EU Policy and Advocacy Intern- Humanitarian and Conflict

About the International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian relief and development organisations. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and rebuild their lives. The IRC delivers emergency aid, protects children, provides health care, prevents and responds to violence against women and girls, safeguards human rights and helps to kick-start economic recovery. Working in more than 40 countries, the IRC has restored hope and opportunity to many millions of people.

IRC Brussels

The IRC Belgium represents the IRC’s global network, leading on the IRC's engagement with the EU institutions. Our priority is to ensure that EU policy and legislation meets the needs of those affected by conflict and disaster. We use the IRC's learning and experience to help shape EU humanitarian, development and migration policies in order to improve the lives of more people worldwide, and to ensure that EU funding is targeted effectively.

THE POLICY & ADVOCACY TEAM

IRC EU’s policy and advocacy team works closely with colleagues in the Europe and global advocacy team, country programmes, the communications team, and technical units to seek to influence the positions, policy and practice of key European and global targets in their responses to major humanitarian emergencies. By positioning the IRC as a thought leader in Europe we seek to increase the productivity of humanitarian aid and its ability to achieve outcomes for people living in and displaced by conflict and crisis.

The Purpose of the Role

The IRC Belgium policy and advocacy intern position will work closely with IRC’s EU Conflict and Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Advisor and with policy staff throughout the organisation (London, Washington, New York, Berlin and in country programmes), to improve outcomes for conflict affected and displaced people. The work will focus primarily on IRC Europe’s priority crisis countries, including but not limited to, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Ukraine.

Duties

- Assist with monitoring, research and analysis on how the EU and EU Member States address humanitarian crises in conflict-affected countries from a humanitarian, development as well as diplomatic perspective. Ensure information is systematically shared with relevant colleagues. - Provide policy research and analysis of key humanitarian processes, debates, and policy developments relevant to IRC’s priority crisis countries. - Assist in formulating policy briefings, press releases and other advocacy materials. - Assist in the organisation of events, meetings and conferences internally and with NGOs, EU Institutions and Member States. - Attend relevant meetings and conferences with donors, policy-makers and other partners, as requested. - Perform other duties as needed, such as keeping contact databases updated, organising travel, translating, proofreading, verifying references, summarising, helping with presentational as well as administrative tasks. - The role will also need to liaise with other departments and offices in IRC Europe including Communications, IRC UK and IRC Deutschland as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

- Graduate degree in Political or Social Sciences, Law, International Relations, Humanitarian Studies or a relevant field or equivalent experience.

- Strong understanding of the EU policy environment related to conflict, humanitarian and displacement and the functioning of key EU Institutions, including relevant EU Commission departments, the External Action Service, EU Parliament and Council.

- Familiarity with current debates on humanitarian and development issues in the EU and its relations with partner countries. - Understanding of current major humanitarian emergencies and refugee crises e.g. the Yemen, Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan crises.

- Strong research, analysis and reporting skills, with excellent writing skills and the ability to undertake research quickly, write under pressure and translate complex material and data into coherent narratives. - Strong communication skills, including excellent (spoken and written) English required, combined with working French as an asset. - Exceptional organisation skills, with a very good eye for detail when organising events, and a demonstrated ability to multi-task, plan ahead and keep track of tasks. - Proactive and able to work well independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, challenging non-profit setting. - Flexible approach to work, supporting team as required and adapting to changes.

Desirable

- Experience working with/in the European Parliament, the European External Action Service, DG ECHO, DG INTPA is considered an asset. - Experience working on humanitarian emergency, refugee, conflict or development issues in an academic or professional setting is desirable. - Previous experience of working on humanitarian files.

Conditions: We offer a monthly stipend as will be explained during the interview.

IRC is deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the organisation. We want our organisation to become more representative of all sections of society and particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Populations, who are underrepresented across the humanitarian sector.

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