Advocacy Coordinator

 

 

Who are we?

 

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 fulfillment 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, and honesty and transparency.

The Danish Refugee Council has been active in Yemen since 2008. Throughout its eight field offices and a workforce of around 270 staff, DRC Yemen upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level. Sectors of implementation cover Protection, Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament, and WASI (Wash, Shelter and Infrastructure).

 

DRC Yemen’s response

The Danish Refugee Council has been active in Yemen since 2008. Throughout its eight field offices and a workforce of around 270 staff, DRC Yemen upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level. Sectors of implementation cover Protection, Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament, and WASI (Wash, Shelter and Infrastructure).

 

The Cash Consortium of Yemen

The Cash Consortium of Yemen (CCY) was established in 2020 to improve the living conditions of

socio-economically vulnerable and conflict-affected individuals in Yemen. The CCY is led by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and includes Acted, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Mercy Corps, Solidarities International (SI) as co-partners, as well as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as a non-funded EU partner. The CCY aims to maximize the effectiveness of cash assistance and support the transition to longer-term resilience programs through referrals.

 

The CCY's response has been implemented across 13 governorates in Yemen, where vulnerability is high, and households are affected by conflict and environmental shocks or identified to be socio-economically vulnerable due to being unable to meet their basic survival needs

As the Co-Lead for the National Cash and Market Working Group, CCY collaborates with other cash actors in Yemen to prevent duplication of efforts, ensuring a harmonized approach, and enabling the efficient allocation of resources to areas with high vulnerability.

 

 

Overall purpose of the role:

 

This role is split between the Danish Refugee Council country office (75% FTE) and the CCY (25% FTE)

Under the supervision of the DRC Country Director, the Advocacy Coordinator will be responsible for the definition and implementation of the DRC Yemen advocacy strategy and to further develop DRC Yemen’s advocacy work and outputs. The postholder will take a leading role in ensuring evidence-based advocacy informs and influences key decision makers in accordance with the advocacy strategy, ensuring that the aid response across Yemen supports the most vulnerable population. The Advocacy Advisor works closely with DRC’s regional and global advocacy teams as well as being the focal point for DRC Yemen on external communications. Under the CCY, this role will provide targeted advocacy and communication technical support to the consortium management unit and oversee the design and delivery of the consortium’s advocacy strategy.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Advocacy

• Develop and update the advocacy strategy, talking points, topline messaging, briefing papers, advocacy reports and other advocacy asks for the local DRC team
• Lead on the implementation of the DRC Yemen advocacy strategy
• Follow up on the implementation of DRC’s Communication strategy and communication commitments with support from the Middle East Asia and Europe Hub.
• Participate in and support the relevant working groups of the Yemen based INGO network, including supporting the planning and drafting of relevant inter-agency products such as key messaging, public statements, high profile letters, briefings etc.
• Remain up to date on key issues at the national and regional level, through engagement with relevant stakeholders
• Alert the SMT to relevant policy developments and provide analysis and input for various inter-agency meetings such as the Technical Monitoring Group, the Humanitarian Country Team and others.
• Support the Head of Programmes and Technical Coordinators in coordinating advocacy and programme objectives and develop programme-specific policy work. In addition, work with Sector Managers, Technical Coordinators and Area managers on key issues within clusters, working groups and area specific forums.
• Contribute to the DRC’s global and regional advocacy strategies and initiatives, ensuring that the DRC Yemen specificities are reflected and captured.
• As part of DRC’s commitment to localisation, ensure DRC works in equitable partnerships with Yemeni civil society for advocacy, and work with relevant programme staff to ensure advocacy efforts are locally led.
• Participate in and conduct research to prepare for global advocacy joint calls on Yemen and provide information and advocacy messages relating to the Yemen humanitarian crisis.

 

Representation & Communication

• Liaise with key UN, NGO and other interlocutors in country to ensure DRC has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and response in the region.
• Represent DRC in key forums, including the Advocacy Working Group for Yemen, and other groups as delegated by the CD.
• Represent DRC in external meetings with a variety of stakeholders, including – but not limited to – diplomatic staff within embassies, donor governments, UN leadership, think-tanks. Support the Yemen CO to build relationships in key capitals and represent DRC Yemen in agreement with the CD.
• Share timely information and coordinate global advocacy work with DRC representation office in key capitals (Copenhagen, Brussels, Geneva, Berlin)
• Establish strategic relationships with media outlets to ensure push of key advocacy messages and communication materials.
• Support in developing messaging for and actions around key national policy responses and frameworks, as well as other factors such as UN coordination, protection concerns, funding for the response, security and current and future challenges that have an impact on displaced populations and their access to humanitarian assistance and protection services;
• Build networks of key informants and stakeholders in country.

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Coordinates and supervises the daily activities of the communication officer
• Contribute to recruitment, capacity building, and performance appraisal of members of the team as needed.

 

CCY-specific responsibilities

 

• Oversee the CCY research and advocacy strategy development process in line with the revised CCY strategy. This will include managing an external consultant hired for leading the process.
• Manage communications and visibility consultants from the start of the next funding cycle, ensuring that high-quality communications and visibility products are developed and shared with donors on a regular basis.
• Support the consortium management unit with the development and dissemination of CCY-specific policy and research outputs, engaging relevant stakeholders, and ensuring effective dissemination and uptake of research products.

 

About you

   To be successful in this role you must have:

• At least 5 years' experience working in policy, research and advocacy on humanitarian issues, access, refugee rights, human rights, and/or development issues.
• Proven experience of influencing and advocacy work including lobbying, policy development and information provision in humanitarian issues.
• Experience of and strong skills in developing and implementing humanitarian advocacy strategies and campaigns.
• Knowledge of international human rights and humanitarian law, humanitarian and protection principles
• Understanding of UN and donor operations at country and regional level.
• Understanding of political and humanitarian context in the region and/or in Yemen
• Experience in producing and/or supervising production of communications materials

 

 

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 our vision and values. 

Moreover, we also expect the following:

 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in human rights, social sciences, journalism, or related discipline is compulsory. Advanced degree such as Masters or a combination of disciplines, is an advantage.

 

 Languages:

• Full proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Arabic is an asset

 

We offer:

Contract length: One - year Contract Length, renewable based on funding availability.  

Band: G Non- manager

Duty Station: Sana’a Yemen, with Frequent travel to the Felid.    

Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Start date: As soon as possible.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.

 

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English only. 

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact [email protected] Please note that applications sent directly to the email will not be considered.

Applications close on 15  July, 2026.  Longlisting is accepted to take place in the week after the closing date.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.ngo

 

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