Associate UN and interagency affairs

Contract

This is a ICRC - Traineeship contract. More about ICRC - Traineeship contracts.

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Purpose

The ICRC’s Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy Division

The ICRC’s HQ Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy Division is part of the Department of International Law and Policy, and plays a central role in developing and delivering institutional policy and diplomacy objectives of the ICRC as well as overseeing the ICRC’s delegation in New York. The Division works closely with the ICRC’s Presidency, the Department of Operations and across the institution to shape strategic policy objectives, design and deliver diplomatic strategies, and influence key ICRC stakeholders. The Division also works closely with the International Federation and National Societies on areas of mutual policy interest.

Policy and diplomacy has a dual role at the ICRC: to guide the ICRC internally and to influence others. Humanitarian diplomacy supports the feasibility, acceptance and integrity of operations/field action, as well as the organization’s legal and policy initiatives, particularly with States and international organizations. The Division is also responsible for the oversight of internal policy that guides the action of the ICRC and for the development of fundamental doctrines that define how the ICRC’s Mission should be carried out. The ICRC relies on the Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy Division to develop and deliver intellectually sound, principled and compelling policy positions that resonate with the ICRC’s Mission and are easy for others to understand and communicate. Members of the team therefore need to be in close interaction with the ICRC’s operations, intellectually strong, diplomatically skilled and engaging communicators with good political instincts.

Reports to (role)

Diplomatic Adviser to the United Nations.

Accountabilities & Functional responsibilities

The Division relies on two Associates to support its work. Each Associate spends one year with the Division and works as an integral part of the team and the wider organization. Associates are specially selected for their mix of intellectual, practical and inter-personal skills.

The main role of the Associate, UN and interagency affairs, is to support the division in understanding processes and policy across the United Nations system in Geneva, in maintaining and developing a network with the UN in Geneva and other key stakeholders, and in ensuring timely and strategic engagement by the ICRC in UN and inter-agency fora, such as the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR).

Main duties and responsabilities

• Monitor and report on UN and NGO discussions in Geneva on key themes and contexts of relevance to the work of the ICRC, and ensure the timely sharing of information and analysis with the New York delegation and other relevant teams in the ICRC;
• Prepare background notes and briefing files on key thematic- and context-specific discussions at the UN and interagency fora;
• Support in coordinating the ICRC’s engagement with the Human Rights Council, liaising with Operations and the Legal Division;
• Support in coordinating the ICRC’s engagement at high-level week during the UN General Assembly, in close collaboration with the President’s office and the New York delegation;
• Support in the planning, design and coordination of strategic dialogues with key UN agencies and other key actors;
• Support in the planning and coordination of ICRC engagement at the IASC and SCHR, including at Principals level, ensuring coordination with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC);
• Support ICRC’s participation at other bilateral, multilateral and public meetings in Geneva as needed;
• Support the Division, as required, on other tasks related to senior leadership external engagements, engagement with NGOs, and collaboration with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement on policy and humanitarian diplomacy efforts.

Desired qualifications and desired experience

• Demonstrated prior exposure to UN and interagency fora and processes (IASC and Human Rights Council) through professional or academic work;
• Work experience in a humanitarian setting with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, UN or NGO.

Desired profile and skills

• A Master’s degree OR 5-year undergraduate degree in a relevant field (e.g. international relations, international politics, international law, humanitarian action, development, peace/conflict studies, etc.);
• Between one and two years of relevant professional experience after graduation;
• Demonstrated prior experience supporting senior leadership in high-level external engagements;
• Prior work experience with the UN, an NGO or diplomatic mission at HQ or in capital;
• Sound knowledge of the humanitarian ecosystem;
• Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills;
• Capacity to work fast in response to tight deadlines and with attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Sound understanding of international humanitarian law and/or human rights law;
• Excellent English; French a strong asset;

What we offer

A 12-month paid traineeship contract, based at ICRC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland

Please note that while the traineeship will offer the successful candidate exposure to various ICRC teams and aspects of the ICRC’s work, Associates do not have preferential treatment or fast-tracked access to recruitment processes for other ICRC positions.

Additional information

• Location: Geneva
• Type of contract: Traineeship
• Lenght of assignment: 12 months
• Relocation: Not provided for traineeships
• Visa/permit: legitimacy card provided
• Gross monthly salary: 3723.20 CHF
• Estimated start date: 19/04/2022
• Application deadline: 20/02/2022
• Application documents required: diplomas, work certificates, scan color of passport - please upload it on your profile

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter of no more than 700 words and a CV (Word or PDF format), in English. Any documents other than the two listed above will not be considered. In you cover letter, please answer the following questions:

• How does your background and previous experience relate to this position?
• What is your interest in applying to this specific position at the ICRC? What can you bring to the Division and the ICRC?

Deadline for the receipt of applications: 20.02.2022 (by midnight Swiss time).

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Owing to the high number of applications, only the selected candidates will be contacted for a written test, which will be followed by a skype interview. Please be aware that the ICRC has other Traineeship positions with separate application processes (for further information see the ICRC website). The application process for ICRC delegate positions is also a separate one. No information on these can be provided.