Job opening for a Government Liaison Adviser at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Abuja

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The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within the shelter, emergency food security, and water, sanitation and hygiene sectors.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Government Liaison Adviser - Abuja (NIF)

Webcruiter ID: 4221574529
Location: Abuja
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time
Percentage of full-time: 100
Reports To: The Director (NIF)

Summary

• INGO Forum in partnership with NRC is looking for a Government Liaison Adviser for Abuja Country Office, in Northern Nigeria. The purpose of the Government Liaison Adviser is to support the implementation of strategic and operational priorities with a focus on ensuring local perspectives inform the Forum’s work as well as strengthen coordination between humanitarian, recovery, peace and development actors at Federal and sub-national levels and INGO's and NGO's to allow the forum to respond to member priorities, issues, and opportunities for engagement.
• NRC initiated country operations in Nigeria in June 2015, in order to respond to the critical and increasing needs in the country. NRC currently has a full team based in Maiduguri and a coordination office in Abuja.
• NRC is currently providing services across various sectors namely; Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI); Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (WASH); Food Security; and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) in order to address identified humanitarian needs.
• The INGO Forum in Nigeria was formed in late 2014 to develop a collaborative platform for effective and principled INGO interaction, engagement and coordination for humanitarian, recovery and development interventions in Nigeria.
• Since inception, the INGO Forum has become a critical platform for ensuring effective information sharing and analysis; leadership on advocacy and policy engagement; and liaison with government/donor/UN engagement and engagement ensuring the perspectives of INGOs and affected populations are ultimately included in decision-making processes.
• The INGO Forum is governed by a core membership of 41 members (and 6 observers) with new member applications pending approval on a regular basis, The INGO Forum is governed by an elected Steering Committee of five Country Directors and a Chair that works alongside a full-term Secretariat. Since March 2017, the INGO Forum is administratively hosted by NRC in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja as well as Maiduguri.

Duties and responsibilities

• Adherence with NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines
• Stay informed on political, and economic contexts, while providing analysis and structured updates of the thematic sector development situation in the country and assist in drafting and design of periodic project updates, policy briefs, and other similar materials.
• Support the implementation of strategic and operational priorities with a focus on ensuring local perspectives inform the Forum’s work.
• Stay abreast and informed of key developments in the policy and regulatory environment and provide relevant advice on opportunities for engagement
• Strengthen coordination between humanitarian, recovery, peace and development actors at Federal and sub-national levels to allow the Forum to respond to member priorities, issues and opportunities for engagement.
• Identify opportunities for effective engagement with national and local stakeholders including NNGOs and LNGOs.
• Participate in key humanitarian and development planning events and processes ensuring NGO inputs this includes the HRP, UNDAF, World Bank etc.
• Maintain updated guidelines on the regulatory environment for both existing and prospective INGOs.
• Work with the Director to strengthen engagement with Government entities e.g. MBNP, FMHDSD, FIRS, NIS, Nigerian Customs, NEDC, NEMA, SEMA and other Nigerian government structures as needed.
• Work with the program officer in following up action plans related to government engagement challenges from INGO Forum working groups and technical groups.
• Identify and lead on implementing key training and capacity support opportunities to enhance NGO engagement and performance in Nigeria.
• Support development and/ or dissemination of tools, guidelines, best practice and standards in humanitarian and development work to NGOs members and other stakeholders to enhance interventions in Nigeria.
• Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need, and explore and asses new and better ways to assist

Qualifications

• Experience working in the military or security agencies
• Strong influential relationship with Nigerian government that can yield positive results
• University degree in conflict and development, international relations, international humanitarian law or related technical field.
• Experience with developing and implementing Access and AAP related strategic objectives
• Knowledge of the humanitarian coordination system and the mandates of the actors involved.
• Good knowledge of the security environment and economic, socio-political dynamics in North-East Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region in general
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.
• Commitment to international humanitarian standards and principles.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and often demanding environment. Exceptional interpersonal skills and experience in humanitarian setting

Personal qualities:

• Planning and delivering results
• Empowering and building trust
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Handling an insecure environment
• A good sense of humour is an asset
• All employees of the Norwegian Refugee Council should be able to adhere to our Code of Conduct and the four organizational values: Dedicated, innovative, inclusive and accountable.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and often demanding environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and experience in humanitarian settings.

We can offer

• Commencement: April 2020
• Duration: 12 months
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s general directions of grade level 9 step 1
• Duty station: Abuja, with frequent travels. Travel outside Abuja is dependent on changing security conditions, especially for certain roads in the area.
• An approved health certificate will be requested before the contract start.