Regional Security Advisor for West and Central Africa (previous experience working with INGOs needed) 86 views0 applications

Office/Department: Central African Republic Country Office, Directorate**

Duty station: Bamako, Mali

Duration: The contract period is for one year starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period**

EMS is seeking, on behalf of an INGO, a Regional Security Advisor West and Central Africa. Our client works in 5 thematic areas, supported by lobby and advocacy activities: health care, security and justice, humanitarian aid, resilience and private sector development. Its mission is to reduce fragility and the vulnerability of people where it is most needed and most difficult.

Education/Experience/Language requirements:

• University degree in a field relevant to security management in a conflict context or work experience that equals this.
• At least 5 years of field experience tackling security issues in fragile states and environments.
• Knowledge of the humanitarian and development sector, incl. the NGO organizational culture.
• Understanding of principles and practices in humanitarian action, NGO security management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and theoretical and practiced approaches to humanitarian access, including acceptance-based approaches.
• Advanced knowledge of, and ability to train others in, communications technology, including VHF, HF radio systems, satellite communications, cell phone mediums, etc.
• Experience as a trainer, with an effective & participatory adult learner training style and the ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to staff with diverse backgrounds.
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively without close supervision, if required.
• Willingness to travel frequently between the countries served, sometimes on short notice.
• Willingness to travel to remote locations.
• Experience in incident and crisis management.
• Flexible and capable of working in a stressful context.
• Good oral and written communication skills in French and English language.

Skills:

• Ability to understand risks of travelling via road and air.
• Ability to find solutions and appropriate mitigation strategies that would allow continued operations on the ground within fragile contexts.
• Ability to develop community acceptance to prevent security incidents
• Ability to engage with communities to peacefully resolve security incidents.
• Ability to communicate effectively, particularly in giving feedback and advice.
• Ability to look for alternatives in a pro-active manner, if the ideal solution cannot be used.

Core Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal, co-ordination and negotiation skills, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Strong commitment to integrity, professionalism, creativity and innovation, learning, accountability, planning and organization, results orientation, teamwork and technological solutions.

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example.
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
• Development and Operational Effectiveness
• Good knowledge of best practices in security management.
• Good knowledge of methodologies in preventing and resolving security incidents.

Management and Leadership

ü Builds strong relationships with colleagues and partners, and responds positively to feedback.

ü Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

ü Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

ü Contributes positively to team dynamics and shows conflict resolution skills.

Background Information: *(Job specific division of tasking may change)**

The Regional Security Advisor (RSA) will be hosted in Bamako, Mali and will advise and support Country Directors within the West and Central Africa region in enabling continued operations on the ground while facilitating Duty of Care to staff and consultants. In doing so, s/he will be expected to spend 20% of his/her time on Mali, 20% on CAR, 20% on DRC, 10% on each of Burundi, Niger, Burkina Faso and Cameroon*. S/he will advise, mentor and support National Security Officers and Focal Points (NSOs/SFPs) and maintain close cooperation with the Global Security Advisor (GSA) based in The Hague.

Functional Responsibilities:

The RSA reports to the Country Director of the Central African Republic Country Office with secondary reporting lines to other Country Directors served. S/he will be guided by the GSA based in The Hague and focus on developing and supporting effective risk mitigation approaches and capacities that enable continued operations of the ground while facilitating Duty of Care to staff and consultants. While s/he will primarily act in the role of an advisor to the respective Country Directors, s/he will also be responsible for developing and overseeing an effective safety and security set-up within the region served. This will include the hiring, training and mentoring of NSOs/SFPs for each of the countries under his/her responsibility. It will also include the roll-out and maintenance of effective policies, procedures and plans. And it will include the development and management of effective tools and capacities that are appropriate to the respective country and local contexts within the region.

In doing so, s/he should actively look for solutions and appropriate mitigation strategies that would enable continued design and implementation of programmes and projects, and effective oversight and support of local partners.

Support Country Directors within the West and Central Africa Region:

ü In leading the regular review of a security risk management framework within each of the countries supported, which includes a Country Security Plan (CSP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Hibernation, Relocation & Evacuation Plans (HREP) in order to promote safety and security for the NGO’s staff, consultants, visitors and partners.

ü In ensuring that NSO(s) and Country Directors keep Country Security Plans updated and enforced (including context assessment, participatory safety & security risk assessments for the different locations to assess likelihood and potential impact of various risks, standard operating procedures and contingency plans).

