PRA Coordinator (Policy, Research, and Advocacy)

SAWA for Development and Aid is a Civil Society Organization 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 neighboring countries, united by their belief in their right to live in dignity, 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 the values of citizenship and human rights. 

Objective of the Role:

The PRA Coordinator’s responsibility goes in line with SAWA’s strategic plan on key humanitarian and related debates, produce reports, briefs notes and other materials on the policy environment in Lebanon and neighboring countries. 
H/she will develop, organize, and execute a wide range of activities to influence policy according to the scope of SAWA’s programs, and specific results-oriented projects. The PRA Coordinator will play an active role in networking and representing SAWA in a wide range of policy issues at events, conventions, and media opportunities. S/he will be able to integrate communication tools and channels. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

•    Engage with national and local stakeholders and represent SAWA at relevant national committees and advocacy working groups.
•    Interacts and networks with other human rights-based NGOs and community organizations and national coalition groups as requested. 
•    Provide ongoing, quarterly context analysis on national ministerial changes/humanitarian context and/or opportunities for policy influence in coordination with technical coordinators.
•    Develop policy briefs/statements and reports for national level advocacy and humanitarian advocacy for Syria Crisis response. 
•    Plan and implement relevant advocacy initiatives at national level with support from the director.
•    Understand the social, political and economic context of Lebanon and Syrian, and analyze the different areas in which SAWA can conduct local level advocacy and how this methodology can be linked to national level systems reform. 
•    Advise on the implementation of local level advocacy plans within various sectors in the area programs. 
•    Provide training for staff members and communities to equip them with tools, knowledge and skills on local level advocacy methodologies among other relevant topics. 
•    Manage data collection and coordination of activities including the development, implementation, and evaluation of all research aspects.
•    Design, develop, and implement procedures of methods for the creation of datasets for analysis and ensuring data quality and confidentiality. 
•    Prepare data sharing and study progress reports. 
•    Conduct searches and maintain database for results and citation.
•    Analyze research data, interpret results, and prepare manuscripts and presentations.
•    Disseminate research findings at meetings.
•    Attend and participate in local and international capacity building events as needed. 

Competencies and Skills:

•    Bachelor's degree in international affairs.
•    Minimum 3 years of experience working in international affairs, advocacy with Lebanese civil societies.
•    Very strong facilitation and communication skills.
•    Very strong ability to write, edit, and speak English (previous experience writing, editing and/or publishing articles). 
•    Must be able to represent SAWA to major program stakeholders and donors in a highly professional manner, in person and in writing. 
•    Ability to quickly understand and absorb new topics, issues, and disciplines and extract relevant advocacy strategies from them.
•    Good understanding of political affairs and international institutions.
•    Experience in stakeholder mapping and strategizing according to policy objectives of different projects. 
•    Experience of coordinating work between different stakeholders.
•    Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences.
•    Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. 
•    Excellent organizational and time management skills.
•    Ability to work with minimal direction, with team members as well as alone. 
•    Ability to cope with working in a dynamic and changing environment. 
•    A full commitment to SAWA’s core values and Code of Conduct.