Procedures and Eligibility
Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.
Duties and Qualifications
Field Safety Adviser
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Field Safety Adviser takes on the role of leading, coordinating and providing appropriate guidance related to security management within an office.
The incumbent maintains contact with other UN agencies, NGOs, implementing partners, government partners in the area to facilitate the operation.
The incumbent directly supervises general service staff in the office, and reports to the Head of Office.
FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Country operations receive practical and well-reasoned security advice and support toward helping ensure an appropriate level of safety for UNHCR’s staff and operations and compliance with security guidelines and procedures.
- UNHCR benefits from effective relationships with host country law enforcement agencies and the UN Security Management System.
- Staff are aware of threats/risks and how to respond to them, understand and comply with guidelines and procedures.
- Security management is efficient, well-coordinated and consistent with policies and procedures.
Responsibility
- Advise and support the Representative or Head of Office in managing staff safety and security of UNHCR staff, partners, operations, premises and refugees or persons of concern.
- Undertake periodic security assessments in close co-operation with UNHCR senior staff members and interagency partners, analysing security factors and levels of risk related to UNHCR activities and programmes.
- Evaluate existing security measures to determine their appropriateness and identify areas needing improvement. Follow up with actions to oversee or implement those improvements.
- Assist in ensuring compliance with Minimum Operational Safety Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Operational Residential Safety Standards (MORSS).
- Assist in the development of plans for evacuation, medical evacuation and other contingencies.
- In cooperation with UNHCR senior staff members, ensure that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning, including budgetary provisions, at the earliest stages of development.
- Participate and support in activities to advise on programme criticality assessment process.
- As a member of a multi-functional team, contribute to efforts to ensure the physical protection and security of refugees and other persons of concern by providing security assessments, analysis and advice in developing and implementing effective strategies which underpin the responsibilities of the host state.
- Develop and maintain relationships with security-related actors, including host government law enforcement authorities and other stakeholders to ensure effective information sharing; provide regular feedback and analysis to country managers.
- Maintain close co-operation with staff of the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), ensuring UNHCR’s understanding of applicable requirements, cooperating in security assessments and planning and supporting UNDSS understanding of agency requirements.
- Support UNHCR staff serving as members of the country Security Management Team (SMT), or Area Security Management Team (ASMT), Area Security Coordinators (ASC) and Wardens.
- Provide country-relevant security advice and training to UNHCR staff, and where appropriate, to staff of NGOs and implementing partners in areas including, inter alia, preparation for and conduct of road missions, radio telecommunications and responding to specific threats within the environment.
- Conduct rehearsals and practical exercises to ensure that staff are familiar with contingency plans and can implement them confidently in an emergency.
- Prepare periodic analytical reports on security in accordance with UN and UNHCR standard operating procedures, sharing with managers in the country of assignment and FSS.
- Maintain linkages with the Staff Welfare Section, and the Medical Service, referring cases as required.
- Undertake other security-related functions or responsibilities as delegated by the supervisor.
Authority
- Provide security-related advice, in written and oral form, to the manager and other staff
- Advise on, and upon approval, implement, needed mitigating measures.
- Participate in criticality assessments.
- Represent UNHCR in interagency working groups and attend SMT or ASMT meetings as an observer.
ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) with a focus on Security Management and/or related disciplines (Business Administration, Political/Social Science, International Relations). Also relevant would be military or police academy degree (at Officer level).
- Minimum 6 years of previous relevant job experience including 2 years security risk management experience in an international capacity.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.
(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station ans working knowledge of English)
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Proven competences in security analysis.
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral
- Negotiating skills
- Relevant training an asset
Position Competencies
- C001L3 – Accountability Level 3
- C002L3 – Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
- C003L3 – Communication Level 3
- C004L3 – Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
- C005L3 – Client & Result Orientation Level 3
- C006L3 – Organizational Awareness Level 3
- M001L3 – Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
- M002L3 – Managing Performance Level 3
- M006L3 – Managing Resources Level 3
- M005L3 – Leadership Level 3
- M003L3 – Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
- M004L3 – Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
- X007L3 – Political Awareness Level 3
- X001L3 – Analytical Thinking Level 3
- X008L3 – Stakeholder Management Level 3
Additional Information
Before applying to this position, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific FAQs information leaflets which can be found on the Intranet under Staff Resources > Duty of Care. The information leaflets are specifically designed to answer some of the key questions potential applicants might have before deciding to apply.
DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES
The candidate should possess a university degree with focus on security management or related disciplines. Relevance is given to military or police academy degree at Officer level. Candidate should have experience in security risk management in an international category. Good command of English language both spoken and written is mandatory for this position as well as proven competences in security analysis.
CURRENT SITUATION
Ethiopia, the country situated in the horn of Africa has long provided protection to refugees from some 20 countries, with the majority originating from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan. South Sudanese, Eritreans, Yemenis and Somalis originating from South and Central Somalia are granted automatic refugee status. While to all other, individual refugee status determination is undertaken by the Government¿s Eligibility Committee, on which UNHCR sits as an observer. The Government maintains the policy requiring refugees to reside in refugee camps, except Eritrean refugees who can obtain permission to reside outside of the camps.
Most of the South Sudanese refugee population in Ethiopia are hosted in Gambella Region which is situated in the south-western corner of the country. During the long history of the civil war in Sudan, Gambella has always been considered as the safe haven for South Sudanese who fled the conflicts and insecurity mainly in Upper Nile State and Jonglei State. South Sudan gained independence in 2011 by the referendum articulated in CPA. However, the peace in the world youngest nation was short-lived. Civil war erupted in South Sudan in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his ex-vice-president, Riek Machar, of plotting to overthrow him. President Kiir mobilised his Dinka ethnic group and Machar turned to his Nuer ethnic group for support. The Anuak and Murle ethnic groups have also been caught up in the conflict. A big influx of South Sudanese was admitted to the territory of Ethiopia through the border points in Gambella region. UNHCR responded to the emergency with the government counterparts and NGO partners. 4 additional refugee camps were established in Gambella region in 2014 and 2015 to accommodate more than 200,000 newly arrived South Sudanese refugees.
CURRENT SITUATION
Since September 2016, the operation in Ethiopia has experienced a fresh influx of refugees from South Sudan fleeing renewed violence and food shortages in their home country. Currently Gambella hosts more than 367,642 South Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers.
WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS
Gambella is a non-family duty station. Ordinary guesthouses for staff are provided with advanced plans to expand accommodation with modern facilities. There are limited banking facilities and limited medical facilities. There are daily commercial flights between Addis Ababa and Gambella. The diversity of topography in Ethiopia has resulted in a wide variety of climate in the country. The climate in Gambella is classifies as tropical. The hottest season of the region is in March/April and temperature may rise up to 45 °C, followed by a long rain season. Road network within the region is often affected by the heavy rainfall during the rain season. In winter, there is much less rainfall than in summer. The average annual temperature in Gambela is 27.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1148 mm.
SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
Gambella is classified as security level -phase 4.
The security situation in Gambella region has seen a significant deterioration in early 2016. The region is at present classified as security level 4. The current security situation in the entire Gambella region remain tense and unpredictable. Increase of criminality in Gambella town. Police have been reporting house breaking and street robbery related criminal activities. The restriction of movement is imposed on the movement of the staff member and the activities in the field, depending on the development of security situation. The security situation is expected to remain the same with no major changes according to the current reading of the situation. Road accidents are very common in Ethiopia due dangerous driving and non-enforcement of traffic laws.
ADDITIONAL FACTORS
Under the supervision of the Head of Sub Office, the Field Safety Adviser will receive technical guidance from the UNDSS in Addis Ababa. The incumbent will has the role of leading, coordinating and providing appropriate guidance on security management within the Gambella region. He/she supervise GL Field Associates for all locations.
Closing Date
Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2017 Compendium is Monday 6 November 2017 (midnight Geneva time).
More Information
- Job City Gambella
