Policy, Research, and Advocacy Officer

Sawa for Development and Aid is a Civil Society Organisation founded initially as a spontaneous initiative in December 2011 to respond to the arrival of the first 40 Syrian families displaced from Syria into the North of Lebanon.

This initiative then grew to include individual activists, locals and internationals, who worked together (literally meaning ‘Sawa’ in Arabic) to share their knowledge and exchange their experiences in order to support Syrians, internally displaced or refugees in neighbouring countries, united by their belief in their right to live in dignity and freedom, and to be active individuals in their communities, and wherever they are.

Sawa sees itself as part and parcel of the society, and that it is on a continuous learning journey based on a participatory relationship at all levels with the communities that it works with, whether host or displaced, as well as with local and international partners.

Sawa believes that humanitarian, developmental and civic work has to always strive to achieve social justice, and so it aims to work with individuals and communities through holistic interventions towards a society based on democracy, pluralism, and values of citizenship and human rights. 

Job Description

-Provide research and analysis in line with SAWA for Development and Aid’s strategic plan on key humanitarian and related debates, and produce reports, briefing notes and other materials on key focus countries where SAWA operates, and on the policy environment in Lebanon and neighboring countries.

-Lead advocacy efforts on specific advocacy priorities in line with SAWA’s strategic plan, representing SAWA to high profile policy- makers, practitioners, think-tanks, academic partners, the media and the public. Work closely with the Director to support the development of SAWA’s advocacy strategies and activities on priority issues.

-Identity possible advocacy opportunities and develop advocacy plan and as part of that plan, identify gaps in evidence/ information that could be addressed by research.

-In collaboration with senior management, draft and review a long-term strategy and a yearly work plan for the department, in line with the organisation’s strategic plan, and in collaboration with broader stakeholders taking into account beneficiaries’ needs and requests.

-Document previous research and advocacy experience within the organisation.

-Create evidence-based advocacy material from previous and current programmes.

-Identify and watch out for innovative and new ways and approaches for advocacy.

-Work closely with other Syrian Civil Society Organisations engaged in the same kind of work.

-Manage Policy and Advocacy temporary staff and Interns.

Tasks and Responsibilities

-Develop/update specific messages and identify advocacy targets on key SDAID’s priority issues, with the support of Director of Policy and Advocacy.

-Lead SAWA’s engagement with concerned stakeholders.

-Conduct advocacy with high-level UK/European advocacy targets including senior DFID and FCO staff and Members of Parliament on these key priorities, and where necessary provide support to other staff conducting advocacy on these issues.

-Produce materials for advocacy, communications and media purposes on SAWA’s priorities through country visits and desk based research, including drafting or inputting into reports, briefing papers, submissions to government consultations and web content.

-In conjunction with SDAID’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, represent SAWA at regional and International networks, fora, conferences and events.

-Draft and update SDAID’s public-facing materials for advocacy and general communications/fundraising.

-Support efforts to build SDAID’s presence and profile in the UK, EU and MENA region parliaments including establishing relationships with key parliamentarians.

-Support SDAID’s Director of Policy and Advocacy in providing updates and information on SDAID’s advocacy work to board members and potential donors, presenting updates in person when required.

Events, External Communications and fundraising

-Provide content for key communications material including website, short briefings, and annual report.

-General administrative work.

-Create and maintain internal systems, including contact lists, diaries of upcoming events and opportunities and other databases.