Humanitarian Access, Safety and Security Officer
- Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
- Location:
- Grade: Junior level - Junior
-
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
- Security and Safety
- Closing Date: Closed
BACKGROUND:
The
International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian
crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at
the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing
assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in
more than 40 countries, IRC aims to restore safety, dignity and hope to
millions who are uprooted and struggling to survive.
More
than 3.6 million people have fled across borders to seek safety in the 1st month since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and
over 6.5 million Ukrainians are reported to be displaced. As the vast majority
of the displaced are women, girls, and boys, this could become the worst
humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.
Between February 7-23, 2022, an IRC team
undertook a scoping mission covering Poland and Ukraine to better understand
the context, humanitarian and civil society landscape, and anticipated service
gaps in the event of an escalation of conflict in Ukraine and consequent
displacement into neighboring Poland. As of February 24th, the IRC
has pivoted to an emergency response, and have identified partner agencies in
Ukraine and Poland to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it
is the most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC is establishing operations across
Ukraine and Poland to complement partner response services either in breadth or
scale.
SCOPE OF WORK:
The IRC is seeking a Humanitarian Access and Security
Officer (HASO) for its Ukraine operations with travel to program
locations. The HASO will work within
the corresponding Field Office with support from the Humanitarian Access and
Security Department, to ensure that organizational security policies and
procedures are responsive to the context, are contextually appropriate and
known to staff, and will advise on humanitarian access processes and approaches
in close coordination with program teams.
Reporting to the Field
Coordinator, the HASO will implement IRC Safety & Security management
measures, as well as support in providing contextual analysis and understanding
to decision makers, and engage with key stakeholders to gain and maintain
humanitarian access to those most in need. The HASO will prioritize the
humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care and the IRC’s strategy
action plans for Ukraine in their work.
The HASO will conduct onsite briefings for
staff, support the development and implementation of appropriate plans,
standard operating procedures, and contingency plans. S/he will support in providing
expert humanitarian security and access advice to all levels of IRC staff
across the program including building relationships, negotiating and mediating
humanitarian access, contextual understanding, and conflict analysis,
advisories, and incident management.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND
COORDINATION:
Managerial Reporting to: the Field Coordinator
Technical Reporting to: the
Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Manager/Coordinator
Supervises: If any security staff as program
expands.
Key
Interfaces: Program teams, Operations teams, Humanitarian
Access, Safety & Security Department and other relevant staff as necessary
with program expansion.
External:
RESPONSIBILITIES
Safety and Security Management
- Support the Field
Coordinator by providing technical support to the Programs and the wider
team on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff
safety, operational security and program continuity.
- Support the Field Coordinator in evaluating, reviewing
and updating security management plans on a regular basis. Reference and
ensure compliance to the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP
and all annexes.
- Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt. in
working with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate and implement
operating procedures and contingency plans.
- Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in
evaluating, reviewing and updating the hibernation and evacuation plans
for IRC sites in Ukraine and ensure that practical preparations are in
place and known to all relevant staff.
- Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in
conducting risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices and
residences. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with
safety and security standards.
- Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in
undertaking continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols by which
that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are
being met.
- Implement
best possible solutions for use of equipment to facilitate communication
between staff, including proposing safe alternative means of communication
and equipment.
- Follow up on
actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security
standards
- Support the Field
Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in ensuring safety
and security protocols, reporting mechanisms, and capacity building initiatives
account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles and background, and are
sensitive to local contexts.
Networking and Liaison
- Monitor and provide support and reporting on NGO field security initiatives, as required.
- Work to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in
all areas of operation is known and accepted.
- Work to encourage stakeholders to collaborate with IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and given permission to continue humanitarian activities in Ukraine
- Liaise with relevant security actors e.g., NGO security staff, security forces, local community stakeholders, local authorities.
Context
Understanding and Reporting
- Compile and submit regular
reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local
security contexts within IRC’s areas of operation.
- Submit daily contextual
updates as needed to relevant field and program management staff.
- Work closely with IRC field
management teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up
with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant
stakeholders and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports
are provided when IRC is closing the case.
- Monitor the operating
environment in the region, identify new threats, assess IRC
vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses
- Coordinate regularly with
the Field Coordinator and the
HA&SS Dpt on safety and security, and fulfill reporting
requirements to the respective office(s) as well as other locations of IRC
interest
- Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC field and program management staff.
Program
Development
- Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in advising program staff developing conflict-sensitive and contextually
appropriate approaches in Ukraine
- Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in participating in program review meetings and contribute to
implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of
IRC service to beneficiaries
- Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks
pertaining to humanitarian access, safety, and security, and contribute to the
development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.
Staff Performance
Management, Learning & Development
- If applicable, coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews
- Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
- If applicable, as required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with IRC Staff Employment Policies
- Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
REQUIREMENTS
Job
Requirements
Education: Graduation from a
higher education facility in a relevant subject is preferred, however secondary
eduction and significant professional experience will be considered.
Work Experience:
- Demonstrable experience of civilian, non-profit or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs, having undertaken planning, organizing and executing security operations in the field.
- Experience of obtaining information on local, national, and international development, and providing clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding security and political situations when they occur (both written and verbal)
Demonstrated
Technical Skills:
- Skilled in organizing
large-scale, fast-paced, responsive field programs
- Situational awareness and
opportunity awareness
- Solid ability to provide
team-building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage
cross-functional collaboration and cooperation
- Strong organizational and
coordination skills
- Knowledge and proficiency in the use of communications
technology, including, satellite communications, cell phone mediums, etc.
Demonstrated
Leadership Competencies:
- Excellent
relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively
represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders
- Strong negotiation and
mediation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution
essential
- Superior oral and written
communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly
and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders
- Experience of working
successfully with local stakeholders such as local and international NGOs,
local authorities, government etc. with sensitivity and diplomacy.
- Experience in design and supporting
training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt
to changing program demands
Languages
Required/Preferred:
Fluency in spoken and written Ukrainian, Russian and English.
Computer/Other
Requirements:
Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially
Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Ability to
Travel: up to 50% traveling
This position will be
based in locations where IRC have presence. As this is a fluid and rapidly changing
context, the location of this assignment may change based on the needs of the
program. This
position will be unaccompanied, with the possibility of review at the end of
the first year. Housing will initially be in hotels, or shared, IRC accommodation,
unless it is in HASO’s personal residency.
Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC
workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code
of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and
Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces
policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child
Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation,
Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
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.
Working
Environment
Staff must comply with
all IRC security policies and procedures applicable to IRC employee.
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, disability or any other characteristic
protected by applicable law.
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