Officer, Migration Lab

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The British Red Cross helps anyone, anywhere in the UK and around the world, to get the support they need if crisis strikes, connecting human kindness with human crisis. They enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, they help them to recover and move on with their lives. The British Red Cross (BRC) is part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent global humanitarian network and is committed to and bound by its fundamental principles. BRC values (compassionate, courageous, inclusive and dynamic) underpin everything they do.

As part of the Sahel migration team, the migration lab officer will be responsible for engaging relevant stakeholders to develop insights into migration issues in the Sahel region ensuring that the British Red Cross and the Sahel+ National Societies have the information they need to guide their evidence-based migration programming, reflection (discussions) and humanitarian diplomacy efforts. Since this migration lab is a new initiative, the position holder will be responsible for setting up and managing the lab.

Based in Dakar, with travel (up to 25 percent) to the Sahel+ countries, the migration lab officer in coordination with the migration adviser, the BRC humanitarian policy team, the Sahel+ migration working group and IFRC will help to promote the Sahel+ National Societies’ migration work and provide research to humanitarian actors and other stakeholders (including government, policy makers academics) by creating space for dialogue and discussion that will educate, inform and raise awareness of stakeholders on Sahel Migration context and matters.

As one of six BRC roles dedicated 100% to the Sahel migration programme, this position will be key to coordinating research pieces on migration and ensuring communication (including the organisation of events, development of communication materials) and knowledge management of Sahel+ migration resources. The position will closely work and coordinate with the BRC Humanitarian Policy, Communication and Fundraising teams, the Sahel+ migration working group coordination, the Red Cross and Red Crescent global migration Lab, and the IFRC migration teams.

The role requires excellent communication, advocacy and project management and administrative skills, as well as a thorough understanding of migration issues. Key duties include:**1.** **Research & learning

• Identify and propose, based on the Sahel migration context, relevant migration research topics;**

• Support the migration and PMEAL advisers in research activities (recruitment process of consultants, liaison with consultants, in case of in-house research pieces, liaison with country offices, field level data collection and analysis, review of reports etc.);

• Liaise with other BRC International Regional Teams for joint migration initiatives;

• Support the PMEAL adviser with the Sahel migration programme learning initiatives and activities;

• Ensure that learning and research findings are well integrated in the design of any migration programme for strong evidence-based migration programmes;

• Contribute to discussions and reflections on migration and displacement at Movement level;

• Ensure the dissemination of the research reports internally to the BRC and the Movement as well as to the humanitarian community.

2. Communication and advocacy

• Organise and facilitate events (workshops, launching of reports, dialogue) with different stakeholders on Sahel migration;
• Liaise with the Sahel+ countries, work with them on their presentations/talking points and ensure their participation in various events;
• Develop communication and advocacy materials in coordination with the Sahel+ migration working group and the BRC communication team (including newsletter, infographics, fact sheets, mini videos) on Sahel migration;
• Attend events organised by other partners on migration and ensure that Sahel migration voices are heard;
• Liaise with other migration actors in the Sahel region ensuring that Movement migration interventions and initiatives are disseminated.

3. Knowledge management

• Ensure the archiving of all developed and produced materials on the BRC platforms (PIMS, TEAMS) as well as the Sahel+ page on the IFRC go platform;
• Ensure that Sahel migration programme files are up to date on PIMS;
• Coordinate with the Sahel+ migration working group coordinator to update on the regular basis the Sahel go platform.

4. General

• Uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Movement and work within the Societies Equal Opportunities Policy;
• Ensure that all activities undertaken on behalf of British Red Cross, externally or internally, are in line with the organisation’s principles, policies and procedures;
• Liaise with and build effective relationships with other staff in the British Red Cross teams within the Sahel Office and the International Directorate ensuring consistent and relevant information sharing;
• Undertake other tasks and projects as requested by the Migration adviser;
• Is responsible for the duties detailed in the job description and may also carry out such other duties as are reasonably required.
• Actively participate in all team meetings.
• Support other team members.
• Work and behave in accordance with all BRC policies and procedures.
• Upholds the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and acts with integrity, in accordance with the Society’s values (inclusive, compassionate, courageous and dynamic).

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned from time to time that are in line with the level of the role.

Requirements

• University degree in a related discipline (social sciences, communication, journalism, international relations, international development or similar, etc.)
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in communication, administration of programmes or projects supporting different stakeholders
• Experience in developing communication materials targeting different audiences using the Microsoft Office and other software
• Experience conducting and/or supervising research with key partners and stakeholders in various contexts including the Sahel region (and qualitative and quantitative data collection in a range of settings)
• Demonstrated experience in organizing and facilitating events bringing together different stakeholders
• Experience of working on programmes related to people on the move / migration
• Experience in liaising and working with different stakeholders including academics, policymakers and practitioners
• Knowledge of /experience working with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement would be an asset.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of current migration context and migrants’ needs as well as protection risks, in the Sahel region
• Strong workshop facilitation and partnership skills
• Proven skills in leading the development, design, and implementation of research projects including addressing ethical considerations, and producing written reports
• Proven ability to tailor research products and present research findings to a range of audiences, including policymakers, practitioners and academics
• Ability to lead on knowledge creation and drive the collation of increased evidence on regional migration issues, including through leading research engagement and collaboration
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.

Languages

• Fluent French and English language skills (reading, writing, spoken) – ability to work effectively in both languages
• Good command of another IFRC official languages (Portuguese or Arabic) and local languages desired