Humanitarian Access & Safety Advisor (Expat) at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Humanitarian Access & Safety Advisor (Expat)

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Supervised by: Country Director
Reporting to: Country Director
Area of Operation:  Nigeria
Employment Period: 12 months (potentially renewable)
Type of contract: Expatriate contract
Salary & Benefits
Non-Management F- level 1, unaccompanied position

Background

• DRC is in the process of scaling up an emergency programme in Nigeria. Nigeria’s northeast is currently experiencing a significant humanitarian crisis, which has been the result of the ongoing-armed conflict between Boko Haram, the Nigerian military and the Multi-National Task Force in the north-east.

Purpose

• DRC in Nigeia is looking to recruit an experienced, highly-qualified and enthusiastic professional to provide overall advice, coordination, and technical support on all aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management (SRM) system in all of Nigeria, for both DRC and DDG programmes while ensuring compliance with the safety  chapters of DRC’s Operations Handbook.
• The Humanitarian Access & Safety Advisor will be based in Maiduguri but will have to travel regularly through Nigeria. Travels can represent around 40% of the working time per month.
• This position is a senior one, requiring a strong previous experience in safety and humanitarian access. This position also requires strong communication and analysis skills in order to feed informed decision making regarding DRC operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Humanitarian Access & Safety Advisor will manage all aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management (SRM) system in all of Nigeria, for both DRC and DDG programmes.  In consultation with local safety staff and programme manager, and under the direct supervision of the Country Director he /she is expected to pursue the following objectives and duties in his/her daily work:

Overall Objectives:

• Manage the development and implementation of the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC’s) Safety Risk Management System (SRMS)
• Facilitate program access and continuity by providing reliable advice
• Ensure compliance with DRC safety policy as stated in Chapters 19 & 20 of the DRC Operations Handbook
• Supervise and mentor the Local Safety Officers (LSOs) in Yola and Mubi and the Safety Focal Point (SFP) in Abuja
• To develop policies and procedure, in coordination with project staff, for the safe delivery of program activities

Main Responsibilities
Risk Analysis:

• Conduct regular Safety Risk Assessments (SRA) for each programme area pursuant to DRC Safety Policy
• Provide quality control for SRAs

Humanitarian Access and programme continuity:

• Produce analysis and evaluations on the humanitarian space and access adapted to the presence of DRC in Nigeria on a regular basis. Provide on request  analysis and evaluations on areas, themes, dilemmas or scenarios
• Build a network with all stakeholders and develop a strategy to improve acceptance and access of DRC in the field;
• Work in collaboration with the Regional Humanitarian Access and Safety Coordinator to harmonize and streamline DRC access strategies
• Identify potential scenarios, indicators of change in the humanitarian space and key decision points at micro, meso and macro level. Keep a register of developments related to access and humanitarian space
• Work in collaboration with the program teams to ensure that humanitarian access strategies deliver the purpose while minimizing unforeseen adverse consequences on people in need (do no harm), within DRC risk acceptance

Safety Improvement Plans:

• Based on the SRA, advise programmes on achievable and cost-effective mitigation measures through the development of contextualized Safety Improvement Plans
• Supervise and monitor the progress of Safety Improvement Plans

Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS):

• Ensure Nigeria is compliant with the DRC global MOSS
• Based on the SRA, advise programmes on context specific MOSS requirements
• Monitor programme compliance with MOSS

Local Safety Rules (LSR):

• Based on the SRA and MOSS, ensure all areas have updated LSR. Ensure all staff are provided with a copy of the LSR and are briefed on their responsibilities

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):

• Ensure each programme area has appropriate SOPs developed and implemented. Monitor compliance with SOPs

Contingency Plans (CPs):

• Facilitate the development of context-specific contingency plans for each programme area. Support Incident Management Teams (IMTs) with the implementation of contingency plans. Conduct regular reviews with IMTs to ensure CPs are up to date, realistic and understood.

Capacity Building:

• Conduct – or facilitate the delivery of – safety training for staff at all levels. Ensure watchmen and guards are trained and aware of their responsibilities, in accordance with the SOPs governing access control.
• Liaison: Develop a network of contacts through other NGOs, UNDSS, Government agencies and other useful contacts. Act as the primary representative for DRC Nigeria on safety matters

Crisis and Critical Incident Management:

• Act as the Country-level coordinator for the Incident Management Team (IMT); Ensure IMT members are aware of their responsibilities Act as the primary point of contact for safety-related matters with the Regional Office and other local actors (UNDSS, etc).

Information Management and Reporting:

• Maintain detailed soft and hard copy files of all relevant safety documents.  Monitor the overall situation and provide regular situation reports. Maintain an up-to-date incident tracking database and Provide staff with relevant and concise safety-related information and analysis, both through external and internal reports, publications, etc.
• Coordinate the submission of Safety Incident Reports and ensure that all SIRs are completed within 48 hours of an incident occurring
• Conduct post-incident inquiries, if required, and monitor compliance with action points on SIRs

Briefings:

• Ensure an up-to-date visitor briefing package is provided to all visitors and international staff
• Conduct safety briefings for all visitors and international staff at the country level; at the field level, ensure that individual areas do the same
• Provide briefings on thematic and specific issues, as requested by the Country Director or Regional Safety Advisor (RSA)

Field Travel:

• Ensure compliance with the Field Travel SOP
• Assist with the planning of field travel, including briefing escorts if required
• Act as the focal point for issues related to armed escorts
• When required, manager and coordinate field travel

In addition to the above, the Humanitarian Access & Safety Advisor may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Country Director or the Regional Humanitarian Access and Safety Coordinator.

Requirements

• To be successful in this role we expect you to have a minimum of 3 years’ experience working with NGOs and/or other international agencies in a  complex and fragile environment, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa as working experience as a safety and security manager/adviser.

Qualifications
Required:

• Experience working in the designated area of operations (West Africa)
• Management and/or supervisory experience within an NGO
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Stable, moral and robust character and a good team-player
• Excellent communication skills, calm and a good sense of humour
• Proven commitment to accountability practices.
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Emergency First Aid qualification (within the last year)

Desirable:

• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems.
• Experience with information gathering, analysis and report writing.
• Ability to conduct and produce high-quality safety risk assessments (SRAs).
• Experience with critical incident management.
• Experience with delivering safety-related training.
• Training in safety, fire and evacuation procedures
• Training in safety and disaster management
• Fluent in written and spoken Hausa
• NGO/UN Security Management experience
• Military/Police experience (those with officer-level or senior non-commissioned officer rank should apply).

Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor.

General Regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Application Closing Date
11:59 p.m. (GMT-time); 28th January, 2021.