Policy Associate, Africa
Brussels, Belgium
Global Affairs & Partnerships – Brussels - HQ /
Full Time - Local /
On-site
In a world often divided, Search for Common Ground stands for the power of bringing diverse people together to find solutions. By meeting this moment with Search, you join a powerful global peace movement that believes in the profound impact of courageous multipartiality - that all voices should be heard and respected in shaping a better, more connected world and collaborative vision is essential for lasting peace.
Search for Common Ground takes a dynamic approach by building solutions that are based on the needs of communities. We engage with leaders and elected officials to advance dialogue and collaboration. We are community leaders. We are youth activists. We are women. We are Peacebuilders. We have been doing this work for over 40 years, we have developed our understanding of what peace looks like, being able to quantify our impact and design more effective programming. Peace moves at the speed of trust, so we invest for the long haul. When we’re no longer needed, we leave, leaving behind people and institutions with the ability to manage future conflicts. Search for Common Ground has its headquarters in the USA and Belgium, and works in over 30 conflict-affected countries.
We are looking for a motivated and proactive new colleague to join our Brussels-based team. The main focus of the role will lie in policy and advocacy around conflict and peacebuilding, with a specific focus on Africa, including the Great Lakes region. Final deadline for applications is on 11 August 2024.
Search’s Global policy and Outreach team focuses on building the policy case for the peacebuilding field. It does so by working collaboratively with Search’s teams and partners around the world, and leveraging their analysis, data and expertise to inform the policies of emerging and established actors relevant to Search’s work. It provides operational and locally-rooted policy analysis and recommendations that encourage policymakers to support and use peacebuilding more by advocating for more supportive institutional norms and structures, more and healthier funding to implementers, and more policies that encourage peacebuilding.
This position will support Search’s policy efforts related to various thematics, with a particular focus on the Great Lakes region. She/he will work at EU, Belgian and Dutch level, with civil society allies and policy makers that are active in fragile settings. The role involves supporting the development and execution of global policy and outreach campaigns, strategies and events, external representation, producing written content, building and maintaining relationships with allies and policymakers, and monitoring policy and outreach results.
She/he will report to the Policy and Outreach Manager and will be an integral part of the Global Policy and Outreach team, but will interact with a wide range of Search staff and partners, with a particular focus on Great Lakes, where Search has offices in DRC and Burundi.
Responsibilities
- Supporting the drafting of advocacy strategies, policy briefings and analysis and other policy tools;
- Monitoring political, policy and research developments;
- Reaching out to policymakers at EU, Belgian and Dutch level;
- Attending meetings and events on behalf of Search for Common Ground;
- Supporting the organisation of events and meetings in Brussels;
- Supporting communications work on the Great Lakes region;
- Contributes to planning, reporting and monitoring and evaluation of the global policy team;
- Supporting country-based colleagues on policy and advocacy.
Competency Indicators
- Engages and communicates effectively across functions and across teams.
- Participates in external meetings.
- Builds relationships and engages effectively with collaborators.
- Uses resiliency and exhibits flexibility and adaptability to changing tasks and team priorities.
- With oversight by the supervisor, writes technical sections for team documents, briefing materials, and presentations.
- Works across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
- Sensitively recognizes ethical situations.
- Focuses on the key objectives of a task or project.
- Creates accurate, organised, and timely work.
- Is resourceful with time management and technology to prioritise tasks with limited supervision.
This is a Brussels-based position. Some travel, including to the Great Lakes region, will occur.
Qualifications
- Has a minimum of three years of relevant work experience (or masters degree with 1 year of relevant experience);
- Has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, European studies, climate studies, development studies or related area;
- Has a good understanding of EU decision-making procedures and how to advance an advocacy agenda in a politically sensitive environment; knowledge of Belgian and/or Dutch institutions and legislative processes would be an asset;
- Previous advocacy experience is a definitive advantage;
- Previous experiences working on policy issues related to conflict or peacebuilding would be highly valued, a keen interest in them is required;
- Has outstanding written and spoken English and French; Dutch is an asset;
€3,330 - €3,800 a month
Contract duration and Salary Range
We offer a 1-year contract (“contrat à durée déterminée”, CDD), renewable by 1 year upon satisfactory performance and budget availability.
The salary range for this position would be between 3.330 - 3.800 EUR gross per month, based on relevant experience, with standard benefits: 22 days of annual leave, end-of-year office closure, double vacation pay, meal vouchers (Eur 7,- per worked day), life insurance, hospitalisation, dental and ambulatory health insurances, disability insurance, contribution to mobile phone use, transport allocation, home office allowance, contribution to private pension fund and end-of-year bonus.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
Hybrid office environment with 2 days per week required presence in the office and the ability to travel internationally, including to the Great Lakes region.
Please note that we are unfortunately only able to consider applicants who hold the right to live and work in Belgium.
Foreseen Start Date
As soon as possible.
Application process
The deadline for applications is 11 August 2024. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Submit your CV and motivation letter through our Application System Lever.
Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.
