Security and Humanitarian Access Advisor at Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)

MISSION ET OBJECTIVES

ALIMA's 11 missions are mainly in West Africa, in the Sahel zone, and in Central Africa. In both cases, these are complex regional contexts requiring monitoring and a good knowledge of the contexts.

ALIMA is currently looking for security and humanitarian Advisors for a number of countries where the security situation remains complex (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, CAR and Cameroon). They will be under the operational responsibility of the Heads of Mission and the technical advisor and security analyst based at headquarters.

They will develop and oversee the implementation of humanitarian access and security management systems and protocols in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles and ALIMA's security management strategy.

They will identify changes and trends in humanitarian access and in the security environment of the countries to which they report, develop and oversee the implementation of responsive plans, standard operating procedures and contingency plans, and facilitate training and capacity-building for management and field staff.

They will ensure that expert advice on humanitarian access and security risk management is provided to all levels of staff in the country office on building relationships with stakeholders, negotiating and mediating humanitarian access, understanding the context, managing critical incidents and providing timely advice.

Working closely with Heads of Mission and Project Managers, they will help maximize the effectiveness of ALIMA's activities by contributing to the design and ongoing adaptation of programming to ensure it is contextually appropriate. They will also provide advice and support to partner organizations and ensure capacity building for ALIMA staff.

PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Level 3: The incumbent is responsible for the application of HR processes and may be required to conduct field visits. He/She may therefore be in contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. Therefore, a criminal record check or the presentation of a certificate of good conduct will be required. In situations where the impossibility of providing a criminal record or a certificate of good conduct is established, a declaration on honor will be requested.

TASKS & RESPONSABILITIES

Understanding the Context

• Conducts contextual monitoring and security analysis in conjunction with each project coordinator in their area of responsibility, as well as with their own network of partners and persons of interest.
• Implements a system of continuous analysis of the security context in conjunction with each field coordinator in their area of responsibility and the mobile teams; updates and monitors the risk analysis table; and assesses the level of security at the base with the PCs.
• Alerts the HOM to points of vigilance (changes in context, security events).
• Carry out security diagnostics on the security of specific buildings, operations, or movements, and draw up recommendations and action plans with the project coordinators and the logistics coordinator under the responsibility of the head of mission.
• Compile and submit regular reports that monitor incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local security contexts in the area of intervention.
• Submit necessary weekly contextual updates to the SMT and relevant field and program management staff.
• Work closely with field management teams to ensure that all incidents and accidents are followed up with a formal written report, which is then shared with the Head of Mission.
• Monitor the environment in the area of intervention, identify new threats, assess ALIMA vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses.
• Coordinate regularly with the Head of Mission on aspects relating to safety and security, and fulfil the reporting requirements to be submitted to the same Head of Mission
• Contribute to local conflict sensitivity analysis and macro-level analysis of conflict trends in the country of operation
• Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents, as well as appropriate advice, to ALIMA field management and program staff.

Humanitarian Access Management

He or she will support the mission to:

• Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches adapted to the contexts in his or her home country
• Ensure that humanitarian access approaches take into account the local context and include comprehensive community engagement components
• Ensure that humanitarian access in the field is based on principles and sustainable negotiations with relevant actors in accordance with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles and the organization’s strategic action plan.
• Ensure that ALIMA, its mission, mandate and work in areas of operation are known and accepted.
• Work to encourage stakeholders to work with ALIMA to ensure that staff and programs are safe and authorized to continue humanitarian activities in our areas of operation.
• Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new ALIMA programs in new geographical areas and regular assessments of existing sites.
• Assist in the continued development of humanitarian access teams and activities across our areas of operation
• Contribute to the development and implementation of guidelines for humanitarian access and engagement with non-state actors, articulating ALIMA's standard policy and guidelines
• Oversee and advise on the implementation and review of appropriate uptake strategies
• Maintain a high level of preparedness for anticipated operational and programmatic contextual fluctuations 
• Improve ALIMA's image and acceptance within the community and among stakeholders by advising on inclusive visibility strategies
• Work with ALIMA teams, including HR, to ensure timely and appropriate follow-up of violations of ALIMA's Code of Conduct, in addition to operational violations of humanitarian principles

Safety and Security Risk Management

• Provide technical support on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational safety and program continuity
• Regularly assess, review and update security management plans in line with global safety and security standards and requirements
• Work with field project managers to develop, consolidate and implement operational procedures and contingency plans
• Maintain a network of security focal points in each field office and program site
• Assess, review and update hibernation and evacuation plans for all ALIMA offices and residences, and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all staff involved.
• Carry out risk assessments of contracted offices, residences and future leases. Follow up on measures to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards
• Undertake ongoing assessments of equipment and equipment use protocols to ensure minimum safety conditions are met.
• Provide and implement the best possible solutions for the use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff.
• Ensure that the safety and security protocol, reporting mechanism and capacity-building initiative take into account gender risks, staff profiles and backgrounds and are sensitive to local contexts.

