Coordinator – Safety, Security & Access

Program Brief

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Recently IRC has also introduced two new programs: Protection Rule of Law (PROL) and Education. IRC will continue working in both the camps and host community, while meeting the significant needs in both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox bazar and to other parts of the country, thus expand its’ networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reach beyond the Rohingya refugees, also targeting the vulnerable host groups in Cox Bazar and other parts of Bangladesh.

Purpose of the Role

This role will work with the senior management team and the Regional Security Advisor to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, adequate and known to staff, and advise on humanitarian access processes and approaches in close coordination with program teams.

Under the supervision of DDO, the Sr. Coordinator will analyze security trends, advise, update, and implement IRC’s Security Management Plan, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Contingency Plans and risk assessments. The role will develop humanitarian access approaches in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, and the IRC’s strategy action plan for Bangladesh. The person will conduct onsite training for staff and facilitate the development and implementation of appropriate plans. The personwill provide expert humanitarian security and access advice to all levels of IRC staff in the country and field office including access negotiations and mediation, context and conflict analysis, advisories, and incident management.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

Safety and Security Management Planning

·Provide technical support to the SOC/CD on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security and program continuity in Bangladesh

·Evaluate, review and update security management plans on a regular basis. Reference and ensure compliance to the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes

·Work with the SOC and Senior Program Coordinator (s) to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans

·Evaluate, review and update hibernation and evacuation plans for all IRC offices and residences in Bangladesh and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all staff involved

·Conduct risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices and residences and new areas of operation. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards

·Undertake continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols under which the equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met

·Provide and implement the best possible solutions for use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff

Humanitarian Access Management

·Develop ongoing relationships with local authorities as needed and other power brokers within IRC’s operational areas

·Work to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in the areas of operations is known and accepted

·Work to encourage partners to engage with the IRC to ensure that staff and programs are safe and allowed to continue humanitarian activities in country

·Lead on security assessments for new operational areas. Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new IRC programs in new geographic areas

·In coordination with CD, SOC, DDP, Technical Coordinators, Field Coordinators and Managers, liaise with relevant security actors e.g., NGO Security Focal Point, other NGO security coordinators, UNDSS contacts, local community partners, local authorities etc.

·Monitoring, Analysis and Supervision

·Identify, establish and manage context appropriate approaches to assure IRC facilities are suitable secure

·Compile and submit monthly security reporting that tracks incidents and trends within IRC’s areas of operation. Submit daily contextual updates as needed to the CD/Field Coordinators/RSSA/DISS

·Work closely with IRC field teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant partners and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports are provided when IRC is closing the case and that post-incident analysis is completed

·Collect and compile all security reports for IRC Bangladesh

Security and Access Training & Orientation:

·Provide the SOC, CD and Senior Program Coordinator(s) with a development plan that precisely accurately capacity building actions for safety and security of staffs

·Provide regular trainings for IRC staff on security preparedness, prevention and response. Training(s) may include Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs); Contingency Plans (CPs); Security Management; Incident Reporting; Prevention and Response Mechanisms; Communications protocols, etc.

·Work with the HR Department to review and update IRC Bangladesh Security Information packages for new hires and visitors

·Build capacity of the partners on Safety, Security & Access issues through training/workshop

Covid-19 Risk Mitigation

a.Analyze country covid-19 situation and provide necessary guideline in compliance with various directive from IRC & Government bodies.

b.Provide directives to implement program activities finding safest way.

c.Discuss policy and procedures that needs to be changed/integrated for staff covid-19 related support.

d.Discuss business continuity plan for critical covid-19 situation.

e.Analyze impact on the IRC Operation & program activities in consultation with responsible teams.

f.Validate Covid-19 related reports.

g.Support evacuation of critical covid-19 cases as and when required and to best the best possible facility.

HR Management:

·Hire and train new security and access field staff as necessary

·Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and mentorship to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions including staff development plans

Deliverables

• Excellent working relationship with relevant partners within government, UN, I/NGOs in Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka and IRC operational areas

·Availability of up-to-date detailed analysis of Safety and security context / risks for the country in general and IRC’s operational areas in particular

• Up to date country and field location specific SMPs, SOPs and CPs are in place and revised regularly
• All IRC premises (offices, warehouse, guest house etc.) are aligned with IRC’s safety and security standards
• All safety and security incidents are reported and managed promptly
• Compilation of safety and security reports in timely and quality manner
• Improved acceptance of IRC operations in Bangladesh
• All IRC staff and visitors receive briefing and induction on safety and security standards within 24 hours of their joining/ arrival
• A culture of giving due importance to and follow safety and security standards is developed in all IRC offices and among staff in Bangladesh