Job Description
| Organization | The International Rescue Committee (IRC) |
| Requisition ID | req23741 |
| Job Title | Humanitarian Access and Security Coordinator |
| Sector | Safety & Security |
| Employment Category | Fixed Term |
| Employment Type | Full-Time |
| Open to Expatriates | Yes |
| Location | Khartoum, Sudan |
In November 2019, the IRC deployed an emergency response team to respond to immediate needs within the context of dire economic conditions, fragile political environment, and growing needs for social services post-transition. The IRC is focusing on urban health and WASH programming for mixed groups of refugees, IDPs and vulnerable migrants in informal settlements that were largely inaccessible before the political transition. With COVID-19 pandemic, the IRC has since expanded its emergency response to support COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts, and most recently to respond to mass displacement of Ethiopians in eastern Sudan. Other programs include Health, Environmental Health, Economic Wellbeing and Protection.
Scope of work The Humanitarian Access and Security Coordinator (HASC) reports to the country director (CD) and Regional Security and Safety Director (RSSD) East Africa equally and manages the Humanitarian Access & Security Department for the Sudan country program. He/she is fully part of the SMT (Senior Management Team) as per protocol for country at or above level 3. In collaboration with key programs and operations colleagues in Sudan, he/she will strive to safely enable the delivery of essential services to women, men, and children in Sudan. She/he will implement humanitarian access and security management systems and protocols in line with humanitarian principles, IRC Standards and Requirements, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles, and IRC’s strategy.
Job description responsibilities
1. Management & Coordination• Provide technical support to the CD, DDP, and Field Coordinator on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security, and program continuity.• Evaluate and review, the security management, the security risk assessment and contingency plans updated by field coordinators on a regular basis in compliance with global safety and security standards and requirements. • Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites throughout Sudan.• Ensure humanitarian access approaches are responsive to local context and include overarching community engagement components.• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in the areas of operations is known and accepted, not only tolerated.• In close coordination with the DDO, ensure sufficient funds are budgeted in proposals to implement security and safety enhancements for IRC facilities and train IRC staff. • Make sure that at least once a year, a dedicated meeting is organized at SMT level to discuss IRC risk appetite for each location. • Work with SMT, Technical Coordinators and the Grants team to ensure security budgets and staffing levels are in alignment with the assessed levels of risk in each location.• Directly manage and coordinate the Humanitarian Access and Security team (dedicated and non-dedicated focal points) in country including their day-to-day operation and performance, in coordination with the Field manager/coordinator.
2. Context Understanding and Reporting• Compile and submit regular reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local security contexts within the IRC’s area of operation.• Produce or review incident reports (PIR) submitted by the field, provide support to them and link with the RSSD to ensure appropriate incident management is carried out. This withing 48 after the incident took place. • Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice and analysis to IRC field, RSSD and program management staff.• Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new IRC programs in new geographic areas, and regular assessment reviews for existing locations.• Monitor and support the review of the regular Security Risk Assessments (SRA) and share results with Country Management Team with advisory on how to respond to changing context. he/she is responsible of the technical review after the update from field team, of the sending to RSSD and final validation from CD. • Conduct in-person and remote safety and security assessments on a regular basis in each field location to assess the level of adherence to relevant security plans and procedures designed for each geographical area.
3. Training and Capacity Building• Work closely with the RSSD to identify learning and development needs in the country program. Training plan to be sent to RSSD and CD by mid-October of each year.• Provide regular trainings to IRC staff which address the identified training needs. Trainings may include Standard Operational Procedures; Humanitarian Negotiations; Contextual Understanding; Safety & Security Risk Management; Incident Management & Reporting, humanitarian principles and safety and security preparedness etc.• Coach and mentor the FC/FM and Field security focal points on technical topics as described in the Standards and Requirements. (SAT)
4. Program Development• Participate in program design in close cooperation with the DDP and CD• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining humanitarian access, safety, and security, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.• Pro-actively collaborate with key members of the leadership, operations and program leads to ensure that the humanitarian access and security management strategies are appropriately aligned with response priorities across all locations.