Safety Management and Tools

• Coordinates the drafting and updating of Local Safety Plans with the PCs and forwards them to the HOM
• Takes part in drafting the national security plan in coordination with the HOM
• Draws up a security management strategy and organization for the mission (responsibilities, communication, travel, setting up an information network), validates the operational aspects with the Logistics Department Manager and has it validated by the HOM.
• Supports each base in defining and implementing the security plan with appropriate contingency and evacuation plans
• Ensures that the mission is equipped with ALIMA's standard security management tools and complies with ALIMA's positioning.
• Ensures that the measures in place are properly communicated, understood and applied by all team members
• Ensures that teams are briefed and trained in safety and tools
• Supports the teams in implementing passive safety measures for coordination and ensures that this is the case in conjunction with the CPs (identification of needs, purchase requests, etc.)

Networking and liaison:

As delegated by the HoM under his supervision:

• Participates in inter-NGO security coordination meetings
• Participates in national forums on humanitarian security
• Identifies sources of information (human, media, academic) and develops a network of relevant contacts, as well as identifying influential players
• Meets regularly with its contacts
• Maintains an effective network with local actors on context and security issues; collects and analyses information for context and risk analysis
• Produces a regular (weekly or monthly, depending on the context) context analysis note with possible impact on ALIMA operations
• Provides support and monitoring for incident management and ensures that reporting is carried out and capitalized on
• Produces a weekly document on the security status of the mission as well as the elements to be updated as a result of the weekly movements of expats.
• Maintain a network of security focal points in the country program, as well as professional contacts and external counterparts
• Provide timely feedback on issues and requests for technical assistance from Country Program team members

Training, Capacity Building and Briefings

• Develops specific training courses in the field as required, with the support of the HoM and the desk.
• Conducts regular risk analysis sessions with teams
• Supports the team in mission safety briefings for new expatriates
• Supports the HOM and the PCs in leading safety briefing sessions with liaison officers for national employees
• Support the HOM in leading the bi-monthly security meeting for expats
• Identify training and capacity-building needs for country program staff.
• Provide regular training to ALIMA staff on humanitarian principles and security and safety preparedness. Training may include Standard Operating procedures, Humanitarian Negotiations Contextual understanding, Security and Safety Risk management, Incident Management and reporting, etc.
• Liaise with partners to assess capacity-building needs and provide advice and support where possible and necessary.
• Work with appropriate internal focal points to develop and review the ALIMA induction information and package for new staff and visitors

Program Development:

• Participate in program design in close collaboration with the coordination team.
• Ensure that safety and security needs are included in country program budgets
• Support the Head of Mission and field project managers in the development of conflict-sensitive approaches adapted to the country context
• Participate in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure timely, safe and secure delivery of the ALIMA service to beneficiaries
• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks to humanitarian access, security and safety, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.

Emergency Preparedness and Response:

• Contribute to the development of national emergency preparedness plans
• If necessary, support and advise the response team in the event of a humanitarian or security/safety emergency
• Assist humanitarian and security access (situation analysis and background information, security assessments) to emergency response team deployments
• Contribute to the development of operational and programmatic contingency plans for different emergency scenarios, taking into account security and safety aspects

Production of reports

• Regularly (weekly or monthly, depending on the context) produces an analysis of the context and the possible impact on ALIMA's operations.
• Provides support and monitoring for incident management and ensures that reporting is done and capitalized on
• Produces a weekly document on the security status of the mission as well as the elements to be updated as a result of the weekly movements of expats.

External representation

As delegated by and under the control of the HOM:

• Representation and active participation in local and regional safety coordination meetings with the PCs and Deputy HoM/HoM.
• Representation and communication with local and regional authorities on safety issues
• Preventive measures against abuse of power, gender-based and sexual violence, fraud and money laundering
• Participate in training and awareness sessions
• Ensure compliance with anti-fraud policy measures
• Apply standards relating to the prevention of abuse
• Ensure that team members attend training and awareness sessions and apply abuse prevention rules
• Contribute to creating and maintaining a fulfilling and protective environment
• This job description is not exhaustive and may be modified as the assignment evolves.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS 

Experience

• Similar experience or a minimum of 2 years' experience working with international bodies or  NGOs in high-risk humanitarian contexts (operational, logistics or security position).

Qualities of the candidate

• Professional rigor
• Discretion
• Calm, excellent stress management and composure
• Excellent communication and listening skills
• Experience in team management and supervision
• Ability to adapt
• Excellent comprehension skills
• Training and coaching skills

Languages

• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is essential
• Fluency in French and local languages is an asset

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Higher National Diploma in security management / Diploma obtained from Military/Police Academy or relevant field with qualifying relevant experience.
• University degree in Security Management, International Relations or Law Enforcement or other relevant field would be an added advantage.