Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.
Geneva is a global humanitarian hub where several key humanitarian coordination bodies (Inter Agency Standing Committee, ICVA, Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response, clusters coordination) and key humanitarian processes (Grand Bargain, Global Refugee Forum…) are located. Many high-level humanitarian events are regularly organised in Geneva. Some of the largest humanitarian organisations have their either their headquarters or a significant presence in Geneva (UNHCR, IFRC, ICRC, IOM, OCHA, UNICEF…).
All these organisations and processes have contributed to the creation of an important humanitarian ecosystem in Geneva. With the Human Rights Council and its special procedures and with the Treaty Bodies (including the Committee on the Rights of the Child), Geneva is also a place where the humanitarian agenda and the human rights agenda intersect to ensure accountability for grave violations affecting children in conflict.
The Geneva Advocacy Office of Save the Children has four main functions:
Influencing: Save the Children engages with and influences the UN and other international bodies and their decision-making processes to advance children’s rights and accountability for these rights.
Networking and relationship building: The Geneva Advocacy Office builds and maintains relations with Permanent Missions of Member States, with UN agencies, with peer organisations and with global networks.
Connecting: the Geneva Advocacy Office connects Save the Children Country Offices, Regional Offices and offices of Save the Children’s members with the UN and its processes..
Expertise and profile: The Geneva Advocacy Office presents and promotes Save the Children’s expertise in global forum and mechanisms to position Save the Children’s as a leading child rights organisation.
Job Responsibilities
The Senior Humanitarian Advocacy Adviser will be responsible for:
Influencing the global humanitarian system in Geneva, with an overall aim to promote improved sector-wide response to children’s rights and needs in humanitarian contexts.
The main focus of the post holder during the six months maternity cover will be to represent Save the Children and position children’s priorities in Geneva in humanitarian agendas like the sector reform (Anticipatory Action / Grand Bargain, boundary setting), humanitarian diplomacy, Children in Armed Conflict; as well as forced displacement (refugees and IDPs).
He / she will advocate for the rights of children in humanitarian contexts so that specific needs of children are met and their rights are protected before, during and after a crisis.
Finally, he / she will also play a key role on the agenda of protecting education from attacks.
Experience and Skills
Essential:
Significant experience in humanitarian advocacy and policy either within an NGO, UN agency, donor or policy think tank.
A good understanding of key and current humanitarian processes (Grand Bargain, Nexus, etc…)
In-depth knowledge of humanitarian principles and standards
Demonstrable experience of contributing to inter-agency processes / coordinating different agencies in joint processes.
Experience in leading the creation and implementation of influencing strategies, demonstrating the ability to identify the necessary steps towards an ambitious goal
A proven ability to network and build relationships with external partners that will add new value
Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent narratives that resonate with policy makers and peers.
Professional fluency in English (both written and verbal).
Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation
A collaborative and solutions-orientated approach, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities
Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
A commitment to the mission, vision and values of Save the Children
Desirable:
Prior field-level humanitarian experience within a humanitarian organisation, ideally in complex crises.