Policy and Advocacy Advisor -Yemen

Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity.

Handicap International is changing his name and becomes « Humanity & Inclusion ». HI, Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid and development organization with no religious or political affiliations operating in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since the organization was first founded in 1982, we have set up development programs in more than 55 countries and responded to many emergencies. Today we have a budget of around 150 million euros, with 3500 employees worldwide.

JOB CONTEXT:
HI has been intervening in Yemen on and off for the last 12 years, with its actions initially focused on development issues, notably through the support to the development of physical and functional rehabilitation services for people with disabilities (PwDs) as well as through the capacity-building of the national networks of Yemen’s Organizations for Persons with a Disabilty (OPDs).

Since 2015, HI interventions have been adapted to the current context of conflict in Yemen. With the support of different donors, HI has been supporting two hospitals and one physical and functional rehabilitation centre in Sana'a City, building the capacities of their key staff in early rehabilitation care and psychological first aid (including specifically for children), supplying rehabilitation equipment, and directly providing functional rehabilitation care and psychosocial support to war affected people (including through the donation of assistive devices and provision of Prosthesis). In 2017, these activities have extended to new facilities in and around Sana’a.

In parallel, HI is implementing an inclusion and protection mainstreaming project, to increase the knowledge and capacities of the staff International NGOs in the inclusion of the most vulnerable persons in their humanitarian response (including PwD), so as to increase their access to essential services.

While all of HI activities were done so far in Sana’a governorate, HI has expanded in Aden in 2019 and has opened an office in Mokha. Activities in Hajjah have been launched in late 2020, another office has been opened in Hodeidah the governerate most affected by EO

YOUR MISSION:

-He/she provides advice based on contextual analyses to the Programme Director and HQ relevant staff to ensure adequate positioning of HI promoting principled humanitarian action (based on HI charter, ethical guidelines and principles of intervention)

-He/she leads the design, implementation and follow-up of the advocacy strategy at national and regional levels and contributes to advocacy at global level

-He/she liaises with relevant internal and external stakeholders and networks involved in policy and advocacy actions (AWG, HAWG, HCN, clusters etc)

1.   Humanitarian environment analyses and definition of HI positions

Activity 1: Humanitarian environment and access analyses and follow-up

-       Analyze the context (1), the humanitarian architecture (2) and the actors at play (3) to identify main positioning issues faced by humanitarian actors and HI.

-       Create a mechanism to monitor the main obstacles to principled humanitarian action

-       Collect data, record and capitalize on access challenges, successes and lessons learnt.

-       Provide advices and support to the design of the Program access strategy

Activity 2: Development of HI positioning and policy papers

-       Define HI positions in accordance with HI ethical guidelines and principles of intervention, liaising with relevant stakeholders at field level (PD/AM) and HQ levels (HI Institute and AIR)

-       Develop policy papers to support HI activities, access and feed the advocacy strategy

-       Undertake research and provide recommendations jointly with the HI Institute’s Program Analyst on the basis of HI ethical guidelines

-       Support the risk-analyses conducted in the frame of the advocacy strategy and access strategy

Activity 3: Sensitization and training on principled humanitarian action (PHA) and access

-       Evaluate the knowledge and level of implementation of the humanitarian principles/legal frameworks among HI staff and HI partners and define a training strategy

-       Handle sensitizations or trainings on PHA, HI mandate, and HI ethical guidelines to the staff and identified internal access barriers (such as negotiation, communication) and eventually to our local/national partners.

2.   Advocacy Strategy

Activity 1: strategy and funding

-       Identify key issues at field level requiring policy change and carry out stakeholder mapping and power analysis

-       Work with the federal advocacy team (AIR) on a joint advocacy strategy related to Yemen consistent across national, regional and global levels, in line with HI 10-year strategy. The strategy is shared, discussed and approved with relevant stakeholders, primarily with the Programme Director

-       Lead the design and implementation of coordinated action plans related to HI advocacy strategy at regional and national level

-       Identify funding opportunities for advocacy activities and staff, through incorporation of advocacy activities into field projects and proposals submitted to donors

Activity 2- Data Collection and evidence based advocacy: Ensuring reliable and up to date data and information are available for advocacy purposes

-       Liaise with key operational staff and external stakeholders to provide regular and timely information, data or context analysis to feed into federal and country based advocacy strategy

-       Ensure that consistent and reliable data produced at field level include advocacy stakes and that it is shared with advocacy team at federal level

-       Contribute to and review key advocacy documents and reports pertaining to Yemen.

-       Provide support to and build capacity of key operational staff on advocacy activities

Activity 3 – Ownership of HI network

-       Lead or contribute to the elaboration of advocacy tools (reports, briefing papers, talking points, medias/social medias tools

-       Contribute to internal meetings, briefings, calls to disseminate advocacy related information within the HI program and movement

-       Participate in internal advocacy related working groups or committees and liaise as necessary with Federal advocacy, Federal Communication, HI Institute, or National Associations

3.   Influence: Networks and outreach

-       Engage in relevant forum and networks to feed the analyses, to promote HI positions and advocate for policy changes

-       Maintain contacts with key decision makers at national and regional level through regular meetings and exchanges

-       Take part in events and conferences (donor conferences, mobilization events…) and ad hoc engagement/meetings with decision makers at global level in coordination with Federal Advocacy Direction

-       When appropriate, contribute to HI communication and visibility at local level, towards partners and authorities; liaise with the medias on advocacy related issues with the support of DCC and AIR.

Other

-       Any other service / task in connection with the program that may prove necessary.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

The position is based in Sana’a or Aden – Yemen. The expatriate will also have to spend time in HI bases (Aden, Mokha and Hajjah).  In Sana’a, Aden and Mokha, shared guesthouses well equipped with a safe room, most of the work is done at the office but there are some possibilities to go out for work purposes. Outside movements are possible for some extra professional activities in Sana’a and Aden. All movements are done by car. HI has set-up a curfew. The situation is relatively calm in Sana’a nowadays. However, the security is volatile in southern areas.

Dress code: Men will be required to wear long pants and at least a short sleeved shirt. Women are required to wear the abaya and hijab (head scarf) outside of the compound. For female staff in the office, appropriate attire includes long pants, and long sleeve shirts.

• You hold a degree in International Law, International relations, political science or equivalent degree
• You have 5 years of experience including 3 in emergency settings (field experience)
• You have experience in context analyses, policy development in relation to principled humanitarian action
• You have experience in advocacy work and in networking and in active participation to conference/forum, including at high level
• You have a strong background in international relations and international cooperation mechanisms
• You have knowledge of the humanitarian environment and main current stakes (triple nexus, localization, grand bargain etc…)

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission. https://hi.org/en/join-the-team

• 1 year International contract starting from January or February 2025;
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
• Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals;
• Pension scheme;
• Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution;
• Repatriation insurance paid by HI;
• Salary from 2757€ gross/month upon experience;
• Perdiem: 550 € net/month
• Hardship: 500 € net/month paid with your salary;
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: according to the level of the mission 5 days every 8 weeks
• Position:
• Unaccompanied:
• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa)
• Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI;