Refugee Protection and Migration Desk Manager

Background of the Desk

ALEF – act for human rights is a Lebanese non-profit, non-partisan human rights watchdog organization that works on documenting, and promoting human rights violations and values in Lebanon. ALEF seeks to strengthen the respect and fulfillment of human rights as a cornerstone of social, economic, and political development. By embracing a comprehensive approach to monitor, defend, and educate on human rights, ALEF aims to complement and gear all efforts towards the achievement of an influential human rights constituency, and the realization of a durable peace.

ALEF’s advocacy and policy work is divided into different thematic desks that each focus on a specific human right area of focus: Peacebuilding and Conflict Management; Criminal Justice Reform and Rule of Law; Refugee Protection and Migration; Transitional Justice; and Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association. The Refugee Protection and Migration Desk focuses on the right to asylum, migrant workers, and refugees and displaced people.

Background for the Position

The Desk Manager oversees the Refugee Protection and Migration Desk, and is responsible for all advocacy, coordination, analysis, and project and team management functions under this desk.

Scope of Work

The Desk Manager will be responsible for the following:

      Advocacy

• Manage research and materials production under the supervision of the Advocacy & Policy Coordinator including advocacy briefs, press releases, statements, position papers, and reports addressing humanitarian protection and migration issues.
• Manage the productions of publications and lead on the preparation of talking points for diverse advocacy initiatives (i.e. meetings, roundtables, conferences and others)
• Ensure ALEF’s input and contribution to international human rights mechanisms, multi-lateral conferences and others.
• Develop collaboration and coordination with various stakeholders where advocacy initiatives overlap.
• Identify relevant advocacy opportunities that ALEF could act on and coordinate with the Advocacy and Policy Coordinator on methods to do so.

      Coordination

• Represent ALEF (and the PASC WG) at various events (meetings, seminars, webinars, and conferences, etc.) organized by donors, international organizations, local organizations, and humanitarian networks and working groups.
• Represent ALEF at various coordination streams in relation to humanitarian protection and migration (i.e. Protection Working Group, Durable Solutions WG and others)
• Develop effective partnerships with a wide range of partners, including donors, establishing a positive and mutually supportive professional working relationship.

      Network Facilitation

• Facilitate the Working Group for People Affected by the Syrian Crisis (WG PASC) on behalf of ALEF
• Constantly follow-up and coordinate with the PASC members regarding advocacy activities, trainings, reporting, sharing sectoral updates, etc.
• Convene PASC meetings to discuss the network’s strategy, advocacy, the Lebanese context, and to exchange updates and information between members.
• Organize steering committee meetings.
• Oversee and update the PASC website.

      Analysis

• Keep up with the humanitarian news and updates, especially the developments of the protection and migration sector (reports, publications, legal updates, meetings, etc.)

• Update the desk’s context analysis and risks assessment and identify potential mitigation measures on regular basis.
• Lead on ad-hoc research outputs related to refugee protection and migration.
• Oversee the monitoring of violations and progresses related to refugee protection and migration.
• Brief the Advocacy & Policy Coordinator on context updates in the lead-up to high-level meetings.

      Project Management

• Responsible for the execution of projects under the Desk against the agreed objectives and within the agreed budgets. Responsible for accurate budget control and overall responsibility for financial management in line with project proposals.
• Ensure appropriate administrative, financial, and logistical systems/procedures are maintained and adhered to.
• Responsible for project reporting in line with the relevant donor contracts and compliance requirements.
• Responsible or leading, with the Desk Officers, on the preparation and timely submission of narrative reports as well as M&E reports to donors and the Advocacy & Policy Coordinator.
• Responsible for ensuring that monitoring systems are functional and that project reviews/audits are carried out periodically.
• Responsible for tracking the progress of projects under the desk.
• Responsible for the design and implementation of work plans for all the projects under the Desk in cooperation with the Advocacy & Policy Coordinator and in accordance with donor requirements.
• Optimise, in conjunction with the desk team, the use of human, logistical and financial potential.
• In coordination with the Senior Management Team, identify funding opportunities, develop plans, proposals, and budgets for new projects/extensions of projects.

• Report to the Advocacy & Policy Coordinator on meetings with the donors and external partners.
• Oversee the communication strategies of the projects under the Desk (social media, visibility, etc.) and ensure they are aligned with ALEF’s yearly communication plan.

      Team Management

• Provide line management leadership to the Desk team, ensuring they are all supported and guided to manage their tasks under the Desk.

Qualifications:

• Degree in International Affairs, Political Science, Public Relations, Human Rights, Human Development, or any related field.
• 3 – 4 years of experience in the humanitarian sector.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.
• Good knowledge of human rights’ mechanisms, platforms, and dynamics.
• Good knowledge of local laws and regulations.
• Managerial skills (organizational, reporting, budgeting, and proposal writing).
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Strong diplomatic, mediation and communication skills.
• Capacity to work independently, lead on tasks, and suggest solutions.
• Able to work fast and deliver under pressure in a volatile context.