee communities and centers.
Supervised by: Policy and Advocacy Coordinator
Salary: ‎9,200 EGP/month, rising to ‎9,700 EGP/month following successful
completion three-month probationary period. Plus ‎4,020 EGP/year Health
Coverage and ‎100 EGP/month Saving Scheme Contribution upon completion of
probationary period.
Additional official benefits as stipulated in StARS Staff Handbook Guidelines.
This position is subject to a three-month probationary period, at which time
the employee's performance will be reviewed and probation may be extended.
Closing date for applications: ‎22 June ‎2022
Anticipated Starting date: July ‎2022
How to apply
To apply: Please send your Cover Letter, CV, and brief writing sample (two to
three pages) to [email protected] All applications should provide
contact information of two professional/academic references (referees will
only be contacted after interviews), using the subject line "Policy and
Advocacy Officer".
Note:Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.