: Accountability Counsel
: Nonprofits / องค์กรไม่แสวงหาผลกำไร
: 1278
: 27 September 2021
31 October 2021
Policy Consultant, Asia
Location: Asia (required), Thailand (preferred)
Accountability Counsel amplifies the voices of communities to protect their human rights and environment. As advocates for people harmed by internationally financed projects, we employ community driven and policy level strategies to access justice. Since our founding in 2009, our team has partnered with communities and advocates from over 50 countries to defend their rights, demand justice, and achieve historic victories. We are seeking a motivated, mission-driven Policy Consultant to help us secure accountability for the environmental and human rights impacts of international finance flowing in and from Asia.
We work toward change through three programmatic approaches. Our Policy Advocacy program advocates for accountability offices that are accessible, transparent, and fair tools for justice; lawyers in our Communities program provide grassroots legal support and assist communities to use accountability offices effectively; and our Research team delivers concrete research and tools for the movement for accountability more broadly. Our respect-based approach underlies all that we do: internally, it guides how our team treats one another, and externally, it ensures that marginalized people, particularly Indigenous Peoples, women and girls, are included as full participants in community-led strategies seeking. . accountability.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We are seeking a Policy Consultant to support Accountability Counsel's Policy Advocacy program, which focuses on the accountability of international and regional financial institutions (with a focus on those based in Asia) to increase their accountability to communities. The Policy Consultant will also engage in projects supporting our Communities team in Asia, as they conduct cases and knowledge sharing in the Asia region.
A. Policy Projects Supporting Effective Accountability Offices (70-80%)
The Policy Consultant's primary projects will advocate that Asia-based financial institutions:
shift policy and practice of existing accountability offices to be more effective for the communities who require them, and
close accountability gaps by arguing for creation of new offices where no such accountability offices currently exist.
This work will include projects related to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Chinese overseas investment and development entities, and other institutions, such as the World Bank Group, that invest in Asia.
The Policy Consultant will be expected to collaborate on projects with a coalition of Asia-based and global organizations committed to advance good governance for environmental and social safeguards through improved accountability.
The Consultant will also support advocacy of partners at their request, including sharing lessons from advocacy to Asia-based financial institutions.
B. Projects Supporting Communities Program Activity in Asia (20-30%)
Leveraging their knowledge and experience of Asia-based financial institutions, the Policy Consultant will also engage in projects to support the work of our Communities program in Asia, including through:
conducting trainings, meetings, and workshops with communities, and local and regional advocates on how to trace financing and use accountability offices;
at the request of communities, helping our Communities team and their local partners to prepare and file formal written complaints regarding human rights and environmental abuses, including documenting abuses through field investigations, interviews, document reviews, legal and technical analysis, consultation with experts, and other research;
assisting with projects related to a complaint process, in particular the dispute resolution and compliance review processes associated with accountability offices; and
advocating for case-specific and systemic outcomes at development finance institutions, corporations, government agencies, complaint offices, and other relevant authorities.
WHO YOU ARE
Personally committed to Accountability Counsel's mission and values and respect-based approach . You believe in the agency of communities around the world to protect their human rights and environment and are motivated to support them to do so.
An advocate for social and/or environmental justice that is committed to centering the voices of communities in those struggles. You have a degree in law or a related field, such as development studies, international finance, or human rights and at least three (3) years advocacy experience in a relevant field (eg human rights, environmental law, environmental and social justice campaigns, international development, corporate accountability, community organizing). We are seeking someone as equally talented at sensitively working with communities at the local level, as they are effective at international advocacy.
A thoughtful relationship builder who develops rapport and trust across lines of difference. You have a high degree of empathy, patience, and ability to work among coalitions. You are comfortable in a diverse, international work setting, sometimes working across timezones.
A critical, strategic thinker. You have excellent written, verbal, research, and analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate highly technical information related to international financing and related policies. You have sound judgment and the ability to think strategically in a fast-paced environment.
A self-directed team member who welcomes advice. You are comfortable working independently. You can organize and prioritize your workload. At the same time, you proactively, openly, and actively escalate issues to, and welcome feedback and engagement with the rest of Accountability Counsel’s team.
At home consulting for a lean, but collaborative nonprofit organization working at the cutting edge of international environmental and human rights law, with the ability to stay both focused and nimble in the face of change.
Fluent in Mandarin Chinese with fluency or advanced language proficiency in English.
TIMING AND LOCATION
This consulting opportunity is available immediately. It is based in Asia, with a preference for candidates based in Thailand for ease of communication and collaboration. This engagement will require close communication with Policy team members in Washington DC, and regular communications with the rest of our global team working from California, Africa, and Asia. This position will require travel within Asia and internationally once it is safe to do so. Due to COVID-19, all team members are working remotely for the foreseeable future.
COMPENSATION
Accountability Counsel is committed to competitive, equitable, transparent, and progressive compensation for staff and consultants. The compensation for this consulting role will be commensurate with experience and location. If the applicant resides in Thailand or a similar cost-of-living setting, we expect the annualized compensation to be between USD45,500 and USD59,500.
TO APPLY
If this description calls out to you, please click here to submit: 1) a tailored, authentic cover letter that explains why this mission calls to you and why this particular consulting opportunity is a fit, 2) your resume, and 3) a short. writing sample (no more than 5 pages). Please address your cover letter to Margaux Day. We will review applications on a rolling basis starting on 18 October 2021. Due to the volume of candidates anticipated and size of our organization, we regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted regarding further steps in the application process.
Accountability Counsel is an equal opportunity organization that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other prohibited category. For employees and consultants, we strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and all qualified persons to apply.
