Humanitarian Access, Safety and Security Officer

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation and creative partnerships. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home. IRC entered Nigeria in October 2012 in response to a widespread flood disaster. IRC’s Emergency Response Team, with local partner CISCOPE (Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication), implemented a project to support livelihoods and improve WASH in Kogi State from February to May 2013. This was followed by a 3-month nutrition and food security program in the same location from October 2013 to January 2014. The IRC is now in the process of establishing long term presence in Nigeria.Offices were established in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) States, North East Nigeria and are providing critical humanitarian assistance to conflict affected people.IRC has plans in place to extend response to the North west Nigeria humanitarian crisis with activities planned for Zamfara state.

Project Overview:

The BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, “Integrated Emergency Response to the Displaced Population in Zamfara, Sokoto, And Katsina States, Northwest Nigeria’depending on fund availability will be carried out by a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), aims to leverage each partner’s expertise to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people populations through area-based approach. The Consortium partners will provide an integrated multisectoral intervention in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Protection, and Multi-purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) activities in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states in collaboration with state governments, UN organizations and other key actors in Northwest Nigeria. The project will be implemented by a dedicated support, quality assurance, and coordination team, who will work closely with all partners through a management unit of well-structured consortium governance for the activity.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The HASSO is under the direct supervision of the Field Coordinator (FC) and indirectly the Humanitarian Access Safety and Security Manager (HASSM). The Humanitarian Access Safety & Security Officer (HASSO) should assist FC and HASSM to maintain, improve and expand principled humanitarian access to and by conflict-affected populations in Katsina state, assisting the implementation of humanitarian access and security management plans in compliance with IRC’s strategy and in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, Duty of Care and Gender Equality principles.

The post holder will provide expert advice to all IRC entities based in Katsina, the shared services unit, to assist FC and the HASSM to identify changes and trends in the humanitarian access and security environment in the areas of operations and will ensure that adequate and up-to-date policies and procedures are in place and ensure people have the information they need to manage operations, to identify issues, and to recommend and implement measures to reduce them.

Major Responsibilities

Humanitarian Access 

• Assist HASSM to develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites throughout his areas of operations in Katsina State.
• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in the areas of operations is known and accepted.
• Work to encourage stakeholders to work with the IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and allowed to continue with humanitarian activities in areas of operations.
• Assist FC and HASSM to provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new IRC programs in new geographic areas.
• Assist in the continued development of Humanitarian Access Safety and Security teams and activities across areas of operations.
• Assist FC and HASSM to oversee and advise on the implementation and review of tailored acceptance strategies.
• Enhance IRC image and acceptance within the community and amongst stakeholders by providing guidance on inclusive visibility strategies.
• Work with appropriate IRC units, including HR, to ensure timely and appropriate follow-up to violations of IRC’s Code of Conduct, in addition to operational breaches to humanitarian principles.

Safety and Security Risk Management

• Organize monthly Security Focal Group (SFG) Meeting.
• Work with FC and HASSM to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.
• Develop and maintain a network of IRC Security Focal Points and enhance gender balance.
• Maintain record of security training for staff.
• Ensure replenishment of hibernation kit, first aid kit.
• Update security incident database regularly.
• Work closely with HASSM to conduct risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices, residences, and IRC areas of operations.

Liaison, networking, analysis

• Establish and maintain relations and networks in Katsina to facilitate understanding and influence on humanitarian access environment.
• Identify barriers to access and develop strategies to address them in area of responsibility including hard-to-reach and contested areas and establishment of partnerships to expand reach.
• Develop and maintain contact lists, stakeholder analyses and humanitarian access profiles in area of responsibility.
• Assist FC on day-to-day operations related to humanitarian access and liaison with authorities and other entities for administrative and substantive staff, program, and organizational needs.

Context Analysis and Reporting:

• To Monitor the context, compile, and report information, including incidents and trends pertinent to Humanitarian Access, Safety and Security Manager.
• Submit monthly contextual analysis as needed by the HASSM and relevant field and program management.
• Work closely with IRC field management teams to assist HASSM to ensure all incidents are followed up with an official written report.
• Monitor the operating environment, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities, and recommend possible responses.
• Contribute to local-level conflict sensitivity analysis and macro- level analysis of trends in the State.

Briefing, Training and Capacity Building:

• Ensure Security briefings (arrival and complete) are of adequate quality and done in timely manner.
• Assist HASSM to organize high quality, regular trainings to build the capacity of staff, to enable them deal with security-related risks, threats, and incidents
• Render administrative support to HASSM in providing regular training.
• Act as a team facilitator during the development of Field office Security Management Plans.
• Guide and train all staff to ensure the Country’s Minimum Standards in Safety and Security are followed and respected.
  

Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to:  Field Coordinator
Indirect/Technical Reporting: Humanitarian Access Safety and Security Manager

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Security Management or related field is required.

Work Experience:

Essential:

• Substantial practical field experience in security management in a leadership role (e.g. direct INGO security management).
• Fluent in written and spoken English and local language.
• 1 – 3 year work experience in insecure/hostile environments with I/NGO.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multiethnic team.
• Experience and knowledge of personnel and organizational security issues, threat/risk assessment, security management and security awareness in an insecure environment.
• Experience of incident reporting, incident mapping, intelligence collation and analysis functions, set up and execution of an incident warning system (warden system), compilation of security reports and assessments.
• Experience in training and coaching national and international staff in safety and security.
• Technical competency and training experience in field-based communications systems such as HF Codan, Motorola VHF, Thuraya, satellite systems and internet systems.
• Ability to adapt to needs and balance demands of beneficiary and security actors while maintaining appropriate contextual NGO security advice and coordination.
• Sound knowledge of humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality as outlined in the Humanitarian Charter and the International Red Cross Code of Conduct.
• Strong report writing, analytical and interpersonal skills.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Northwest Nigeria’s context
• Previous experience with IRC/ING
• Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply

Work Environment

The position will be based in Katsina, Katsina state, Nigeria. The situation in Katsina state and the northwest Nigeria in general continues to be volatile and the security phase is orange or red depending on location. This is a national position.

Standards for Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.