5. Networking and Liaison• Maintain and disseminate up-to-date warden tree for all IRC offices in Sudan. • Maintain a network of IRC security focal points in the country program as well as with external professional contacts and counterparts.• Identify, create and maintain a network with NGO/UN and other humanitarian access and security specialists or working groups.
6. Emergency Preparedness and Response to crisis• Contribute to development of country emergency preparedness plans.• Coordinate with Program and Operational departments to develop operational and programmatic contingency plans that respond to identified emergency scenarios. • Build capacity of in-country Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) as well as Safety and Security Management Teams (SSMTs – Field Based).• Maintain up-to-date evacuation plan for international staff. • In case of severe incident involving death of staff, kidnapping, massive extraction or evacuation of staff: directly contact the RSSD to develop an action plan in link with the Sop Critical incident management.• Make sure that the proof of life document are up to date and stored in a safe way• Update the med evac plan on a regular basis in link with HR department.
7. Human Resources and Staff Development• Promote team spirit, cohesion, respect and the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct among all Humanitarian Access and Security staff in close cooperation with HR department. Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global and IRC Sudan HR Policies and Procedures.• Train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff (including Field security focal points), including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. • Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.• Provide a measurable capacity building plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity and exchanging knowledge within the team. Additionally, ensure that all direct reports develop and implement Capacity Building Plans for their teams. • Ensure appropriate support to field-based staff via regular site visits, producing reports with action points to monitor.• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. • Promote and monitor staff care, well-being and self-care among international and national staff
8. Reporting• Produce weekly and monthly (MSR) reports to Country Management Team and RSSD EA as required by IRC internal regulations.• Coordinate with the HAS manager to produce daily (DSR) every day before 12h30 and share with RSSD EA and SMT.• By the 5th of each month: enter the required data (security and Covid19) into Shield application• On a biweekly basis: send a technical report to the RSSD• On a quarterly basis, update the country score cards objectives and action plan
Other• Contribute to discussion on how IRC Sudan can improve security culture among national and international staff.• In June of each year: design the budget for the next year for all security requirements (in link with global IRC guidance chapter 7) and twice a year: work in close link with the DDO and SMT to make sure that the initial budget request are effectively integrated into new grants.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Country Director and Regional Safety and Security Director under the MIP (Management in Partnership plan) Position to Supervise: Humanitarian Access and Security Manager + field security officer GedarefOther Internal and/or external contacts: Internal: Field and support operations and programs teams, Program Coordinators & Managers, Regional Director, Director International Safety & SecurityExternal: NGO counterparts and UN agencies
Requirements:
• University degree in Business/Organizations Management, Political Sciences, Security Management, or related field, preferred. Technical degree or certification in related field with significant applicable experience.• At least 5 years’ experience of operational access and security support of multi-sector humanitarian relief or development projects in East Africa or similar context, preferably at senior level positions.• Strong security management skills and experience, international experience is required.• Understanding of local context, dynamics, and access limitations related gender, disability, religion, tradition, and local norms.• Strong experience as a trainer; ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.• NGO experience and knowledge of donor requirements.• Flexibility, adaptability, culturally sensitive, team player.• Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Arabic is a plus.
Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:• Proven experience as professional and reliable manager.• Exceptional organizational and coordination skills.• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders.• Ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.• Proven ability to design and lead training engagements with staff to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands.• Ability to work in unstable security environment and ensure staff abide with the security policies.• Ability to work under pressure• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks.• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible and punctual. Work Environment: There is active conflict in parts of the country and a possibility of the conflict expanding into other locations. Security will be thoroughly discussed during the interview process.
Housing: Lodging in Khartoum is in shared IRC guesthouse. All IRC sites have electricity and internet. Food is the individual’s responsibility.
Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in The IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality 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 Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability
