Policy Officer- Displacement & Durable Solutions at Gap Recruitment Services Limited

Job Purpose: 

• The policy officer is primarily responsible for promoting durable solutions for displaced persons, whether IDP or refugee, in close collaboration with international and national partners. He/ she will cover the region of Kenya and Somalia. In both countries the aim is to promote the application of internationally agreed values and conventions on refugees and IDPs, working with governmental counterparts, locally based representatives of international counterparts and NGOs. He/ She will be supposed to initiate proposals, innovate working methods and strengthen results in his/her portfolio as those come forward in evaluations, reviews and consultation processes.
• The policy officer delivers input on displacement and durable solution aspects as crosscutting issues to other development cooperation programmes of the embassy in collaboration with the primary responsible policy officers. The policy officer will also be responsible for general migration policy issues and be part of a network of colleagues at Netherlands embassies equally charged with the implementation of Prospects programs of whom the regional program manager in Addis Ababa will be the primus inter pares.
• The displacement and durable solutions position is part of the ministerial policy portfolio that determines policy objectives, criteria and funding arrangements. The policy officer is accountable to the deputy Head of Mission. He or she will work closely together with the regional humanitarian coordinator as first point of contact, both of whom will replace the other in case of absence. He or she will equally work closely together with the Head of the Somalia team on issues that relate to Somalia.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assisting in preparing, developing, implementing and evaluating policy in the theme displacement and durable solutions. The focus areas as formulated in the Integrated Migration Policy Letter and other relevant policy documents such as Investing in Global Prospects of the ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant international agreements and conventions constitute the main guidance.
• Following of and reporting on Kenyan and Somali displacement and durable solutions issues in close coordination with the regional humanitarian coordinator, including return and re-admission policy and legislation in Kenya and Somalia.
• Collaborating with the Head of the Somalia team and the ILO in cases of human trafficking and children left behind -mostly in Somalia.
• Contribute to the co-steering and monitoring of the PROSPECTS Partnership 2.0 in Kenya together with NL MFA, including coordination/periodical convening of the PROSPECTS Country Team, support with MEL sessions, overall monitoring and internal reporting on the progress of the partnership implementation.
• Maintaining a broad contact with varied partners and representing the Embassy in various policy dialogue and multi-stakeholder coordination platforms including with relevant government authorities in Kenya, and Somalia; multilateral partner agencies including the UN, IGAD; various donor coordination platforms in Kenya and Somalia.
• Lead in the management and steering of a portfolio of programs financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hague and delegated-funded programs at the Embassy on migration and displacement in Kenya & Somalia. This entails overall project cycle management, review and appraisal of partners reporting, risk monitoring and internal reporting on the progress of the programs, maintaining for Kenya and Somalia- a close working relationship and mutual replacement with the regional humanitarian coordinator.

Result Areas:

• Contributing to the development of policy on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (Triple Nexus), develop and identify operational areas for collaboration and help to innovate the tool box for achieving specific results on the nexus.
• Contributing, on the basis of study of literature, reports and network to studies and advice on the policy concerned, involving independent interpretation and analysis of the collected data.
• Contributing to the management and steering of a portfolio of programs financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague and delegated-funded programs at the Embassy on migration and displacement in Kenya and Somalia, including overall project cycle management, review and appraisal of partners reporting, risk monitoring and contribute to internal annual reporting and planning
• Translating overall ministerial policy frameworks into proposals for specific action by the Embassy.

Qualifications and Other Requirements:

• University degree in related field.
• Knowledge and experience of/with (inter)national migration, refugee policies, displacement and durable solutions treaties and dynamics, such as the CRRF.
• Proven experience with Project Cycle Management (operational and financial planning, monitoring and evaluation of projects), Conflict-Sensitive Programme Management (CSPM), gender sensitive and adaptive programming.
• Excellent analytical skills and able to expresses her/himself clearly, both in spoken and written English.
• Pro-active and creative attitude with regards to durable solutions.
• Used to handle frequent and short deadlines.
• At least 5 years experience in international development required, of which 3 years in Kenya and/or Somalia working on displacement issues and durable solutions.
• Skill in drawing up policy recommendations.
• Understanding of social and political developments in relation to the area or areas in which the embassy operates.
• General knowledge of methods and techniques to draw up assessments and perform evaluations, experience in supervising them.
• Ability to familiarize quickly with relevant ministerial frameworks and legislation in the policy area concerned.
• Skill in translating insights and information into advice, plans and reports and in assessing their policy and financial implications.

Competences:

• Networking, planning/organizing, cooperation, creativity, results oriented, analytical skills, flexibility, organisation and cultural sensitivity.
• The policy officer for displacement and durable solutions plays an important role in supporting the Embassy on displacement issues, whether IDP or refugees, including approaches such as the triple nexuses. We are looking for an enthusiastic and pro-active personality, a convener, able to operate independently and aware of the political environment she or he is working in. Building on prior experience and knowledge, the policy officer is able to report clearly and analytically.
• The policy officer should be willing to travel to areas with security challenges.