Government Relations Officer, Remote position, Syria/MENA Program, L6

Organization profile

Every year, millions of people around the world go missing as a result of conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration, and other causes. This is a complex global challenge that can be tackled effectively through cross-cutting programs that address a variety of difficult, interconnected issues.

The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is the only international organization tasked exclusively to work on the issue of missing persons. It works with governments and other stakeholders, including families of the missing, to help them develop and maintain successful missing persons processes. To learn more about ICMP click here.

Syria/MENA Program
ICMPs Syria/MENA program aims to establish the foundations for an effective and sustainable mechanism to address the issue of the missing in a future post-conflict Syria. The program focuses on the following:

• Contributing to increased understanding among victims, civil society and key stakeholders regarding processes, standards and rights of victims and survivors who are involved in accounting for missing persons;
• Establishing the conditions to launch a participative process of data collection that empowers and engages families of the missing; and
• Increasing the capacity of Syrian families, legal experts and other stakeholders to foster an impartial and law-based approach to accounting for missing persons in post-conflict Syria.

The primary beneficiaries of the Syria/MENA program are families, in particular women, with relatives missing from the conflict, who are currently displaced in neighbouring countries and, also where possible, those who are still in Syria.

Position Background

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Senior Government Relations Officer, the Government Relations Officer duties and responsibilities will include, but will not necessarily be limited to, the following:

• Identifying, cultivating and maintaining as appropriate, relations with governmental institutions, and relevant institutions working on the issue of the missing, including relevant legislative and political institutions;
• Cultivate and provide access to ICMP leadership to relevant power players in the Middle-East region;
• Provide analysis and advice on political and other issues that affect implementation of program activities, and support as interlocutor with regional government officials and decision makers, as well as international organizations active in the missing persons issue;
• Draft reports, letters and other documents to support the implementation of day-to-day activities of the MENA\Syria program and coordinate with ICMP staff in the implementation of strategic goals and program activities;
• Ensure ICMP is present in all relevant policy dialogues and opportunities that impact and affect the issue of missing persons, as well as opportunities for the development of a comprehensive system to address the issue of missing persons in the region, and as related to the rights of families of the missing;
• Provide support to and collaborate with political actors and civil society organizations directly engaged in missing persons issues and assisting them in developing their professional capacities;
• Create, develop and maintain an up-to-date stakeholder map for the Middle-East, which identifies key political stakeholders;
• As necessary, give briefings and presentations on topics related to ICMP’s activities in the region;
• Provide assistance in the implementation of the ICMP’s HQ initiatives and activities as necessary;
• Prepare presentation materials as needed;
• Other duties as assigned.