Danish Refugee Council
The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.
The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.
All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation
The Refugee Impact Advisory Specialist will support the launch and operations of a new investment initiative called the Refugee Investment Facility (RIF), developed jointly between DRC and iGravity (a Swiss firm specialised in impact investment and innovative finance solutions). The RIF offers impact-linked and concessionary loans to enterprises directly impacting refugees and host communities across four impact parameters: increased employability, increased decent and sustainable employment, increased access to services/products, and financial inclusion. In addition to offering patient investment capital, the RIF has established a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) to provide impact mentoring and advisory services to investees on maximising their social impact on refugees and host communities.
Working alongside the Regional Innovative Financing Specialist at DRC’s Middle East Regional Office, the Specialist will play a key role in the RIF’s TAF, This involves supporting identification and screening of high impact private companies for the RIF, working on impact development and due diligence of potential investees from a refugee impact perspective, coordinating technical assistance to scale investees’ refugee impact, defining and monitoring the refugee impact of investees, and identifying links to DRC programming.
About the job
The individual will report directly to Head of Programmes. Your main duties and responsibilities will be:
Refugee Investment Technical Assistance (50%)
Support the scoping and development of technical assistance activities both prior to and during investment under the RIF, which seeks to offer patient investments of up to 5 years to local companies and start-ups that have the potential to positively impact refugees and host communities. The specialist will work closely with the Regional Innovative Financing Coordinator to carry out the following:
Pre-Investment Technical Assistance
- Identify companies with potential refugee impact through networks and country programming and refer such to the RIF /iGravity Investment Officers for screening
- Identify potential enterprise impact within target displacement affected communities, aligning with community needs as part of screening of potential investees
Investee Technical Assistance:
- Design and define focus for technical assistance allocations for each investee, in line with the TAF framework
- Identify business capacity building needs, opportunities for impact and ways to further connect businesses to displacement-affected communities
- Identify key refugee impact metrics relevant for each company and define an impact framework for each investee
- Prepare proposals for technical assistance grant allocations to be submitted to the RIF Investment Committee
- Provide technical assistance and advice to investees on refugee impact, such as support developing impact management and monitoring systems, assistance engaging effectively with refugee communities and their needs, analysis of markets and ecosystems within refugee hosting areas to enhance business engagement, and support in development of best practice around refugee-inclusive business approaches
- Manage impact monitoring for RIF investees, through annual review of impact reports of investees, meeting with investee management teams, on-site monitoring, and on this basis make recommendations for strengthening the impact of investees
- Identify links between investees and DRC’s other economic recovery programming to build complementarity in approaches
- Support the development of learning and community impact monitoring alongside DRC’s MEAL teams, gathering data and feedback from communities on RIF impacts
Other needs as communicated by the Regional Innovative Financing Specialist, Economic Recovery Manager or Head of Programmes
About you
Required
At least five years proven and successful track record engaging with private sector businesses with potential refugee impact in refugee contexts or other similar contexts working with marginalized populations, and identifying impact measurement, with ideally some experience in the investment sector or from the non-profit or social enterprise sector working with private sector development approaches. You should also have:
- Master degree in one of the following: International Development, MBA/Finance or International Relations
- Experience in social impact financing, impact measurement, corporate social responsibility and fostering strategic private sector engagement;
- Experience in economic development, private sector development, economic recovery in humanitarian and/or emerging economy contexts, business strategy and business plan development, or similar fields with social impact focus
- Understanding of the refugee / host community context in country, including socio-economic challenges and opportunities and the role NGOs and private sector can play in addressing challenges and realizing opportunities
- Fluency in English and Arabic
- Excellent communication skills
- High integrity and willingness to conduct her/himself transparently and open to scrutiny
Ideally, you also have
- Previous experience working in MENA region
- Ability to communicate technical information in an easy to understand, informative and collaborative manner
- Good knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standards or other accountability measures/standards
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:
Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values.
Designation of Duty Station: Amman
Start date: ASAP
Application process
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: 18 January 2023
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.
For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.