DEMAC Diaspora Liaison Coordinator

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is looking to appoint an experienced, well connected, enthusiastic, and confident DEMAC Diaspora Liaison Coordinator for its global initiative: DEMAC: Diaspora Emergency Action and Coordination.  

Who we are? 

DRC has been responding to various humanitarian crises in Lebanon since 2004, working with Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian refugees. DRC received registration from the Ministry of Interior in 2011, and since then has focused primarily on responding to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon and the resulting impact on Lebanese host community. DRC Lebanon’s focus is to ensure that we are able to respond to critical emerging humanitarian needs whilst improve the living conditions of displacement-affected populations and contribute to the achievement of durable solutions.   With an annual portfolio of $12million, and with approximately 200+ staff, DRC is focusing its response in protection and economic recovery (Ec-Rec) sector in Bekka, North Lebanon and Beirut. DRC is also contributing to the evidence base and coordination structures in country through our Evidence Generation and referral information management (RIMs) teams. 

DEMAC is a global initiative that works for a deeper understanding of diasporas as humanitarian actors and strives for better coordination between diaspora organizations, local networks and the institutional humanitarian system.  Founded in 2015, DEMAC aims to increase engagement, visibility, and recognition for diaspora organizations within the humanitarian system. By fostering a deeper understanding of diasporas as transnational humanitarian actors, DEMAC contributes to transforming the humanitarian ecosystem. Please visit: www.demac.org. 

This initiative is funded by the H2H Network, driving change across the humanitarian system, getting more to people in need, by coordinating and convening humanitarian-to-humanitarian support and services. 

About the Job 

DEMAC aims at strengthening the Lebanese diaspora efforts in humanitarian response. Building on previous DRC diaspora research and on a recent mapping of Lebanese diaspora actors, we will conduct a Real-Time Review (RTR), analyzing the Lebanese diaspora’s humanitarian and recovery efforts since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement. The DEMAC Diaspora Liaison Coordinator will play a critical role, building on the results from the RTR, in functioning as an entry point and building relations between the humanitarian system, local actors, and diaspora organizations/communities to allow for more effective humanitarian response. 

The main role is to promote participation of diaspora in humanitarian interventions and coordination mechanisms within Lebanon, enhance the capacity of diaspora and create a vibrant hub and community of practice. The DEMAC Diaspora Liaison Coordinator will report to DRC Lebanon Head of Programme and be technically supervised on a day-to-day basis by DEMAC Emergency Coordinator. 

Your main duties and responsibilities will be: 

• Support the finalization & launch of the RTR in close collaboration with DEMAC Research Specialist.  
• Conduct diaspora outreach. 
• Organize one in-person workshop bringing together diaspora from different regions to agree on priorities and coordination mechanisms. 
• Support diaspora’s coordination effort by organizing biweekly online meetings to update them on the humanitarian activities in country, facilitate discussions, and support their effective engagement. 
• Participate actively in relevant cluster/sector meetings, (I)NGO forum meetings, and other relevant coordination bodies. In these meeting coordinate closely with all stakeholders and collect relevant information to be shared with Diaspora Organisations (DOs). Promote diaspora participation in relevant clusters or working groups and collaborations with diaspora organisations/communities in humanitarian interventions.  
• Facilitate online technical trainings with support from DEMAC Capacity Development Specialist to build specialized skills and knowledge within participating organizations and offer ad-hoc tailored technical assistance and mentorship to diaspora organizations. 
• Support programmatic synergies with other H2H Lebanon projects.  
• Prepare and disseminate monthly updates for diaspora organizations with an overview of the humanitarian situation, needs and gaps in the country based on information provided through Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG), NGO coordination forums, and through other relevant sources. 
• Prepare and disseminate monthly updates for institutional stakeholders with an overview of activities and results related to diaspora engagement and initiatives in humanitarian response. 
• Establish a system for and ensure capturing and disseminating best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from the initiative. 
• Share strategic lessons-learned and collaborate with the DEMAC team to support the further development of DEMAC`s operational response methodology. 
• Support fundraising efforts in support of diaspora engagement.  

About you 

To be successful in this role you should have a minimum of 3 to 5 years experience in progressively more senior roles within the humanitarian and civil society sector.

Moreover, we also expect the following: 

Required: 

• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience within the humanitarian or NGO field with a focus on coordination, localization and/or diaspora/local civil society actors. 
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.  
• Experience in delivering capacity building programs. 
• Proven experience in humanitarian coordination, negotiation, and advocacy skills 
• Experience conducting workshops, events, seminars and webinars with a variety of civil society actors in a range of contexts. 
• Demonstrated competence to assess priorities and concurrently manage a variety of activities effectively to meet short deadlines with attention to detail and quality. 
• Good collaboration and communication skills and ability to build good working relations with people from different cultural backgrounds. 
• Proven ability to work in an agile and responsive manner and adapt interventions based on needs and contextual changes. 
• Proven knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and standards. 
• Fluent in English and Arabic. 

Desirable: 

• Strong network in the Lebanese diaspora. 
• Experience in Livelihood/Economic recovery programming. 
• Fluent in French. 

We offer: 

• Contract length: 6 months with potential extension pending successful fundraising and based on performance. 
• Band: Non-Management G-1 
• Work location: Beirut, Lebanon.  
• Start date: 1st of February or as soon as possible after. 

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on national contracts; please refer to our website for more details. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Yaman Salam, DEMAC Emergency Coordinator, yaman.salam@drc.ngo