Jobs

Title: Regional Adviser (Central America and Caribbean)
Reports to: Director of Policy & Advocacy, while liaising with other MRG colleagues
Location: Preferably in Central America or the Caribbean region (security permitting)
Duration: Approximately 4-6 days per month (or one day a week), initially from 1 November 2023 until 31 December 2025 with possibility of renewal
Salary: GBP 4,500 per annum (for approx. 60 days of work)

Purpose of the job

This post is part of a broader effort to strengthen Minority Rights Group (MRG)’s outreach towards local minority and indigenous communities and to assist in the collection and dissemination of information concerning minority and indigenous issues around the world. The post-holder will act as MRG’s eyes and ears in Central America and the Caribbean region, keeping track of new developments that affect the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples and being aware of key players (whether minority or indigenous and/or decision makers).  The post holder will support MRG through outreach to minority and indigenous community activists in her/his region, seeking opportunities for collaboration and joint programmatic work.

Every year, MRG’s World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples receives approximately one million unique visits; it is widely used by activists, journalists, researchers, and government and agency officials. Our other resources, including our reports and our Peoples under Threat annual online ranking, are widely used and cited as well. Given this degree of usage, we need to ensure that our materials are as accurate, up to date and comprehensive as possible. As part of our on-going work to combat structural racism, we must also ensure that our materials reflect local cultural sensitivities and the self-identification of minority, indigenous and other marginalised groups.

In addition, MRG is regularly consulted by UN and other human rights mechanisms for advice and information concerning minority and indigenous communities. Our current networks are strong in those countries and regions where we are present / active through programmes or partners. In response to growing need, we seek to broaden our networks to ensure greater efficacy in supporting minority and indigenous peoples’ advocacy, including at UN and regional human rights mechanisms.

The post-holder will therefore also act as MRG’s correspondent in helping the organization update the relevant entries of its online World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples as well as its Peoples under Threat annual ranking. S/he will update MRG’s communications department on urgent developments concerning minorities and indigenous peoples in Central America and the Caribbean region, while providing advice on content, strategy and follow-up. S/he will also assist MRG’s representatives to the UN and other human rights mechanisms, in responding to queries regarding developments concerning minority and indigenous rights issues in this region.

B:         Main duties and responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the post-holder will be:

Primary

1. Inform the organization about the situation of minorities and indigenous peoples in Central America and the Caribbean region, especially urgent developments (for instance by preparing quarterly internal updates, sharing media outputs and participating in staff webinars).
2. Assist colleagues in obtaining accurate, impartial and credible information as well as contacts with affected community representatives who may (if security permits) be available as resource persons.
3. Revise and update at least three country entries in the World Directory per year (number to be agreed).
4. Provide written analysis of the countries for the Peoples under Threat annual ranking and assist in making necessary adjustments to reflect major events of the past year.
5. Respond promptly to requests for updated information from UN and other human rights mechanisms concerning minorities and indigenous peoples in Central America and the Caribbean region.
6. Proactively map out and establish contacts with minority and indigenous communities and minority / indigenous human rights defenders and investigate possible areas of collaboration.
7. Advise colleagues on intervention design, possible donors, potentially participate in designing programmes.
8. Contribute to and/or facilitate baseline studies in the region.
9. Advise the Communications Department when there are media queries concerning minorities and indigenous peoples in Central America and the Caribbean region, by providing talking points, content for blogs and press releases, and other advice.

Secondary (time and resources permitting)

10. Act as a spokesperson for MRG at events within the region and/or at global events where issues in Central America and the Caribbean region are relevant or under discussion (security permitting).
11. Potentially act as a spokesperson for MRG in media outreach (security permitting).
12. Participate in conferences and speak at UN and other human rights mechanisms (security permitting).

(The precise nature of the priorities within this list will be determined in a conversation between the post-holder and their line manager.)

C:         General

• Undertake other tasks as may be reasonably requested by the Director of Policy & Advocacy from time to time.
• Maintain contacts with other MRG colleagues as necessary, and when called upon participate in relevant virtual meetings.
• Personally respect and work towards full implementation of MRG’s Gender and Equal Opportunities Policies in all the work involved in this post.
• Personally support and contribute actively towards anti-racism initiatives within the organization, with a particular focus on ensuring implementation within the post-holder’s areas of responsibility.
• The post-holder will be required to maintain the pace of work which may at peak times be high, will need to meet deadlines and manage several tasks at the same time.
• The post-holder may have access to confidential information pertaining to minority and indigenous communities as well as other MRG colleagues, which they must ensure they and others retain as confidential.
• The post-holder will be expected to work unsupervised within the broad directives of the Director of Policy & Advocacy.
• The post-holder should be based in the region of focus, security permitting.
• The post-holder should expect to be largely self-servicing.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education and Knowledge

Essential

• A university degree in a relevant field.
• At least five years’ experience in the field of minority and/or indigenous peoples’ rights in Central America and the Caribbean region.
• Good knowledge of the current social and political contexts of the countries in the region, including the situations and needs of minority and indigenous communities.
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of international human rights law and indigenous peoples and minority rights law.
• Understanding of and experience reporting on intersectional discrimination affecting marginalised groups within minority and indigenous communities.
• Knowledge of regional or country specific organizations working in the field of minorities and indigenous peoples or related fields in Central America and the Caribbean region.

Experience

Essential

• Proven record in documenting and reporting on violations and abuses of minority and indigenous rights.
• Wide range of contacts among civil society across their region.

Desirable

• Practical advocacy experience of UN and other human rights mechanisms.
• Personal experience as a member of a marginalised minority or indigenous community.

 

Abilities and Skills

Essential

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent knowledge of Spanish.
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
• Proven ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to use own initiative to investigate and analyse developments, reach out and establish contacts with marginalised communities.
• Proven ability to stay calm under pressure and to assess and absorb information quickly.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to gain the confidence of members of minority and indigenous communities.
• Computer literate and knowledge of Word for Windows, Excel, the Internet and email packages.

Desirable

• Excellent knowledge of a minority and/or indigenous language.
• Excellent knowledge of French.
• Excellent oral presentation skills.

Personality

Essential

• Ability to maintain on-going and productive contact with remote team members.
• Commitment to the aims and objectives of MRG.
• Commitment to gender equality and willingness to implement MRG’s gender policy.
• Enthusiastic about working in a multicultural environment.
• Committed to anti-racist practice and equal opportunities.

How to apply

Please click the link below to fill out the form by 29 September 2023

Apply for this job

Image: Tz’utuhil Maya girls at a school in Panabaj, Guatemala