Engagement Coordinator

Organization: Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Deadline: 24 Sep 2025

Job Description

Overall purpose of the role

INGO Group Secretariat consists of dedicated staff members responsible for facilitating information sharing, coordination, representation, advocacy, and support to member organizations. The Secretariat is overseen by a Steering Committee composed of Country Directors and is a project of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).

While the INGO Group engages extensively at the national level, members have consistently identified the need for stronger information sharing, representation, and operational support to coordination at the sub-national level. Humanitarian actors operating across Ethiopia face increasingly complex realities that require systematic engagement with authorities, humanitarian partners, and other stakeholders.

The engagement Coordinator is a senior coordination position responsible for supporting humanitarian and resilience operations through enhanced coordination, information exchange, and collective engagement among INGO Group members at the regional level. The position supports humanitarian actors operating in regions where significant responses are being implemented and serves as the primary link between regional coordination structures and the national-level INGO Group.

The role focuses on identifying and addressing operational challenges affecting the response, facilitating collective analysis and problem-solving, supporting access, promoting information sharing, and ensuring that regional operational realities inform national-level representation, advocacy and engagement efforts.

The postholder will facilitate, support and participate in the work of regional INGO platforms, the Humanitarian Leads Working Group, and other operational working groups as required. The role will engage actively with regional government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and other relevant stakeholders to promote an enabling environment for principled and effective humanitarian action.

The position reports directly to the INGO Group Manager and may provide regular briefings and recommendations to the Steering Committee as required.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Sub National Coordination, representation and stakeholder engagement

• Strengthen and support regional INGO coordination platforms in areas where significant numbers of members operate.
• Facilitate coordination, collaboration and information sharing among humanitarian directors, area managers, operational focal points and member organizations.
• Serve as the principal link between regional coordination structures and the national INGO Group Secretariat, ensuring that regional operational realities inform national-level engagement.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with regional authorities, UN agencies, donors, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.
• Represent the INGO Group in relevant sub-national coordination forums and external engagements in accordance with agreed positions and messaging.
• Support collective engagement on operational challenges, humanitarian priorities and emerging response needs.
• Promote collaboration and cooperation among humanitarian actors to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of humanitarian operations especially through the Area based coordination structures.

Operational support and working group facilitation

• Monitor, analyze and support collective action on operational constraints affecting humanitarian actors, including access, bureaucratic and administrative challenges.
• Facilitate the Humanitarian Leads Working Group and other operational or thematic working groups established by the INGO Group.
• Support working group leads and platform focal points in defining priorities, facilitating discussions and following up on agreed actions.
• Promote information sharing, collective analysis and problem-solving among members operating at sub-national level.
• Identify opportunities for coordinated approaches to common operational challenges and facilitate collective engagement where appropriate.
• Support the development of operational guidance, recommendations, briefing materials and coordination tools for Area Based Coordination structures.
• Promote cross-learning, exchange of good practices and operational collaboration among members across different regions

Analysis, information management and member support

• Monitor political, humanitarian, policy and security developments affecting operations in Ethiopia.
• Produce and disseminate analytical products, updates, briefing notes and summaries for members and the Secretariat.
• Ensure effective information sharing between regional coordination structures, members, the Secretariat and external stakeholders.
• Support mapping and analysis of humanitarian presence, operational trends and response developments.
• Coordinate and support external missions, stakeholder visits and briefing requests.
• Maintain regular engagement with member organizations and ensure member priorities and concerns are reflected in coordination, representation and advocacy efforts.
• Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities and provide recommendations to support strategic decision-making by the Secretariat and Steering Committee

Experience and technical competencies:

• A total minimum of 5 years experience in a relevant sector.
• Minimum 3 years as in a senior leadership level role with UN, NGOs and/or Donor agencies or equivalent in an emergency context.
• At least 3 years’ experience working with INGOs and/or international agencies on similar duties
• Demonstrated representation and coordination experience in multi-agency forums. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in INGO coordination would be a significant advantage.
• Experience in developing and updating TORs, Strategy documents, SOPs, and other management documents and tools.
• Proven in-country experience liaising with UN missions or agencies.
• Significant experience in the development of advocacy, policy and key messaging documents
• Strong understanding of the IASC coordination architecture, integrated missions, Humanitarian principles and the Transformative Agenda
• Proven experience in incident/crisis management.
• Fluent English, and strong interpersonal, communication, and networking skills.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Computer literate, able to use common software packages.
• Previous work experience in Ethiopia is preferred
• Be flexible to travel at short notice to difficult and risky areas.
• Proven ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• Master’s degree in international relations, business administration, management, human rights, social sciences or related field

LANGUAGE: (indicate Fluency level)

• Proficiency in English and Amharic language

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ 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: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 9 Months

Contract Type: National Contract

Band: G1

Designation of Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Start date: 1st November 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National employees

How to Apply

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than three pages) in English through: >> https://drc.ngo/jobs/job/?id=176769. Applications sent by email will not be considered

Please ensure that your CV does not exceed three pages. Applications with CVs longer than the specified limit may not be considered.

Closing date for applications: September 24, 2026

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

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics

We strongly encourage female candidates to apply for the position!

We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nations to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.