Humanitarian Access and Safety Specialist

Contract

This is a DRC - Expatriate or National contract. More about DRC - Expatriate or National contracts.

Danish Refugee Council is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance with a rights-based approach to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and migrants. DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Spanish and English-speaking Humanitarian Access and Safety Specialist for its country office in Venezuela. This is an opportunity for an experienced professional to support DRC’s emergency response in Venezuela.

DRC established operational presence in Venezuela in 2019 to meet the urgent needs of internally displaced people and vulnerable host communities. DRC is currently scaling up its response in Venezuela through an integrated programming. Primarily based on protection activities (protection monitoring, individual protection assistance, community-based protection, prevention and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV), legal assistance and case management), the response also includes growing components of Economic Recovery, with current food security (including support to small scale agriculture) and livelihoods activities (employability, T-VET). DRC is currently active in Apure, Zulia and Sucre, both through direct and indirect implementation, with a strong capacitybuilding component.

Overall purpose of the role: To provide administrative assistance and specialized technical support to ensure programme activities are implemented in a secure, safe, and effective manner. Strong focus on conducting Safety Risk Assessments in the field and support on Access.

• Provide professional security and access advice, support, capacity building, guidance, and expertise to DRC staff.
• Enabling, ensuring, contextualizing, and reporting compliance to DRC MOSS security management system, while achieving effective access and continuity of operations through close cooperation with programs.
• Enabling DRC staff to conduct their work in a confident, safe, appropriate, and effective manner.

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities.

Responsibilities

Liaison & Access

• Communication and coordination with relevant stakeholders on all matters relating to the safety of DRC staff within geographical area of responsibility.Act as the focal point for safety coordination and information sharing between DRC and the relevant national actors within the area of operations, ensuring DRC operates in a transparent manner, following DRC’s Country Access Strategy and the Programmes SOPs.
• Establish a network of local contacts who can facilitate safe access for DRC operations. Ensure there is strong communication between local authorities, community leaders, security forces and DRC.
• Acts as the primary focal point for all DRC/DDG Programme’s requests to engage with local stakeholders aimed to negotiate safe humanitarian access to vulnerable communities. Make sure to spread a positive image of DRC and its activities by carefully explaining the humanitarian mandate.Collect, verify, analyze and report information that affect, or may affect, DRC operations.
• Prepare and submit Safety Incident Reports (SIR).
• Lead on the drafting of Safety Risk Assessments (SRAs) to be presented to the SMT and facilitate the implementation of the connected mitigation measures.
• In conjunction with the Base Manager, lead on the collation and the implementation of the Critical Incident Management Plan (CIMP) for every specific office/location.
• Maintains active contact with Safety/Liaison counterparts from local humanitarian and development partners, other relevant organizations, and represent DRC at inter-agency access and safety coordination fora.

Analysis

• Monitors and tracks incidents and contextual trends in safety, security, and humanitarian access across the area of operations and reports relevant information to the SMT, and to staffs during weekly internal coordination meetings.
• Monitor the operational environment and update the Safety Level System (SLS) as outlined by DRC’s Safety policies.
• Prepare and submit safety reports and trend analysis as required, suggesting changes on movement protocols as well as any other security/access advisory in case of significant changes in the local context.
• Assist on exploratory missions to new prospective areas of intervention, in order to perform a thorough Safety Risk Assessment and inform the decision making process.
• Provide Safety, Security and Access advice on program development and implementation.

Safety Risk Management

• Lead on the updating of pre-arrival briefs, local safety rules, security phone trees and safety briefs and provide all staff with regular safety updates and advisories.
• Conduct regular site assessment (i.e. on IDP camps, distribution sites, implementing partners’ locations) and advise on the most appropriate risk mitigation measures to be adopted.
• Support the management on MOSS compliance, report shortcomings and Safety Improvement Plans (SIP) to the SMT.
• Maintain a high level of preparedness vis-a-vis predicted contextual fluctuations operationally and programmatically. Check fire extinguishers, safe room supplies, first aid kits, emergency communication equipment and physical security elements, ensuring MOSS compliance.
• Designing and implementing training on safety procedures for all staff, visitors, guards, and drivers, to ensure all are well-informed of local security conditions and procedures as per DRC Duty of Care obligations.
• Lead regular drills, to ensure all safety & security systems are properly tested and functional, including comms systems, safety inventory checks, hibernation kits, etc. in close coordination with the Support Services.
• Focal point for the procurement of safety-related equipment, facilities, and other risk management resources within Venezuela.
• Development and implementation of contingency plans, such as medical emergency, evacuation and incident management, movement briefings and contextualization of movement plan. Assist in the management of safety incidents and crises, provide timely and accurate incident reporting reports and analysis, and support organizational lessons learned by running follow-up audits. Perform any other duty as may be assigned by the CD.
• Works with appropriate DRC units, including HR, to ensure timely and appropriate follow-up to violations of DRC’s Code of Conduct, in addition to operational breaches to humanitarian principles.

Required experience and competencies.

• At least 3 years' experience in field safety and of operating in a hostile security environment.
• Familiarity with humanitarian principles and practices
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Stable, moral, and robust character and a good team player
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proven commitment to accountability practices
• High personal and professional integrity
• Excellent skill in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Training in safety, fire and evacuation procedures
• Training in safety and disaster management
• Experience in negotiating access for humanitarian or other agencies.
• Commitment to integrate gender, protection, conflict sensitivity and accountability.
• Previous experience working with and negotiating with communities, local leaders, authorities, and security actors are a plus.

Languages:

• Full professional proficiency in English
• Full professional proficiency in Spanish

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies: • Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes. • Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback. • Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. • Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly. • Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer: • Designation of Duty Station: Caracas • Nonfamily duty station and non-accompanied • Accommodation: Shared guest house paid by DRC in the duty station (Expat contract). • Start date: August/September 2023 • Contract Length: 12 months for expat contract and 6 months for national, renewable depending on funding and performance. • Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for expatriate/National staff. Level: G – non manager.

Application process: Applications must be submitted through this page by clicking Apply button. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than two 2 pages) in English. No application sent by email will be accepted. For information about the position, please contact DRC Venezuela Country Director pablo.castro@drc.ngo – or DRC HR Team Leader – asdrick.ruiz@drc.ngo.

Closing date for applications: Aug 06, 2023. Please note that the applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.