Safety Specialist(Humanitarian Access Specialist)

Contract

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

Background:

The DRC Somalia Programme is the largest programmes in East Africa region. DRC is among the INGOs with the largest presence in Somalia, with country-wide programmes implemented through six main sub offices in Somaliland, Puntland, Hiran Region, Gedo Region, Bay Region and Banadir Region

Overall Purpose of the role

The Humanitarian Access Specialist is responsible for day-to-day access analysis, technical advice and liaison with relevant program, support, and coordination teams at the area level, while maintaining agreed upon communication with his/her line manager, as well as the Country Director (CD), and counterparts in Head Quarters (HQ). The position will also focus on contribution with specific technical competencies to program and project staff who are facing access challenges in the communities where DRC is working and can improve humanitarian access by initiating contact with those who are impeding access. The position will include a specific project focusing on accessing Hard to Reach populations in Somalia and will be working with program managers based in country, as well as at the HQ level.

Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Country Safety Coordinator (CSC):

Strategic liaison engagement:

• In collaboration with CSC and area level program staff, lead engagement with national authorities relating to access and permissions. • Ensure clear messaging and a comprehensive understanding of DRC policy and positions (red lines) related to access and programming negotiations, by gathering information from host community key stakeholders, technical experts, senior management and to other humanitarian partners. • Assist to increase the systematization and continuity of DRC authority engagements, including but not limited to sub agreement negotiations where required. • Utilize effective negotiation techniques to leverage DRC programming and assure continued humanitarian access.

Strategy development - Access and Liaisons:

• Assist in identifying priority strategic areas based on key barriers to access and thus effective programming. • Assist in the development of area and country level access strategies in collaboration with DRC Somalia programme teams. • Support in developing and identifying resources, tools, and training necessary to operationalize access strategies. • Advise the CSC and Senior Management Team (SMT) on key access and liaisons related policy positioning.

Information management - Access and Liaisons:

• Support with the implementation and upkeep of systems for tracking sub agreement negotiations, ensuring clear consolidation and analysis of data is maintained. • Create access-related analysis, plans, issues, and incidents are conducted and documented, including refining tools, conducting training, and providing strategic advice on program and policy changes accordingly. • Supports the timely production of area specific, district and regional level access assessments, stakeholder mapping, access dynamics and trend analysis regularly and as required country wide, in locations deemed as hard-to-reach. • Assist in the mapping, planning, and coordination of ongoing engagement with all key stakeholders as it relates to humanitarian access, including analysis of key influencers and related engagement strategies, ensuring a database is implemented and maintained to capture all developments witnessed.

Programmatic and operational Support:

• Where required, support program managers/teams to adapt programming and monitoring to be relevant to the current access environment. • Assist in the development and implementation of tools for remote management and monitoring, as needed, working with technical leads and programme teams . • Work with DRC Somalia program teams, including HR, to ensure timely and appropriate follow-up on operational breaches to humanitarian principles and where they may relate to violations of DRC Code of Conduct (CoC). • Liaise with program staff members to identify and successfully implement appropriate programmatic ‘Safe Entry Points’- Programmatic interventions that are in line with the larger access strategy of the area- to aid efforts to gain access to hard-to-reach populations.

Support to Safety Risk Management:

• Support CSC in reviewing and updating country safety management policies, protocols, and procedures as/when required. • Analyze, manage and report relevant information within the mission’s geographical area of intervention in conjunction with safety and programme colleagues. • Represent DRC at access, security and coordination forums/working groups as requested.

Reporting: • Provide the Country Safety Coordinator with bi-weekly access situation reports. • Create, maintain, and share monthly access situation reports using Arch GIS, Power Bi, and other reporting tools. • Contribute to the provision of access and context related input for internal and external reporting, donor, and public communication

Experience, Education and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in the field of safety and security management and/or humanitarian access • University degree in relevant field, with 3 years’ experience or School Diploma with 5 years of UN/NGO experience. • Experience in program management and implementation across the project/programme cycle in one of DRC’s core sectors. • Strong interpersonal skills, including capacities to negotiate with government and non-government stakeholders. • Proven experience in contextual analyses related to security situations and humanitarian operations, including effective communication of analyses. • Ability to comprehend data and produce relevant analyses for diverse purposes. • Operational understanding of humanitarian principles and principled programming. • Relevant practitioner knowledge of and experience with adapting programming to remote management. • Excellent ability to build relationships including with senior level government officials and non-state actors. • Confident and effective representation and communication skills. • Strong people management skills. • Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems. • Experience with information gathering analysis and report writing. • Demonstrated written and spoken ability in the English and local languages.

Languages: • Fluency in written and spoken Somali & English

ABOUT YOU

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: • Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. • Collaborating: You are a strong networker and enjoy working with many different types of stakeholders, you involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. • Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while balancing the role of advisor and taking leadership • Communicating: You write and speak effectively and honestly and display political and cultural sensitivity, including ability to adapt well to local cultures • Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Conditions

Availability: June 2022

Duty station: Mogadishu

Reporting to: Safety Coordinator

Duration: 7 Month with possibility of extension based on performance and funding

Contract: This position is graded as Band G-Non-Management for qualified national staff and the terms of employment will be in accordance with DRC terms for national staff.

The position is open to Nationals ONLY

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap. Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, color, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.

Commitments DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html). All DRC staff must be committed to the Red Cross Code of Conduct, as well as the Core Humanitarian Standards.

Application Applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV in English. The cover letter should outline your personal motivation for applying and your key qualifications for the position. We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. Applications sent by email will not be considered. Please forward the application and CV, in English through the online application on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies no later than 3rd May 2022.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/job support