Dear All,
FYI, Please see below.
Warm regards
Sanjay

Sanjay V. Gathia
[log in to unmask]



Position: Country Information and Advocacy Officer
Reports to: Country Director
Organization: Jesuit Refugee Service
Location: Bangkok

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international non-governmental  
organization with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate the  
rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. JRS undertakes  
services at national and regional levels with the support of an  
international office in Rome. Founded in November 1980 as a work of  
the Society of Jesus, JRS programs are found in over 50 countries,  
providing assistance to refugees in refugee camps, to people displaced  
within their own country, and to asylum-seekers in cities and held in  
detention. The main areas of work are in the fields of Education,  
Advocacy, Emergency Assistance, Pastoral, Health and Nutrition, Income  
Generating Activities and Social Services. In total, more than 376,000  
individuals are direct beneficiaries of JRS projects.

Position Purpose:
To ignore the deeper reasons behind the phenomenon of forced migration  
is to limit our service to emergency relief, which may be necessary in  
the early stages of a refugee flow but which does not address the  
vital questions of why a person has become a refugee, the policies  
concerning their treatment while in exile, and what could be done to  
spare others a similar fate.

Advocating for the rights of refugees locally, nationally, regionally  
and internationally has been part of the JRS mission since its  
foundation.

JRS has the potential for great impact from its advocacy work, as it  
has:
• A widespread field presence working directly with refugees and  
displaced people;
• Credibility that has been built on the accurate information that it  
has collected from the field;
• A presence in centres of power (with representatives in Geneva,  
Rome, Brussels and Washington);
• A commitment to advocacy work as a fundamental part of its mandate.

In Thailand JRS works with refugees in the two Karenni camps, with  
urban refugees, with refugee groups without access to UNHCR, with  
migrant workers, and in detention centers. The Information and  
Advocacy officer coordinates information flows and advocacy efforts  
between all the programs.

Responsibilities:

Information
• Compilation and systematization of data from media and partners
• Travel to field projects for data collection, analysis and research
• Write and distribute bi-monthly newsletter
• Write for and communicate with national and international media
• Further develop and maintain JRS Thailand website
• Provide information to partners, media and public on JRS specific  
issues
• Provide information to field staff on refugee related issues/ policies
• Maintain database of information on refugees in Thailand
• Produce monthly Information and Advocacy report with feedback from  
and to all field offices

Advocacy
• Communicate with JRS field staff and partners on new developments,  
problems faced.
• Policy analysis, development of advocacy strategies and elaboration  
of annual national JRS advocacy plans
• Advocacy training for JRS staff
• Coordination of JRS advocacy activities and development of policies  
in Thailand
• Regular communication with, and reporting to, the JRS regional and  
international advocacy network and input into regional advocacy work
• Networking with civil society organizations and with UN and other  
agencies
• Information, publications and relations with the media
• Participate in inter agency advocacy and coordination
• Direct lobbying of UN, NGOs/ INGOs for the protection of refugees’  
and displaced people’s rights and assistance of people with protection  
issues
• Advocacy oriented research that will advance the rights of refugees  
and displaced people
• Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of JRS advocacy plans
• Representation of JRS Thailand at various workshops, briefings and  
other meetings


Qualifications & Experience:
• BA or MA degree, preferably in law, political science, development  
studies, human rights, communication or other related to the job.
• Minimum of three years relevant working experience
• Thai national or other nationality already residing in Thailand.
• Excellent or fluent English skills in speaking, reading and writing.  
Knowledge of Thai a plus.
• Knowledge, understanding and empathy with refugees in all settings,  
migrant workers and/or stateless people a must.
• Knowledge of and experience with advocacy approaches
• Ability to multi-task
• Flexibility.
• Ability to work independently
• Strong networking skills in an intercultural setting
• Experience dealing with Government authorities. Knowledge of United  
Nations procedures or work experience at the United Nations a strong  
plus.
• Knowledge of basic Microsoft programs a must. Knowledge of Adobe  
PageMaker and/or web program Joomla a strong advantage.
• Ability to work legally in Thailand, preferably with Thai ID card.


Other information

• International candidates will be paid a stipend with insurance and  
other benefits. The salary for local candidates depends on the status  
and qualifications of the successful applicant.
• A two-year contract with an initial three-month probationary period.
• For more information about JRS in Thailand: www.jrs.or.th
• Applicants should apply by sending cover letter and CV (including  
two references) to [log in to unmask]
• Closing date for applications is 20 July 2009.
• Starting date: immediately.
• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.