ROLE PURPOSE:

The ongoing humanitarian crisis for families and children in Greece is one of the biggest child rights crises in Europe. The proposed EU Asylum and Migration Pact to be agreed in 2021 is a crucial moment for Save the Children to influence and ensure that measures put in place protect children over the coming decade throughout Europe. Greece will be the primary testing ground for the proposed EU legislation to be adopted by the EU and its Member States.

Migration and displacement will be a key area of focus for the broader region in this strategic period, looking at recent developments and potential scenarios in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Save the Children – given our scale and footprint – is well-placed to lead the coordination of efforts to ensure the needs of children moving across regions are understood, recognized and prioritized both locally and globally. There is complexity and a political environment that is pushing against norms we are trying to uphold regarding refugee/migrant children. Protecting the interests and addressing the needs of children on the move requires a concerted, joined-up effort around external engagement and advocacy. Therefore, Save the Children Europe is seeking and advocacy adviser to be seconded to a Greek partner organization in Greece.

Brussels is home to the European Union, a regional institution which plays a critical role in shaping children’s lives and helping to ensure their rights are fulfilled. The EU also shapes and decides rules on asylum and migration which directly affect migrant and refugee children in EU member states and beyond.

The post holder will support the Greek partner organization to play a key role in our engagement and influencing of European Union actors working on the Migration and Asylum Pact, through providing evidence, including testimonies and reports on laws and practices affecting migrant and refugee children in Greece, with a particular focus on the Aegean islands and the Greece-Turkey border. This work will enable us to make a credible case for humane asylum and migration policies at Europe’s outer borders and better mechanisms for responsibility-sharing within Europe.

Across the broader region, Save the Children has presence supporting children on the move, from Tunisia (North Africa Migration Initiative) to Egypt (East African Migration Routes Project) to the North West Balkans (Balkans Migration and Displacement Hub), as well as presence in many countries of origin - Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine are in the top 10 countries of origin for refugees in Greece. The post holder will ensure cross regional engagement and linking up with other SC offices working with children on the move along the Eastern Mediterranean route.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: SC Europe Senior Advocacy Adviser on Migration with a dotted line to the Regional Advocacy Director, MEEE RO

Key internal relationships:; Save the Children’s Middle East and Eastern Europe Regional Office (MEEE RO); Save the Children’s European Migration Advocacy Group (EMAG); SC Europe Director; Advocacy Coordinator and Director Balkan Migration and Displacement Hub, Save the Children global advocacy offices (in particular Geneva); Save the Children’s Humanitarian Advocacy Working Group and Humanitarian Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Technical Working Group.

Role Dimensions:

• This role seeks to support Save the Children’s European and global work on the refugee and migrant crisis in Greece, in particularly relating to refugee and migrant children’s rights. The post holder will have a thorough understanding of the laws and policies influencing the situation in Greece, with a presence on the islands and at borders- through and in close collaboration with the Greek partner - and the ability to collect direct evidence and reports documenting the situation on the ground. The post holder will be expected to have a solid network among stakeholders operating on the Greek islands and access to camps, shelters and pilot facilities where children are present. The post holder will be able to react quickly to ongoing events and provide up-to-date information to internal stakeholders within Save the Children. They will also represent Save the Children vis-a-vis relevant decision makers, stakeholders and media where needed. The post holder is expected to work in close collaboration with the Greek partner and to support capacity-building initiatives for the partner, in particular around child participation and child-focused advocacy work.

Location: the person will be preferably based within GCR office / sub-office, and preferably on Lesvos Island, with regular travels to the other islands (Samos, Chios, Leros, Kos) and to Athens.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• In collaboration with the Greek partner organisation, build strong networks with key child rights stakeholders, non-governmental and governmental actors in Greece to support EU-wide influencing on migration and asylum policies
• Support the Greek partner organisation in documenting impact of current policies on children with regular monitoring and reports on the situation on the ground, including regular updates to internal stakeholders and responding to requests for information.
• Support a wide array of stakeholders within Save the Children in developing targeted recommendations to improve the protection of children as part of the new Migration and Asylum Pact, with a particular focus on Greece.
• Support the Greek partner organisation in collecting relevant materials to support Save the Children’s media and campaigns work across Europe and globally, understand communication and media needs, sensitivities in reporting on children and child safeguarding principles
• In close collaboration with the Greek partner organisation, support the development of a Greece advocacy plan to achieve systemic/policy change for improved protection and quality of services for children on the move in Greece, including promotion of durable Solutions for migrant and refugee children.
• Collaboration and engagement with interagency and coordination efforts for rights-based research and advocacy for children on the move in and across Greece
• Ongoing context analysis and monitoring of EU and Greek policy relating to migration as well as other key policy objectives as needed; this includes interfacing and acting as advocacy focal point for the SC global and regional advocacy working groups such as EMAG and the HAWG.
• Producing briefings (private and public), context analysis, impact studies and reports to identify gaps and policy solutions for children on the move targeting Greek and European stakeholders and ensuring visibility and continued monitoring and engagement on Greece at capital levels, as well as regional and national.
• Link and integrate advocacy and policy work across Greece with SC Europe and the broader regional strategies and initiatives, in close collaboration with the Regional Office AMC team.
• Ensuring child participation in key regional and national decision-making processes, including consulting with children and raising their voices to decision makers.
• Work with communications staff on media strategies and outreach on related issues including on supporting reactive and proactive media and communication work.
• Working with local partners, develop creative ideas for low cost/high impact advocacy initiatives for Greece to showcase leverage influence with little resources. Evaluate, monitor and report about policy impact on children and policy gaps to be addressed.
• Accompany and support the Greek partner organisation in strengthening its child-focused advocacy work and in expanding its network with key child-rights stakeholders both in Greece and outside Greece (EU level)

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SC Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving Save the Children values

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves, takes responsibility for their own personal development

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s level, or equivalent through experience, with a qualification in politics, law, international relations, social work or a related field is desirable. Education to Bachelor’s degree level is essential.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrated understanding of advocacy, ability to write tailored reports, briefings and recommendations for different audiences
• Knowledge and understanding of the EU and Greek laws and policies, in particular relating to asylum, migration and child protection
• At least 3 years´experience in working on the ground in the Greek refugee response, preferably on child rights related issues
• Ability to apply child safeguarding principles in advocacy and communications
• Proven ability to speak and communicate effectively
• Experience of successfully operating in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Commitment to Save the Children’s values
• Ability to work in English
• Greek language skills constitute a strong and preferable asset.

Source:https://www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply/details?jid=60106