Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Officer (Remote)
About Asylum Access
Asylum Access believes it’s time to put power back in the hands of people who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries.
Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally and go to school. By supporting refugees as they assert their rights, we help restore their power and agency. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honors refugees’ freedom, dignity and autonomy, and empowers them to make choices about their own lives.
Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organizations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organizations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to better uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.
Project Description
The Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative (RRLI) is a six-organization strong global coalition dedicated to shifting power and resources to refugee-led organizations (RLOs). The initiative is convened by Asylum Access, and includes 5 prominent RLOs around the world: Basmeh & Zeitooneh in Lebanon, Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) in Egypt, Refugiados Unidos in Colombia, Refugees and Asylum Seekers Information Centre (RAIC) in Indonesia, and Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) in Uganda. Together, the initiative aims to assist 45 RLOs to access 20 million USD across 10 countries in 5 years and unlock 20 million USD for RLOs around the world. We were the recent recipient of the USD 10 million Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award, which has kickstarted the effort, and have already awarded 3.6 million in grants to 17 refugee-led organizations.
Position Description
The Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Officer serves as part of the RRLI Implementation Team to assist advocacy and fundraising activities happening across the Coalition. This position works closely with the Director of Partnerships and Communications Coordinator to collect and analyze data, and utilize that data for advocacy and fundraising materials. The Officer reports to the Director of Partnerships, who oversees Advocacy and Fundraising activities.
The Research and Advocacy Officer provides key contribution to the RRLI team in developing advocacy and fundraising materials. Additionally, the Officer provides coordination assistance for advocacy and fundraising activities as advised by their supervisor. The Officer will enjoy the opportunity to build relationships with RRLI Coalition members and grantees in developing advocacy materials, and with key fundraising and advocacy targets while supporting the RRLI team with fundraising and advocacy efforts.
Key Responsibilities
All duties are carried out in combination with and the guidance of the coalition. An excellent joint working relationship with coalition members is essential to the success of this role. The Research and Advocacy Officer will perform a wide range of duties, including the following:
Advocacy Support: (50%)
- Prepare talking points, position papers, fact sheets, briefing notes, and other advocacy materials with the guidance of RRLI and Coalition representatives, and using data from evidence-generation activities
- Monitor advocacy opportunities and work with the Director of Partnerships to take appropriate action
- Provide aid and thought partnership to RRLI and Coalition Members to participate in strategizing for advocacy moments key to RRLI’s mission, including providing coordination assistance when necessary with important stakeholders
Fundraising Support: (30%)
- Collaborate with the fundraising team to identify potential donors, grants, and funding opportunities.
- Provide assistance to the fundraising team to produce concept notes, applications, and reports, including providing coordinating support when needed with donor targets
- Provide data and research findings to contribute to grant applications and reporting requirements.
- Coordinate Working Group 3 meetings on Fundraising and Advocacy, including setting agendas in consultation with members of RRLI’s Fundraising team
Evidence Generation Activities: (20%)
- Assist in the production of evidence-generation materials, including collecting and analyzing data from the RRLI team, Coalition members, and grantees, and drafting materials such as case studies and impact reports
Reports to: RRLI Director of Partnerships, RRLI hosted at Asylum Access
Required Qualifications:
- Prior and proven experience in developing written materials in relationship to development and advocacy;
- Notable initiative and ability to take ownership of projects, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively independently and collaboratively in a team environment;
- Fluency in English and the ability to demonstrate excellent writing skills;
- Demonstrated ability to collect and analyze data;
- Prior grant writing experience is an asset;
- Time management and organizational skills;
- Cultural competence and intelligence, ability to work well in a diverse, multicultural workforce;
- Exceptional willingness to ensure meaningful participation, inclusion, and engagement for all team members and external partners
The ideal candidate must have experienced forced displacement.
Hours and Location of Work
This is a full-time remote position and candidates should be aware that flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take off hours calls and meetings with international colleagues.
Compensation
The RRLI Research & Advocacy Officer position is a full-time, exempt role. We anticipate that the role will take approximately 40 hours per week.
We are open to candidates in a variety of locations with at least 4 hours of overlapping working time with US Eastern Time Zone. Note that employment arrangements and contract details may differ based on location. All candidates, regardless of location, should be aware that some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take out-of-hours calls and meetings with international colleagues.
The position comes with a well-paying nonprofit salary based on location, with an annual salary for US-based candidates of USD 63,496. The offered salary will be calculated based on location and offered in local currency. Generous paid time off policies and healthcare coverage appropriate to the location will also be offered.
Asylum Access is committed to paying competitive salaries and upholding sustainable equity practices. Due to the ways in which salary negotiations perpetuate existing structural inequities, Asylum Access as a practice does not participate in salary negotiations for any candidate.
Application Instructions to Candidates
Please upload a resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample in English. In your cover letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, and how you learned about the position.
Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expertise of those who have experienced displacement, and encourage people with such lived experience to apply.
For more information about our organization, visit www.asylumaccess.org.