Humanitarian Affairs Advisor

Application deadline- 13-12-2024- Workload- 38 hours/week- Place of work- Brussels- Contract- Open-endedThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an independent, neutral organization providing humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. It acts in response to emergencies, works in protracted conflicts and other situations of violence and at the same time promotes respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) and its implementation in national law.
Brussels is home to the main institutions of the European Union (EU) - the European Council, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, the European Parliament - and to the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). We, as the ICRC delegation in Brussels, seek to make our mandate better known and to mobilize political, diplomatic and financial support for our activities. We also seek to ensure that relevant political and military decision-makers in Europe view the ICRC as the main reference point for neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian action, as well as for International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

***Purpose of the role**:
The Humanitarian Affairs Advisor (HAA) provides support to the delegation in understanding and influencing the EU and Belgian policy and diplomatic environment. They also help to shape its engagement with both EU institutions and Belgium. They work under the supervision of the deputy head of delegation/head of operations.

***Main responsibilities**:

- Listens to and understands the main views and policy objectives of EU bodies and Belgian government and the dynamics related to humanitarian affairs and policy in specific (geographic) focus areas; this includes building a network of interlocutors, attending conferences, workshops, external briefings and subsequent reporting.
- Supports and advises the delegation (DHoD/HoOPS, other departments, Senior Advisors) in achieving diplomacy and policy objectives (including, when necessary, the organisation and facilitation of meetings/workshops with EU and Belgian interlocutors);
- Follows a mix of geographic and thematic files including support to preparedness, digitalisation, food security, and health, leading on engagement on Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific (excluding Afghanistan), Belgium and the European Parliament.
- Cultivates a network of contacts related to humanitarian affairs beneficial for the delegation and supports engagement with other humanitarian stakeholders in Brussels (RCEU office, VOICE, and others);
- Plans, accompanies, reports and follows-up when necessary, colleagues from HQ or field, to external meetings with EU and Belgian interlocutors (EEAS, EC, EP, Belgian MFA);
- Participates in the annual Planning for Results process.
- Collaborates with the delegation management team, senior advisors, policy unit, or further departments in other delegations.

***Requirements and qualifications**:

- Fluent command of English and French or Dutch, other language would be a plus;
- 3-5 years of professional experience, at least 1-3 years‘ experience in humanitarian action or political affairs within or around the EU;
- Experience in Belgian Foreign Affairs and/or Red Cross Movement is a strong asset;
- Proven experience in cultivating networks and influencing others;
- Solid understanding of EU and Belgian architectures and their interplay with humanitarian affairs;
- Computer literacy;
- Analytical skills (including legal and policy) and ability to synthetize;
- Team player

The Humanitarian Affairs Advisor (HAA) provides support to the delegation in understanding and influencing the EU and Belgian policy and diplomatic environment. They also help to shape its engagement with both EU institutions and Belgium. They work under the supervision of the deputy head of delegation/head of operations.