DEMAC Community Engagement Officer

Are you motivated to work in one of the largest humanitarian organisations worldwide and become part of a global organisation with a strong drive for assisting and protecting displaced people and empower them towards a better future?

Do you want to join a dynamic team dedicated to strengthening the role of diaspora organisations in humanitarian settings? Are you interested in the humanitarian situation Ukraine?

Who are we?

The Diaspora Programme is implemented by Danish Refugee Council (DRC)’s Civil Society Engagement team. DRC engages civil society actors rooted in and/or with direct ties to the Global South, and therefore considers diaspora transnational civil society actors an integral part of the civil society we work with.

Since 2010, DRC has been working with diaspora groups as transnational civil society actors. Engagement with diaspora is based on a recognition of the significant role they play for people and communities in countries of origin (or heritage), for refugees and migrants in transit, and for newly arrived refugees and migrants in countries of residence, and, consequently, their potential for improving the situation for many of those affected by conflict and displacement.

ABOUT DEMAC :

DEMAC is a global initiative that works for a deeper understanding of diasporas as humanitarian actors and strives for better coordination between diaspora organizations, local networks and the institutional humanitarian system. DEMAC is hosted by The Danish Refugee Council and funded by USAID.

Founded in 2015, DEMAC aims to increase engagement, visibility, and recognition for diaspora organizations within the humanitarian system. By fostering a deeper understanding of diasporas as transnational humanitarian actors, DEMAC contributes to transforming the humanitarian ecosystem.

The term diaspora refers to migrants, refugees, and their descendants living outside their country of birth or ancestry yet still maintaining meaningful emotional and material ties to that country. In humanitarian emergencies and fragile situa-tions, many diasporas seek to contribute to improving situations on the ground and assist people in need in their country of origin. With their close links and networks in country of origin as well as abroad, diasporas are able to establish and sustain development initiatives, and to mobilise quickly in a humanitarian crisis.

Since 2021, DEMAC has mapped and engaged with over 100 Ukrainian Diaspora Organizations globally. The goal: To support Ukrainian diaspora organizations in coordinating aid assistance with local NGOs and institutional humanitarian actors and creating a network for collaboration. Currently, DEMAC is expanding its operations in Denmark and Ukraine to strengthen the engagement between local Ukrainian NGOs and diaspora organizations globally for skills and knowledge exchange.

About the job

The main role of the DEMAC Community Engagement officer for Ukraine is to support community engagement in collaboration with the rest of the DEMAC team and key stakeholders involved in the project. This role involves fostering engagement between local NGOs in Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora, utilizing technology-based network building through an innovative App. The App will serve as a first-of-its-kind hub for diaspora humanitarians to connect for response activities through knowledge and skills exchange. This effort will be part of strengthening local leadership that supports response efforts originating from and are managed by local organizations.

The DEMAC Community Engagement officer will organize and facilitate consultations with local NGOs and Ukrainian diaspora organizations to finalize app features, conduct app testing, and pilot the app. This includes organizing focus-group testing, individual consultations, and community engagement workshops to build trust, understand challenges, and set expectations for the app. Additionally, it involves promoting the app to enhance community engagement and relevance.

The DEMAC Community Engagement officer for Ukraine will play a critical role in supporting Diaspora Organizations humanitarian response in Ukraine and in building relations between the diaspora organisations and local Ukrainian NGOs to allow for more effective communication and collaboration through innovative tech-solutions.

The DEMAC Community Engagement officer role is a new role that is focused on the community engagement for this app project and might evolve due to the volatile context in Ukraine.

The main task will include (but will not be limited to):

• Support Community Engagement Building between Ukrainian diaspora organizations globally and local Ukrainian NGOs to create trust for technology-based network building through an App.
• Identification of relevant diaspora and local organizations (criteria based on countries of residence; oblasts, technical access, smartphone users, non-smartphone users) for testing that align with a diverse representation of users (youth, women, men, elderly)
• Planning and managing all community engagement activities, such as organizing online and in-person consultation meetings and workshops with diaspora and local organizations to test the performance, features and usability of this app for skills and knowledge exchange for humanitarian response
• Development of the App test plan that includes testing objectives, scope, interviews and focus group questions and schedule.
• Facilitating participatory approaches to gather evaluation and feedback from users to compare use of the app with expectations.
• Ensuring appropriate and effective evaluation of consultations and workshops, monitoring and reporting outcomes to share with developers and Project Team
• Working closely with DEMAC Technical Project Officer and Project Lead to communicate useful information for software developers to develop the app accordingly to the user’s needs.
• Other relevant tasks related to the project implementation and DEMAC activities.

About you

To be successful in this role, you excel in mobilizing and working with a broad range of actors. All employees should master DRC's core competencies: Communicating, Taking the lead, Collaborating, Striving for excellence and Demonstrating integrity.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

To be successful in this role, you excel in mobilizing and working with a broad range of actors. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Relevant experience in community engagement and civil society engagement for humanitarian response
• Solid experience in participatory approaches and facilitation skills (events/meetings/trainings)
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills
• Understanding of technology-based network building through Apps or other digital platforms Relevant experi-ence in project management
• Cultural and gender sensitivity
• University degree or higher education - preferably in social sciences, development studies, humanitarian stud-ies
• Full proficiency in written and spoken English
• Full proficiency in spoken Ukrainian (ability to write Ukrainian an advantage)
• Strong interest with matters relating to civil society, diaspora, forced displacement and humanitarian work
• Proactive, results driven and perseverant

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Workplace: Borgergade 10, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Full-time position
• Contract length: 14 months, with potential for extension pending renewed donor funding.
• Start date: February 2024

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the agreement between DRC and AC. The position is at “fuldmægtig” level. This is a national position for which local terms and conditions apply.

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV in English. Apply online on our page Current Vacancies at www.drc.ngo.

Closing date for applications: January 14Th 2024. We expect to conduct interviews between 14-21 January at DRC Headquarters in Copenhagen or online.

Further information

For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Monika Grinschgl, DEMAC Communication Advisor [email protected]

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo & www.drc.ngo/diaspora