Head Of Middle East Durable Solutions Platform

The Head of ME DSP provides overall leadership, strategic direction and management of the Platform, a membership-based, consensus-driven platform of NGOs working on solutions to displacement across the Middle East. The role involves leading engagement with members and governance structures, managing grants and staff, and representing the Platform at senior levels with governments, donors, and UN agencies.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate the implementation of the ME DSP Strategy 2026-2028, lead the regular review of the Platform’s work plans, and ensure ME DSP maintains a strategic, neutral and member-driven role that complements existing coordination mechanisms
• Lead the re-establishment of the Platform’s membership and the review of its governance and operating model, in line with Steering Committee decisions
• Lead annual planning and budgeting and report to the Steering Committee and members on progress, risks and results; maintain the risk matrix, commission periodic evaluation of ME DSP and integrate lessons learned
• Work in close collaboration with ReDSS and ADSP to share learning, align approaches and tools, and contribute to joint NGO engagement in global solutions fora
• Accountable for people management of direct reports, including recruitment, objective setting, performance management and staff development, and for the management of ME DSP consultants
• Act as the Platform’s principal convener. Design and facilitate member meetings, technical working groups and consultations in an inclusive and transparent manner that builds collective ownership of the Platform’s agenda and outputs
• Facilitate consensus-building among members, managing differing priorities and resolving issues that may affect Platform decisions and delivery
• Ensure effective coordination and information sharing among members and the Steering Committee, and support members’ engagement with the Platform at country, regional and global levels
• Lead a membership engagement strategy, including the onboarding of new members and clarity on members’ roles and contributions
• Define and oversee the Platform’s research and knowledge management agenda with members, initiating and commissioning studies, managing researchers and research institutions, and ensuring methodologically rigorous, research ethics and relevance to programming and policy
• Lead the analysis of regional displacement and solutions data, strategies, policies and legislation; translate evidence into programming and policy guidance, briefing papers and policy briefs; and ensure quality control of all ME DSP publications and monitoring of their uptake
• Facilitate regular technical workshops and learning events and the roll-out of learning tools and training packages, ensuring cross-learning across countries and with global developments in solutions policy and practice
• Promote the meaningful engagement of displacement-affected communities and local civil society in the Platform’s evidence, learning and policy work
• Represent the Platform at senior level with governments and national authorities, donors, UN agencies, international financial institutions, regional bodies and policy makers, building trusted relationships and navigating politically sensitive contexts with discretion and in line with humanitarian principles
• Oversee the development and implementation of the Platform’s policy and advocacy strategy with members, ensuring positions are evidence-based, agreed by members and coordinated with NGO fora and durable solutions working groups in the region
• Support members’ advocacy with governmental and inter-governmental actors and engage proactively in regional and global policy processes on solutions for displacement-affected populations
• Engage research institutions, think tanks and academia, and oversee high-quality external communications reflecting members’ agreed positions
• Manage existing and future grants, including budgets, work plans, monitoring and donor reporting, ensuring timely delivery and compliance with DRC and donor policies, including safeguarding
• Develop and implement a fundraising strategy to ensure financial sustainability, including donor engagement and partnerships, in coordination with the Steering Committee

Requirements

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in political science, international relations, humanitarian law, migration, Middle East studies, or related field
• At least 8 years' relevant experience, including 5 in people management and substantial experience leading, facilitating or coordinating a membership-based, consensus-driven consortium, network, NGO forum or inter-agency platform
• Expert knowledge of durable solutions to displacement and the relevant international frameworks, with demonstrated experience in complex and contested return and reintegration contexts
• In-depth knowledge of the displacement context of the Middle East, displacement in and from Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and of the political complexities, policy landscape and coordination architecture of the region
• Demonstrated strategic leadership, ability to manage competing priorities, and ensure accountability for results
• Proven experience in grant management, budget oversight and resource mobilization
• Proven experience in leading, conducting or commissioning research, or in working in close collaboration with researchers, and in translating evidence into programming and policy guidance
• Excellent convening, facilitation and networking skills, with the ability to build trust and broker consensus among diverse organizations; outstanding interpersonal and diplomatic skills, political and cultural sensitivity, tact and impartiality
• Excellent analytical and writing skills, with proven experience producing high quality research and policy briefs and presenting complex information in an accessible manner
• Demonstrated commitment to collaborative working across organizations and with sister platforms, ability to work in a multicultural environment, and flexibility, proactive engagement and high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability

Skills

• People Management
• Consortium Management
• Networking Facilitation
• Durable Solutions Expertise
• International Frameworks Knowledge
• Displacement Context Analysis
• Strategic Leadership
• Grant Management
• Budget Oversight
• Resource Mobilization
• Research Leadership
• Policy Guidance
• Evidence Translation
• Stakeholder Convening
• Consensus Building
• Diplomacy Skills
• Political Sensitivity
• Analytical Writing
• Policy Brief Writing
• Multi-cultural Team Collaboration

Languages

English