ü In ensuring that NSO/SFP(s) propose updates of Security Levels on a regular basis with frequency appropriate to the local context.

ü In ensuring that the NGO’s Offices and Guesthouses are secured in accordance with the provisions of respective Country Security Plans and aligned with best practices of other International NGOs and those advocated by INSO, while ensuring that mitigation factors do not unduly impact the mental health of (expat) staff.

ü In ensuring that NSO/SFP(s) conduct regular briefings and organise Local Response Team (LRT) meetings with frequency appropriate to the local context.

ü In ensuring that NSO(s) and/or Country Directors conduct security briefings to new staff, consultants, advisers, and visitors upon arrival, and ensure that security procedures are complied with accordingly.

ü In ensuring that NSO/SFP(s) carry out annual security training needs assessments of staff and organise staff training accordingly.

ü In acting as a focal point for all high level and regional security related issues and in appointing one NSO in each of the countries served as the focal point for all country security related issues.

ü In ensuring that NSO(s) are trained and capable in providing crisis management support as part of the local crisis response teams for crisis response, including logging and analysis of lessons learned as well as help prepare local crisis response team members for their relevant role in the LRT through regular table top exercises

Build and Support Safety and Security Practices within the Region:

ü Develop a localised approach strengthened by regional oversight and guidance.

ü Hire, train and mentor of NSO/SFPs for each of the countries under his/her responsibility and build strong and effective safety and security teams, if so relevant to the context.

ü Roll-out and maintain safety and security policies, procedures and plans.

ü Develop and manage effective tools and capacities that are appropriate to the respective country and local contexts within the region.

Enable Continued Operations on the Ground while facilitating Duty of Care;

ü Develop a good contextual understanding of the safety and security aspects of the NGO’s programmes and projects within the region and within each of the countries served.

ü Ensure continuous analysis by NSO/SFP(s) of local power dynamics/relations in provinces where the NGO has a presence.

ü Ensure monitoring by NSO/SFP(s) of security updates from INSO, INGO/NGO, UN and Dutch Embassy security offices, media updates, government security instructions and any other relevant security related information and share with concerned staff.

ü Ensure pre-clearance by NSO/SFP(s) of all travel for expat visitors within the respective countries served with security related travel guidance provided accordingly.

ü Ensure pre-clearance by NSO/SFP(s) of all travel of staff, advisors and consultants within the respective countries served with security related travel guidance provided accordingly.

ü Ensure monitoring of field visits by NSO/SFP(s), including tracking of vehicles and staff (if so relevant), and ensure that all employees travelling to the field comply with the provision of the respective Country Security Plans and relevant SOPs.

ü Ensure regular security and risk assessments by NSO/SFP(s) for all operational areas.

ü Write regular security management reports with situational analysis and recommendations.

ü Ensure that field communications needs are met and that staff is trained in the use of satellite phones and other communications equipment as necessary.

Support Effective Security in the Field:

ü Work closely with NSO/SFP(s) to ensure that security policies, procedures, practices and capacities support “hybrid or direct implementation” in the field taking into account the need to deliver quality services to people, families and communities while facilitating “Duty of Care” for the NGO’s staff.

ü Ensure that assigned NSO/SFP(s) work closely with communities supported by programmes and projects implemented by the NGO in developing effective mechanisms to prevent and resolve (potential) conflicts and harm to the NGO’s staff in an expedient and effective manner.

ü Ensure that assigned NSO/SFP(s) prevent incidents through “community acceptance” and resolve incidents through “community engagement”.

Contribute to Knowledge Management and Innovation:

ü Substantial and demonstrated prior experience as a trainer with an effective & participatory adult learner training style and the ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to staff with diverse backgrounds.

ü Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge through mentoring and other non-formal methods of accompaniment.

ü Able to build teams and coordinate team work with NSO/SFP(s), Local Response Teams (LRTs) based in the countries served and the GSA based in The Hague.

ü Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure the NGO is continually incorporating best practice approaches in Regional and Country Office operations.

ü Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building and, contribute to relevant Communities of Experts and Communities of Practice accordingly.

ü At the request of respective Country Directors and in collaboration with the NSO/SFP(s) plan, implement and organize security related capacity building of project personnel, clients and other stakeholders.

Undertake Other Duties as may be assigned by the Primary Supervisor:

The successful delivery of results by the Regional Security Advisor directly impacts the performance of programmes and projects implemented by the NGO as well as its reputation as an effective partner in achieving positive results that lead to flourishing communities in fragile settings.