The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
BACKGROUND:
The International Rescue Committee has been in Nigeria since October 2012 and came in response to a widespread flood disaster in Kogi State. With local partner Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication (CISCOPE), IRC's Emergency Response Team implemented projects to support food security, livelihoods, nutrition, and WASH.
At the beginning of January 2014, IRC shifted its geographical location to the Northeast, in Adamawa State, to provide humanitarian response to the conflict-affected populations. Currently, IRC has operational offices: Yola and Mubi field offices in Adamawa State, Damaturu in Yobe State, and Bama, Monguno, Gwoza, and Maiduguri field offices in Borno State (Northeast Nigeria), and began operations in Zamfara and Katsina States (Northwest Nigeria) in 2023, providing humanitarian support to internally displaced populations hosted in IDP camps, camp-like settings, host communities, and returnee populations.
The IRC Nigeria Country Program implements multi-sectoral interventions through its various sectors: Health; Nutrition; Environmental Health; Child Protection; Education, Women’s Protection and Empowerment; Economic Recovery and Development, Protection and Rule of Law. Most of these programs are driven in partnership with strategic local NGOs.
JOB OVERVIEW:
The HASSO is under the direct supervision of the Senior Humanitarian Access Safety and Security Manager (SHASSM). The Humanitarian Access Safety & Security Officer (HASSO) should assist FC and SHASSM 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 SHASSM 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 SHASSM 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 SHASSM 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 SHASSM 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 SHASSM 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 SHASSM 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 SHASSM and relevant field and program management.
• Work closely with IRC field management teams to assist SHASSM 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 SHASSM 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 SHASSM 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.
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
Key Working Relationships
Position Reports technically to: Senior Humanitarian Access Safety and Security Manager
Indirect/Operational Reporting: Field Coordinator
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.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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