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