Roving Cultural Mediator

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 8,000 employees and also 8,000 volunteers, while managing a turnover of over 400 million Euro. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. The Danish Refugee Council is Denmark’s largest humanitarian NGO and has been ranked the 3rd best NGO in the world in 2018 (for the six consecutive years, the organization is among the top five of the NGO Advisor Annual List).

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1.Background

The Danish Refugee Council initiated its activities in the island of Lesvos in November 2015 due to the unprecedented influx of asylum seekers. Following new political developments and displacement dynamics in early 2016, DRC expanded its activities to the mainland to support the people living in several sites across the country. With offices in Athens, Larissa and Thessaloniki, it currently implements a wide range of activities, including Site Management Support, legal assistance, identification of individual needs and protection of highly vulnerable persons, access to services within and outside the hosting sites through cultural mediation, and non-formal education. DRC works closely with the refugee communities, the Greek authorities and other humanitarian actors to ensure a protective environment for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece. 

2.Purpose

Under the supervision of the direct line manager/supervisor, in cooperation with the protection monitoring team, the Roving Cultural Mediator will ensure that the asylum seekers and refugees access full range of services available for them both on site and outside their accommodation site. S/he will ensure safe and dignified access to medical, legal and other services, and provide translation and interpretation as well as culturally appropriate, correct and smooth communication between the persons of concern, DRC Protection teams and Greek service providers.

3.Duties & Responsibilities

• In coordination with, and at the request of the field protection staff, accompany persons of concern via bus or taxi from their place of residence to the service provider and back home again afterwards if needed.
• Identifying gaps and barriers prohibiting persons of concern from accessing full range of services that are available for them.
• Advocate on behalf of persons of concern when accessing service providers and public institutions.
• Provide clear, understandable, and culturally appropriate translation and interpretation services for persons of concern and the service providers, as required.
• Provide clear, understandable, and culturally appropriate translation and interpretation services for persons of concern and DRC Legal aid team, as required.
• Support interventions aimed at increasing autonomy of asylum seekers by conveying information on practical aspects of living in Greece.
• Promoting physical and emotional, cultural and leisure activities available to them outside of the site.
• Provide backup support to the protection teams when not accompanying clients.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the line manager, relevant to the achievement of Protection objectives.

Other tasks as required by the Protection Manager to support implementation of DRC’s activities.

4.Qualifications

          Required:

• Minimum 1y in a related field in the refugee context in Greece.
• Fluency in Greek is required
• Fluency in Arabic is required
• Strong computer skills

          Desired:

• University degree in a relevant field:  Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Social Work, Psychology, Law, Migration and Refugee Studies
• Previous working experience with local or international NGOs as well as particular experience in cultural mediation or interpretation
• Experience of community-based or community mobilization work in a humanitarian context
• Fluency in Kurdish (Sorani/ Kurmanji), or French language
• Fluency in English Language

• Any language skills in Somali, Lingala or Urdu.

5.Required Skills and Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity

6.Terms & Conditions

• The contract will be under the Greek Labor Law (this is a national position)
• All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus)
• DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’ professional and personal development.
• The position will be based in Thessaloniki (Greece) and national terms and conditions apply

7.Application Process

Are you interested? Then apply for this position on line: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process. However, applicants must be aware that DRC cannot systemically sponsor non-EU citizen or non-Greek resident for all the steps of legal process to get a work permit and/or a residency permit in Greece.

Applications close on the 1st of March 2021. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.