Humanitarian Access Officer

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

To maintain, improve and expand principled humanitarian access to and by conflict-affected populations in areas of responsibility through liaison, analysis, monitoring and reporting.

Responsibilities:

Liaison

- The Humanitarian Access Officer will be working with the Humanitarian Access & Security Manager/ Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator for handling relationships with community relief structures as well as helping to identify possible beneficiary population - Liaise with local relief committee members in all areas of operations - Liaise with other local authorities to acquire new entry points for identifying beneficiaries, such as religious leaders, school administrators or other relevant officials. - Responsible for handling feedback from the community about potential new beneficiaries, and locations. - Facilitate and attend community meetings. - Plan and deliver community acceptance events. - Plan and facilitate panel discussions and other information-gathering sessions with community contacts. - Document lessons learned and achievements related to the project. - Update the partner tracking and mapping in areas of operation. - Support the compliance team with the compliance mechanism - Identify a passable location for hotline for compliance. - Support the programs with engaging with authorities - Identify programmatic challenges and work with the HAM to find relevant solutions - Conduct training for local partners about the humanitarian principle and further trainings - Collaborate with the HAO to facilitate the activities of Programs and work on permissions for the Program activities. - Conduct focus groups and other information-gathering sessions with women working IRC to identify their gender-related needs and challenges across all IRC sites within the NES. - Liaison with other NGOs on permissions, approval procedures and updates. Point of contact for the HAS team with respect to administrative duties; PRs, RRFs, payment sheets, TRFs, etc. - Facilitating a staff engagement session about safety – gender related issues. - Other duties when needed.

Qualifications

- University degree - 2-4 years of work experience in Humanitarian Access / safety & security, preferably with INGOs. - Proven knowledge and understanding of the Syrian context, including geographical, political and security aspects. - Experience and/or knowledge of local financial institutions - Experience working in a field-based environment supporting relief programmers, or working with local communities providing assistance to vulnerable families - Understanding of the non-partisan status of an international NGO - Good communication, numeric and strong analytical skills, - Should be computer skilled, especially in Microsoft office with a good sense of attention to detail, - Ability to read and write English and Arabic - Ability to think independently and problem-solve. - Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task - Honest, hardworking, and committed to community development.

Language/Travel:

- English: required, written and verbal skills - Arabic: required. - Kurdish: added advantage. - The working base will be Hasakah with regular movement to the concerned camps in the operational areas.

Key Working Relationships:

- Position Reports to: Humanitarian Access & Security Manager - Position directly supervises: Security Guards - Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator and Humanitarian Access & Security Director. - Key Internal Contacts: Programs- Operations - Key External Contacts: Local authority

Professional Standards IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.