Refugee and Migration Affairs Specialist job at U.S. Embassy Kampala | Apply Now

PRM’s Great Lakes office oversees the U.S. State Department’s refugee assistance in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi.  The Refugee and Migration Affairs Specialist is PRM’s on-the-ground lead for NGO funding in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi – the person who observes PRM-funded programs in the field, evaluates grantee performance, and advises PRM on how to make their funding as effective as possible.  They will travel frequently to all three countries, conducting grant monitoring, cultivating networks of contacts in the humanitarian community, and advising on U.S. refugee funding and policy decisions.  They will support the Regional Refugee Coordinator, who is their direct supervisor, as well as PRM’s DC-based grants team, who issues all NGO funding.  The position demands excellent writing and organizational skills, as well as the ability to evaluate individual grants while also understanding the broader policy context in which they operate.  PRM’s office is small, so applicants should be prepared to cover whatever duties are required, including administrative tasks when necessary.  The United States is the largest humanitarian donor in the world, so if you care about refugees and want to have an impact, this is the job for you.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor and evaluate tens of millions of dollars in U.S. humanitarian assistance programs run by international organizations (IOs) and NGOs in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. Travel, both independently and with the Regional Refugee Coordinator, as needed throughout the region and provide feedback and recommendations to organizations receiving PRM funding, as well as to the PRM Bureau. Support the annual evaluation of proposals and selection of funding recipients. Develop and maintain close contact with international organizations, NGOs, and local and national offices involved in humanitarian issues. Identify, analyze, and report on political, security, and other developments related to refugees and displaced persons. Provide written analysis to the Embassy/PRM of presentations and conferences. Follow news publications and academic research relevant to the portfolio and provide regular written updates, analysis, and policy suggestions. (50%)

• Review and prepare responses to refugee-related correspondence including Congressional inquiries, operational updates, and policy requests from Washington, DC counterparts. Draft background papers, memos, talking points, and reporting cables on developments in the portfolio, including evaluations of regional and nationwide policies and operations by host governments, NGOs, and international organizations. Research and provide input to the annual Congressionally mandated human rights and trafficking in persons reports drafted by the political section, including collecting direct input from NGOs and IOs. Arrange meetings with government leaders and contacts, both for themselves and for Regional Refugee Coordinator, as well as other U.S. government officials. (20%)

• Support PRM’s management of U.S. involvement in the U.S. refugee resettlement program in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi, to include maintaining relationships with resettlement partners in the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration, monitoring resettlement policy developments in each country, and assisting PRM’s Deputy Regional Refugee Coordinator in advocacy for U.S. resettlement policy goals. (10%)

• Support political officers throughout the region in managing the annual Taft Grant program, which gives up to $25,000 to NGOs for refugee and migration-related projects. Solicit applications, write cables, and coordinate with grantees. Provide guidance to political officers and grants officers throughout the region about Taft Grant selection and implementation requirements and best practices. (10%)

• Conduct public outreach on behalf of the U.S. government, as appropriate. Attend conferences and meetings within the region to expand awareness of the range of activities of actors in the sectors of humanitarian assistance, refugee affairs, and migration, acting as the public face of the U.S. government. Represent PRM at meetings of international donors and partners. Brief new political officers in the region who cover refugee and migration affairs. (5%)

• Serve as the backup office manager for PRM. When the office manager is out, this entails providing administrative support Regional Refugee Coordinator travel, planning site visits by U.S. officials and other visitors, organizing invitational events and Refugee office events, tracking PRM Kampala’s operational budget, maintaining a database of office contacts, and organizing outreach events and correspondence. (5%)

Note: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by incumbent. Incumbent will be required to perform other duties as assigned by the agency