General features of job:

• The policy officer is primarily responsible for helping to develop policy and for drawing up project plans for the section or sections concerned.
• The policy officer is accountable to the head of section for effectively helping to develop policy and drawing up and amending project plans.
• Ministerial policy guidelines in the area of embassy policy concerned, as well as available funding, are of importance when making proposals to improve policy and potential project plans.
• The policy officer takes decisions about the quality of the analysis of collected data and the translation of overall ministerial policy frameworks into proposals for specific action by the embassy.
• The policy officer advises the senior management of the Embassy on the implementation of Dutch policy in the field of human rights and public diplomacy.
• The policy officer contributes to the drawing up of the annual plans and the multi annual framework of the Embassy.
• He/she draws up project plans for the Embassy and is responsible for the implementation of projects and the monitoring thereof in the areas of human rights and public diplomacy.
• The policy officer feeds into policy discussions in the Embassy and with the colleagues at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs by reporting on developments and making recommendations for Dutch policy.
• The policy officer will appraise proposals received by (possible) partners, will assess the risks (including the organisation capacity of partners) and propose mitigating measures.

Possible duties:

Helping to develop policy by:
Contributing, on the basis of study of literature and reports, to studies and advice on the policy concerned, involving independent interpretation and analysis of the collected data.
Translating overall ministerial policy frameworks into proposals for specific action by the
embassy.

•  The policy officer serves as backup for the political policy officer.
• The policy officer may be asked to contribute to other case files when required.

Actual duties:

Human rights:

• Oversee Human Rights related programmes to ensure results oriented implementation.
• Identify, formulate and monitor several programmes for the embassy’s delegated human rights budget with a focus on freedom of expression, LGBTQI equal rights and womens rights ; report on programme execution and results achieved by partners.
• Report and advise on policy and contextual developments in the field of human rights.
• Maintain an adequate network of government and non-government counterparts and interlocutors in the field of human rights.
• Attend, initiate and coordinate external and internal meetings.
• Liaison for the centrally funded Strengthening Civil Society program.

Political reporting:

• Formulate reports on relevant developments in Lebanon and the region. Topics include human rights and gender equality.

Public diplomacy:

• Implement the Public Diplomacy strategy for the Embassy
• Ensure effective external communication and exposure around embassy activities
• Organize external events (human rights day, womens rightsdays, IDAHOBIT day, including the annual Partnerday etc)
• Manage the Public Diplomacy fund

General support to Management Team:

• Support in drafting of annual plans, multi-annual country strategy. 

Education, Experience and Qualifications:

• University degree in international development, international relations, economics, or similar.
• Experience with programmes of international development, human rights and gender is an asset;
• Very good understanding of the international institutions.
• Knowledge of and relevant experience with consultation processes on international development.
• Very good command of English, knowledge of French and Arabic is an asset.
• Strong writing and analytical skills.
• Attentive to details and able to prioritize work.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Good IT and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural team.
• Demonstrate commitment to the values and principles of international cooperation.
• Understanding of social and specialised developments in relation to the area or areas in which the embassy operates.
• Knowledge of general training methods and techniques and methods and techniques for drawing up project plans and performing evaluations, and skill in using them.
• Understanding of relevant ministerial frameworks and legislation in the policy area concerned.
• Skill in translating insights and information into advice, plans and reports and in assessing their policy and financial implications.

Competencies:

• Sensitivity to management: takes account for the consequences of developments/decisions and actions for the ministers and senior management/ and their impact on policy.
•  Initiative: takes initiative of own accord.
• Ability to network: develops and maintains relationships and contacts, within and outside the organision, and uses them to acquire information and secure cooperation.
• External awareness: takes account of relevant developments and circumstances outside the organisation.
• Ability to plan and organise: devises a suitable method for achieving a given goal or completing a given task and ensuring that it is achieved.
• Focus on results: Strives to achieve a predetermined result.
• Ability to work with others: Works with others to achieve a common goal.
• Professional writing: is able to clearly express themselves in written texts for different purposes including: strategies, policy advice, reports and analyses.

Contacts:

• With policy officers and senior policy officers, on developments in the policy area and experience with programmes and policy.
• With senior and other staff on procedures, working methods and progress of programmes, as well as explanation and interpretation of legislation.