This Regional role is mainly focused on 1) providing strategic leadership on  SR&DS and specifically return and cross-border programming 2) coordination and implementing the Regional DS and Cross border roadmap, 3) providing hands-on support to Country Offices (Ukraine, Moldova and Poland) on initiatives and programmes related to durable solutions and self-reliance, in alignment with the global strategy and through collaborative working with the Regional Core Competency/Thematic Advisers.

To support the regional response in the best way, NRC has established the Central and Eastern Europe Regional Office (CEERO), based in Warsaw, Poland. This ensures a centralised structure in proximity to the crisis and provides coordinated support, management, advice and oversight to the country operations. Under the management of the Regional Programme Director, the department is responsible for the strategic development of NRC programming in the region by maximizing the support to and the development of COs as well as by exploring and creating synergies among COs. The Regional Programme Department is focused on research, policies, guidance & procedures, evidence and learning, capacity building, programme quality and donor engagement. The programme department includes Core Competencies (Education, ICLA, Shelter and Settlement, Livelihood and Food Security, Protection from Violence), Thematic (Partnerships, Cash & Markets, Safe and Inclusive Programming, Digital) Advisers as well as a MEL and Grants Managers.

What we are looking for:

NRC is seeking an experienced Regional Durable Solutions and Self Reliance Advisor – who will provide advisory and technical support to the country programmes in the Central and Easter Europe Region (CEERO) to operationalise programming and advance progress towards durable solutions and self-reliance.

What you will do:

The following is a brief description of the role:

Policy and strategy and programme development

• Responsible for ensuring compliance and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures in relation to the overarching strategic objective while contributing to the development of strategies, tools and approaches with a focus on innovation and piloting.
• Contribute to the NRC global development and operationalisation of the strategic objective of durable solutions and self-reliance, through collaborative working with the NRC Global Lead, S SR&DS, and by sharing learning and expertise with Head Office and other Regional Offices.
• Responsible for  supporting the development of country/regional cross-border and return strategy and implementation plans in line with global guidance and policy (on return).
• Responsible for ensuring SR/DS technical knowledge informs programme-based advocacy strategies.
• Contribute to the resource mobilization and fundraising for regional programme development related to Durable Solutions.

Technical development, support, and capacity strengthening:

• Responsible for providing advice, technical support, and capacity building support to the Country Offices in the region on thematic of durable solutions and self-reliance, in alignment with the global strategy.
• Working with RO sector and thematic programme advisers to mainstream of self-reliance and durable solutions to advance a multi-year integrated, holistic response in line with the global Response Policy .
• Facilitating and stimulating an environment conducive to innovation that ensures impactful durable solutions and self-reliance implementation. Keeping informed on innovation insights and analysis of relevance to the thematic of durable solutions and self-reliance. Ensure this knowledge is integrated into the systems and culture of the organisation at country and regional levels.
• Contribute to development and delivery of induction and training provision of Country Office and Regional Office staff in relation to durable solutions and self-reliance.
• Contribute to recruitment interviews for technical staff in Country Offices in the region.

Quality standards, data analysis, and MEL:

• Responsible for ensuring that best practices related to durable solutions and self-reliance programmes or initiatives are identified, documented, and disseminated both within the region and with the Global Lead, Durable Solutions and Self-Reliance.
• Work in partnership with the MEL staff to ensure the alignment of the programmatic areas in the MEL and PCM systems in relation to durable solutions and self-reliance.
• Responsible for insuring that SR/DS learning informs strategy and implementation
• Responsible for ensuring that  SR/DS n  M&E measures in the region are aligned with global guidance and adequate to determine progress towards durable solutions for relevant programmes.

Networking, representation, and relationships:

• Responsible for identification, development and maintenance of relationships with relevant stakeholders (e.g., donors, UN agencies, NGOs, research- and educational institutions, private sector) related to Durable Solution and Self-Reliance.
• Responsible for development of success stories related to self-reliance and solutions in joint work with advocacy and programme colleagues.
• Work in partnership with the regional and country office advocacy leads to identify and develop regional advocacy issues related to Durable Solution and Self-Reliance.
• Responsible for identification of best practises and learning to be shared with other regions and regional durable solutions secretariats/platforms, including but not limited to through the internal monthly cross-regional DS meeting

Specific Responsibilities:

• Cross-border context analysis, internal and external coordination:
  • Responsible for leading on Cross-border dynamics/Pendular movement assessments and analysis across the region.
  • Build linkages, communications and cross-border approaches between NRC offices to facilitate DS.
  • Responsible for developing displacement and protection data analysis on a quarterly basis (for both internal and external audiences).
  • Facilitate regional coordination with external partners for improved access to, use of and contributions to contextual data.
  • Focal point for regional inter-agency coordination (UNHCR, IOM, Main I NGOs).
  • Consolidation of learning related to ICLA Cross-border initiative (in terms of costs, processes, tools, success/challenges, internal evaluation…) to inform other CC cross-border analyses/initiatives.
• Return analysis, monitoring, using NRC return guidance and principles:
  • Responsible for developing return preparedness and planning scenario, plans and tools to support Ukraine Country Office.
  • Monitoring host countries conditions and challenges to return
• Promotion of DS in Country Offices
  • Work with CC/ Thematic specialists integrate DS into sector programming approaches
  • Promote durable solutions in country office programmes and plans.
• Advocacy: engagement for informed and voluntary choices for displaced people regarding their future and depending on the context, for refugees to be locally integrated in the short and medium term until a return may be feasible if this is what displaced people wish; technical knowledge about specific barriers to access services, rights and work opportunities to be shared with relevant colleagues for further advocacy engagement.
• Learning: Facilitation of CO/RO and organizational learning on DS applied in CEERO that have Global relevance.

What you will bring:

• Minimum six years of documented international experience working on durable solutions and self-reliance related programming in a humanitarian and/or development setting.
• Experience of delivering learning and development as part of quality improvement and capacity strengthening.
• Experience in monitoring and analysis
• Experience in drafting and encouraging implementation of policy/strategic guidance, and developing practical tools and resources
• Understanding of and commitment to organisational learning, and the role and contribution of MEL to quality management and development
• Understanding of and commitment to integrated programming approaches
• Experience of project cycle management, including MEL, and of programme design / facilitation of programme design workshops.
• Experience of assessments and analysis, programme development and design.
• Extensive experience in programming in complex and volatile contexts with preference for previous experience in Central and Easter Europe.
• University degree in a relevant Social Science study

What we offer:

• Duty station: Warsaw, Poland
• Contract: National contract, 12 months, extension possible based on funding
• Salary/benefits: Grade 9 on NRC’s national salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.