Advocacy Coordinator, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency pursuing our mandate to protect and promote durable solutions to displacement-affected populations based on humanitarian principles. Our response in the occupied Palestinian territory is centred on empowering conflict affected communities to meet their basic needs and promoting safety and dignity by addressing protection risks.  Operating from two hubs in Deir al Balah and Gaza City, and with a coordination office in Ramallah and a representation office in East Jerusalem, the DRC maintains an active presence with over 30 national and international staff and four civil society partners.  DRC now aims to grow our operation into a Country Office, as part of the Middle East Hub, which also comprises Türkiye, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan. 

About the role

In close coordination with DRC’s strategic partners, the Advocacy Coordinator will support the DRC response in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in advocating for the rights and protection of the displaced population by leading advocacy efforts in partnership with other stakeholders, including national and international NGOs, UN Agencies, and relevant working groups. The Advocacy Coordinator will also lead on internal and external communication initiatives, to enhance and showcase DRC and partners’ response in the oPt.                                                                           

Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Policy and Advocacy:

• Lead on the implementation of the DRC advocacy strategy in close coordination with relevant internal and external stakeholders, including by suggesting key advocacy opportunities and targets at national and regional levels, and by drafting and supporting the production of advocacy products as outlined in the advocacy strategy for use at the country, regional and global levels.
• Remain up to date on key issues at national and regional levels, including through engagement with civil society actors and other relevant stakeholders, and provide keep context updates and analysis to relevant DRC teams and departments.
• Alert Senior Management to relevant policy developments and provide analysis and input for various inter-agency meetings such as the Technical Monitoring Group, the Humanitarian Country Team and others.
• Support in developing messaging for and actions around key national policy responses and frameworks, as well as other factors such as UN coordination, protection concerns, funding for the response, security and current and future challenges that have an impact on displacement-affected populations and their access to humanitarian assistance and protection services.
• Participate in and support the relevant working groups and coordination mechanisms, including supporting the planning and drafting of relevant inter-agency products such as key messaging, public statements, high profile letters, briefings etc.
• Closely liaise with DRC’s strategic partners to develop and update a joint advocacy strategy and joint advocacy and communication products.
• Coordinate with the programme team to ensure alignment between programmatic developments and advocacy objectives and support the Country Director, Head of Programme, and Technical Coordinators to articulate programme-specific advocacy strategies and to identify relevant advocacy initiatives.
• Contribute to the DRC’s global and regional advocacy strategies and initiatives, ensuring that the DRC oPt specificities are reflected and captured and closely liaise with DRC’s advocacy team at the regional and global levels to ensure the DRC oPt advocacy priorities are aligned and featured in regional and global advocacy initiatives.
• Participate in, and conduct research to ensure that all oPt advocacy initiatives are evidence based and informed by specific field realities.

Communication and media work:

• Follow up on the implementation of DRC’s Communication strategy and communication commitments with support from HQ, including through the development and/or review of relevant products
• Support country management and other programme staff in their work, including development of a plan for achieving their priority communication objectives. This should include guidelines on the meaningful and safe participation of beneficiaries in advocacy and communications.
• Establish strategic relationships with media outlets to ensure push of key advocacy messages and communication materials.

External Representation:

• Liaise with key UN, INGO, NNGO, civil society partners and other interlocutors in country to ensure DRC has up to date information on the humanitarian situation and response in the region.
• Engage with HQ on shared advocacy messaging and campaigns
• Build networks of key informants and stakeholders in country
• Represent DRC in advocacy-related and (as relevant) regional fora related to advocacy or as otherwise delegated by the Country Director, including the Advocacy Working Group
• Provide briefings to relevant external stakeholders on DRC’s advocacy priorities as needed at country level, in coordination with the Country Director

• Any other task agreed upon with the line manager

Experience and technical competencies:

To be successful in this role we expect you to have the following:

• At least 5 years' experience working in advocacy on humanitarian issues, research, refugee rights, human rights, and/or development issues; previous experience in oPt is mandatory for this role.
• Experience of influencing work including advocacy, policy development and information provision on humanitarian issues.
• Excellent skills in both public advocacy and private advocacy with decision makers.
• Strong skills in developing and implementing humanitarian advocacy strategies and campaigns.
• Strong ability to be self-organized and deal with a high number of competition priorities, with tight deadlines in a fast-evolving environment.
• Knowledge of human rights, international humanitarian law, rights-based programming, and humanitarian and protection principles
• Understanding of UN and donor operations at country and regional level.
• Understanding of political and humanitarian context in the region beyond the oPt
• Demonstrated experience in context analysis
• Proven experience in capacity building of local partners on advocacy and/or communications
• Proven experience of working collaboratively with national and international partners on joint advocacy initiatives
• Demonstrated capacity to adapt language and content to various audiences, including media and the general public.

Languages

• Full proficiency in written and spoken English
• Arabic language skills are considered an asset.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s 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

Contract length: 12 Months

Position Band:  This position will be placed at Non-Management band (G1)

Start date: January 01, 2026

Duty station: Ramallah/Jerusalem/Amman

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates or Nationals. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact [email protected]

Application process

Interested to apply? All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, DRC reserves the right of conducting tests and interviews before the closing date, and can close the advertisement earlier in case of finding a suitable candidate.

Closing date for applications: October 10, 2025

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