DELEGATE IN CHARGE OF RELATIONS WITH POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law.  We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Role description

ICRC delegates to the police and security forces work as part of one or several delegations depending on the number of countries they are tasked to cover. They are responsible for contributing to the dialogue between the ICRC Delegations and arms carriers (AC), notably, but not exclusively, Police and Special Force units, with a dual aim: to enhance understanding of the ICRC's role and its operational procedures among these forces; and support national efforts for the dissemination and integration of human rights law and humanitarian principles.

Mission

• Dialogue with the authorities to facilitate acceptance of the ICRC
• Sensitize authorities on compliance with international norms
• Supports efforts to integrate IHL/IHRL and application of international rules and standards into police doctrine, training and relevant aspects of operations
• Expose Arm Carriers’ to relevant law and the ICRC’s mandate and activities through bi-lateral dialogue and appropriate training initiatives (including pre-deployment briefings for police contingents)
• Assess police results, failures and structures and evaluate the need for change and reform
• Contribute to the evolutions of structures, procedures and mindsets in the security forces for a better compliance to international norms
• Contribute to the delegation’s security assessments and contribute to its access to areas with humanitarian concerns

Main responsibilities

• Provides country analysis of the Police and Security Forces organisation and compliance with humanitarian principles regarding the use of force and in relation to the ICRC Operations in the country
• Provides expertise on the setting of a dedicated / tailor made PGE programme aiming at tackling/preventing the violation of humanitarian principles by law enforcement institutions
• Work closely with the Delegation management and transversally with the Delegations Protection and Prevention Departments in defining the strategy and carry out specific activities
• Provides real-time technical analysis of conflict/violence dynamics and advises and supports delegations on dialogue with arms carriers
• Maintains and develop a network of contacts, ensuring substantive engagement with police command structures and institutions (National and Regional)
• Supports efforts to integrate IHL/IHRL and application of international rules and standards into police doctrine, training and relevant aspects of operations
• Expose Arm Carriers’ to relevant law and the ICRC’s mandate and activities through bi-lateral dialogue and appropriate training initiatives (including pre-deployment briefings for police contingents)
• Handles all operational and thematic issues pertaining to dialogue with police and selected other arms carriers and advises on the humanitarian implications of alleged IHRL violations namely the excessive use of force, illegal arrest and detention and ill-treatment providing technical advice on Protection to Civilian Population interventions
• Provides technical advice on the humanitarian implications of the evolution of the use of force, arrest and detention, search and seizure, and other relevant topics related to law enforcement
• Participates to the recruitment and training of staff resident handling PGE files. Those personnel help the PGE Delegate to carry out his/her duties in the country (implementation of national PGE/Prevention programmes)
• Provides internal training (across the different ICRC Metiers) to reinforce understanding of Arm Carriers (Protection Delegates, Detention Delegates, Health Delegates etc)

Desired profile and skills

Profile

• Ideal age: 40 to 55 years old
• Very good command of English and French. Knowledge of another ICRC working language used in the field (Spanish, Arabic or Russian) is a strong advantage
• Police career: Minimum of 10 years' professional experience in police-related positions (or equivalent such as gendarmerie or another policing/law enforcement agency) - amongst which minimum 5 years of recent operational experience in the following fields: training, crowd control, judicial/criminal investigation or special tactics and leadership
• Minimum of 1 year of international deployment abroad in a relevant position for policing
• Good knowledge of the international principles for the use of force and firearms
• Knowledge of international humanitarian law and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement is an asset
• Confident using IT Office tools
• Knowledge and training skills in First Aid is an asset

Skills

• Strong motivation and commitment to humanitarian work and the ICRC values and principles.
• Proven capacity to adapt to new environments and integrate within multidisciplinary teams
• Charismatic speaker, proven instructor, sound capacity to network and negotiate
• Able to work under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment
• Ready to travel
• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work
• Proven capacity to adapt to new environments and integrate within multidisciplinary teams
• Charismatic speaker, proven instructor, sound capacity to network and negotiate
• Able to work under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment
• Ready to travel

Languages

• English mandatory at a B2 level (according to the European framework of the reference for languages)
• French mandatory at a B2 level (according to the European framework of the reference for languages)
• Other language at a B2 level (according to the European framework of the reference for languages) such as : Spanish, Arabic or Russian would be an asset

Our operational & field constraints

• In line with the principle of neutrality, the ICRC does not assign personnel to a country of which they are nationals
• Candidates must be in good health and will have to do a medical check-up prior to departure in the field
• Candidates must possess a driving licence (for manual transmission vehicles)
• Candidates must be prepared to accept unaccompanied postings (i.e. no spouse, partner, children or dependents) for at least the first 6 months

What we offer

• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment
• Induction comprising basic delegate training, short field mission and training as specialist before departure on mission
• Opportunities for further in-house training
• Join an ICRC talent pool and be considered for future assignments elsewhere
• Attractive social benefits
• Length of assignment:  24 months up to 48 months