Mar 31, 2023

Regional Humanitarian Access and Security Coordinator

Hiring Organization: International Rescue Committee 
Job Location: Nairobi Kenya

Base Salary: TBA
Open To Expatriates: Yes

Job Overview
Working as a member of the regional team and under the direct supervision of the Regional Safety & Security Director (RSSD), the Regional Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator (RHASC) will support the delivery of consistent and high-quality access and security management across the Central Africa region. S/he will support the RSSD in providing technical support to meet the needs of country programs in the region and ensuring compliance with IRC’s internal standards and policies. The RHASC will support regional capacity strengthening, learning and development initiatives for safety, security and access management for IRC staff and partner organizations. The candidate will be required to travel extensively and frequently throughout the region.

Major Responsibilities
Technical Support (Up to 70% of time)
Ensure consistency in the approach to safety, security and humanitarian access management across the region while ensuring flexibility for contextualization. This may include suggesting improvements to key processes, guidelines and tools.
Provide technical advice and direct support to Country Programs on safety & security risk management, trends, processes and best practices.
Assist field leaders in implementing security risk management plans including identifying, mitigating and managing risks.
Support Country Programs to maintain a high level of operational and programmatic preparedness in anticipation of contextual changes, including the development of contingency plans.
As required, support Country Programs in critical incident management.
Support initiatives across the region to integrate Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) in safety, security and humanitarian access management. Ensure safety and security risk management efforts at the field level are inclusive of staff with diverse social identities and backgrounds.
Ensure that IRC partners receive support in security risk management including leveraging IRC’s systems, tools and best practices as relevant.
Support the development of humanitarian access strategies in field locations ensuring alignment with global guidance and standards.
Support the implementation of contextualized acceptance and community engagement strategies.
Advise on and support efforts at the field-level to enhance the IRC’s reputation, image and acceptance within the community and amongst relevant stakeholders.
In coordination with the RSSD, monitor and support adherence to the IRC’s humanitarian access and security policy, principles, standards and requirements.
Recommend measures for field sites to improve compliance with the IRC’s humanitarian access and security, policy, principles, standards and requirements. Monitor progress and make recommendations to the RSSD on additional support that may be required.
Travel to country programs to provide gap coverage, support the Humanitarian Access and Security team with key projects or during the onset of an emergency.
Deputize for RSSD when needed.
Training, Learning and Knowledge Sharing (Up to 20% of time)
Identify regional learning and development needs, informed by the country programs in order to continue delivering high-quality, durable and contextually relevant programming
Design and facilitate the delivery of learning programs to support staff in country programs to gain the knowledge and skills they require to achieve programmatic and organizational objectives and improve the capacity of IRC staff in safety & security risk management and humanitarian access.
Tailor training and capacity building materials for remote management use and/or delivery.
Support and deliver capacity-sharing initiatives with implementing partners.
Build a core group of Trainers across the region who can support capacity-building initiatives.
Support country teams in liaising with established external training providers to identify and assess effective training options.
Assess and monitor the impact of capacity-building initiatives.
Contribute to the recruitment of Humanitarian Access and Safety & Security staff across country programs. This may include designing technical tests and participating in recruitment interviews.
Liaison & Networking (Up to 10% of time)
Maintaining a network of IRC security focal points in the country programs as well as external professional contacts and counterparts, monitor the security environment in the region in close collaboration with the RSSD, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities, and recommend possible responses
Attend and sometimes lead the regional meeting about context and dynamics in the Central Africa
Provide timely feedback on questions and technical assistance requests from country programs
Monitor and provide support and reporting on NGO field security initiatives as required
Identify, create, and maintain a network with NGO/UN and other security specialists suitable for the region.

Job Requirements
Education: University degree, preferably in humanitarian work, security studies or risk management.
At least 5 years of progressive experience in safety & security risk management roles in humanitarian contexts, of which at least a minimum of 3 years should have been at a senior management level.
A willingness and ability to travel up to 50% of the time throughout the Central Africa region.
Experience or exposure to humanitarian operations and emergency relief is a must with a preferable focus on risk and crisis management.
Ability to coordinate and partner with regional and local stakeholders either directly or remotely.
Sound working knowledge of humanitarian security and a commitment to humanitarian principles.
Sound appreciation of the personal and technical issues facing aid workers, such as international law, codes and standards, gender and conflict issues.
A strong track record in learning and development initiatives in Humanitarian Access and Security
Demonstrable competence in and enthusiasm for practical training methods
Ability to manage a complex workload and meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to influence without authority.
Excellent leadership, people management, and negotiation skills in cross cultural context.
Strong track record in project management, including project planning, scoping and delivery, proposal writing, budget planning/spending, and delivery.
Computer literacy in MS Office packages, such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Knowledge of or willingness to learn new tools such as PowerBI and ArcGIS.
The position may require some unsociable hours due to regional coverage, online meetings and in the event of an emergency.
Ability to work within a highly matrixed and sophisticated agency organizational structure and to adapt to shifting priorities
Language Skills: Fluency in both French and English is mandatory. Fluency in Kiswahili would be an additional asset.