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Humanitarian Programs & Policy Officer

World Vision International

Brussels, Belgium


Due to the departure of the current role holder, World Vision Brussels & EU Representation aisbl (WV EUREP) is recruiting a Humanitarian Programs & Policy Officer (m/f), full time.

Purpose

The main purpose of the role is to contribute to the optimal functioning of WV EUREP – a leading ‘Global Capital’ office of World Vision International – and to the achievement of two of its key strategic objectives:
  • Facilitation of the development of sustained and increasing EU revenue by European offices and their partners;
  • Shaping and influencing EU humanitarian programs and policies, and to linking this to the global humanitarian policy work of World Vision. 

Job Context

WV EUREP is an international non-profit association registered in Belgium. The membership of the association consists of World Vision fundraising organisations (called Support Offices) in 10 EU member states and World Vision International, the latter representing the global World Vision partnership, which is present and active in implementing development and humanitarian programs and projects in close to 100 countries in the world through Regional and National offices. 

WV EUREP is also one of the key ‘Global Capitals’ offices of World Vision international, which have been established in key places in the world where issues are discussed and decisions are taken that are of global significance and importance to World Vision and may have a global impact. 
The office works to support the international partnership of World Vision. It specifically endeavours to enable its member organisations, and the partnership as a whole, to work more effectively with the EU institutions in terms of resource development and in terms of influencing policies that reduce poverty and promote justice in the developing world. WV EUREP has the mandate to be the primary interface for World Vision with the EU institutions and thus the association is required to foster a consistent and uniform position of World Vision in relation to the European Union. 

As one of its core activities, WV EUREP assists World Vision organisations in the broadest sense of the word in their efforts to successfully apply for grants from the European Union and to successfully implement the programs for which these grants are awarded. WV EUREP initiates policy dialogue, and policy lobbying with EU institutions on behalf of and in consultation with members on issues relevant to WV's operations and facilitates contacts between World Vision entities and the EU institutions. 

In this context, WV EUREP also coordinates the work of two representative groups of WV`s offices in the EU: a European Programmes Reference Group (EPRG) dealing with programme partnership and grants with the EU; and a European Advocacy Working Group (EAG) covering joint work towards pro-poor EU policy and policy implementation, with a focus on preventative child health and nutrition. In addition, the office is increasingly playing a global role for World Vision, with a particular focus on innovative funding opportunities, information sharing and research, and responses to crises. 

Vital to the success of this position, the office and the wider organisation is wholehearted support for World Vision’s core values and Christian identity.

Principle areas of responsibility/activities:

1. Programming and funding;
2. Communications;
3. Advocacy;
4. Administrative assistance to staff of WV EUREP.

Supervision and coordination/consultation:

The Humanitarian Programs & Policy Officer reports directly to and is supervised by the Director for Programming & Resource Acquisition. 

In conducting his/her activities with regard to Communications and Advocacy (see sections 2 and 3 below), the Humanitarian Programs & Policy Officer will need to liaise and consult closely with the Director for Advocacy & Justice for Children and colleagues in the Policy & Advocacy team of WV EUREP, in order to ensure that communications and advocacy activities by the Humanitarian Programs & Policy Officer are carried out in coordination, coherence and compliance with advocacy and communications processes and protocols of World Vision globally and of WV EUREP internally.

Specific responsibilities, tasks and activities:

1. Programming and funding (estimated to take 70% of capacity on average)
  • Keep track of current EU and EC policy and regulatory documents and information regarding programming of interest to achievement of WV EUREP`s objectives. Monitor EU changes as related to programming for Development and Humanitarian Aid with a specific focus on ECHO and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); 
  • Attend relevant working groups and meetings taking place in Brussels or beyond that are related to Development and Humanitarian Aid with a specific focus on ECHO and DRR; 
  • Search and analyse EU and other European funding opportunities for EUREP Programme & Resource Acquisition Department, World Vision’s field and European offices; 
  • Contribute to WV EUREP capacity-building activities with regard to EU funding, in particular on developing ECHO grant applications; 
  • Provide training, support and guidance on ECHO funding opportunities and ECHO grant compliance;
  • Prepare and organise meetings of the EPRG (European Program Reference Group); 
  • Contribute to WV EUREP capacity-building activities on working with EU and on EU grant management; 
  • Support any other activities contributing to the achievement of WV EUREP objectives in terms of facilitation of funding acquisition for WV offices as set in WV EUREP strategy. 
2. Communications (estimated to take 10% of capacity on average)
  • Disseminate ECHO funding related information to World Vision EUREP, World Vision Support Offices and other relevant World Vision constituencies; 
  • Give individual advice and backstopping to Support Offices, Regional Offices and National Offices of World Vision on EC funding opportunities and requirements;
  • Liaise and coordinate within World Vision on news features, in particular in CAT III humanitarian events; send copies of external communications and summaries of meetings on Cat III events or other on-going crises to internal stakeholders, including WV EUREP advocacy team, relevant staff in European support offices, in Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs (HEA), in Advocacy & Justice for Children (A&JC) and in Advocacy Response Groups (ARG);
  • Respond to requests for EC and WV information and publications; 
  • Contribute to World Vision Central and HORIZON (World Vision online databases) updates and improvements. 
3. Advocacy (estimated to take 15% of capacity on average)
  • Participate in network or stakeholder meetings regarding HEA funding and advocacy policies and positions, representing and promoting positions agreed within WV EUREP and the wider partnership; 
  • Participate in virtual meetings of ARGs formed around CAT III and other major on-going humanitarian crises; 
  • Give individual advice to relevant point persons within the WV EUREP Advocacy team, the global Advocacy & Justice for Children department and global HEA department regarding general elements of EU institutions and structures, network positions, intelligence gathered from the EU about other stakeholders, and EU considerations; 
  • Contribute to the analysis and formulation of general Humanitarian Policy; 
  • Contribute to publications and events. 
4. Administrative tasks and General Office Administration (estimated to take 5% of capacity on average)
  • Support maintenance of an efficient filing system; 
  • Provide support to logistical arrangements for meetings, seminars, hearings, training sessions or workshops conducted by World Vision and assist in coordination with other NGOs for joint NGO events (in peak periods) as necessary.

Essential knowledge, experience and attributes:

  • An essential requirement is a minimum of one to two year(s) concrete experience of working within international development cooperation and/or humanitarian relief, including experience in and knowledge of working with ECHO and the issue of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). - Demonstrated strong ability with regard to relief proposal writing and/or relief project grants management, including project design, log frame, budget preparation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, audits etc.;
  • Master’s degree or equivalent experience in economics, politics, international relations or a field relevant to World Vision’s mission; 
  • Excellent written and spoken command of English is essential, a good command of either French or Spanish would be highly desirable, and knowledge of additional European languages will be an asset;
  • To be a either a citizen of an EU member state or already possess a valid residence and work permit for Belgium (unfortunately WV EUREP is unable to assist candidates in obtaining the required residence and work permits). 

Additional Information:

The Humanitarian Programs & Policy Officer will represent World Vision at all times with integrity, acting according to World Vision’s core values to all audiences. 

S/He will work at all times in accordance with policy and advocacy protocols, child protection policy, and other standard policies, and act within defined parameters of projects. 

S/He may be occasionally asked to carry out other duties that may be required and related to the job. Personal objectives will be set after discussion on a six-monthly basis. Any amendments to this Job Description will be made after discussion and put in writing. 

Please apply by sending your CV and cover letter by e-mail as soon as possible to EULO-Info@wvi.org. Closing date for applications is Friday 11 October 2013. Interviews will be planned for the week of 21 October 2013.