EORE Specialist & Manager

Situation Overview

Ukraine is heavily contaminated by Explosive Ordnance. Landmines were used in the conflict that erupted in early 2014, initially in Crimea and later in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces in Eastern Ukraine. An estimated two million people are exposed to the threat of landmines on either side of the 450km ‘contact line’. Despite singing of ceasefire agreements, for example, the Minsk Protocols that took effect in February 2015 and which halted large-scale military operations, armed clashes have continued. These armed clashes have seen the deployment of heavy weaponry and increased shelling of densely populated areas leaving behind the presence of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW). The most recent Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor suggests around 8% of the government controlled land, cover approximately 7,000km2, contain or are suspected to contain antipersonnel mines and other ERW. This region encompasses urban areas used to access schools, hospitals, markets, and agricultural land . According to the Landmine Monitor, Ukraine ranks 4th in the world for EO casualties, and 6th with the inclusion of States not party to the Mine Ban Treaty, making the east of Ukraine one of the most EO contaminated areas in the world.

The exact number of casualties from EO in Ukraine is unknown. However, based on the Landmine Monitor, Ukraine was third among the State Parties to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention in terms of EO casualties in 2019, with a total of 324 casualties. A survey conducted by UNDP in 2020 suggests that despite discrepancies in casualty data, Ukraine still has some of the highest EO casualties in the world .

The same UNDP survey, which focused on Government-Controlled Areas and Non-Government-Controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts noted the following with regards to casualties:

• Men in military occupation constitutes the largest proportion of EO casualties overall, but since 2018 increasing more civilian men have been victims of EO
• Adult men are more likely to be casualties than adult women
• Boys and adolescent boys under 18 are also more at risk of an EO accident compared to girls and adolescence girls. This discrepancy increases with age
• Common risk-taking behaviour includes manipulating the EO (pick up, tampering, handling or playing)
• Livelihood, household work and traveling are other risky activities that may trigger an accident by EO

Unfortunately, the most recent outbreak of conflict in late February is only exacerbating the EO problematic. Aerial bombardment of cities will leave behind heavy ERW contamination. Worryingly, in addition to reported use of landmines, there has been reported use of cluster munitions in the conflict.

HI’s experience in EORE
HI has been conducting EORE activities since the mid-1990s and currently are active in EORE in close to 15 countries worldwide. HI has experience conducting EORE in similar contexts as Ukraine – for example, HI provided EORE in Gaza following the conflict, which included aerial bombardment, in May 2021. HI also has experience conducting EORE in urban environments such as in Syria and Iraq, and is currently also supporting the crisis in Ethiopia. HI’s experience in EORE stems across the emergency and development nexus and as such is capable to adapt their activities to the actual needs that may evolve over the project period.

In emergency settings, such as Ukraine, HI proposes to conduct EORE that will ensure life-saving messages are shared as fast as possible and to as many people affected by the explosive ordnance as possible. These messages and means of communications may be adapted, depending on the evolving situation. When possible, HI will also identify victims of EO and refer them to appropriate services for physical and mental support. HI has experience conducting referrals, notably in Iraq.

In addition to community based EORE, HI has recently begun training humanitarian actors with EO Safety Awareness Briefings. These trainings seek to keep humanitarian actors operating in potentially contaminated or suspected to be contaminated zones safe from the threat of EO.

HI is currently co-chairing the global level EORE Advisory Group. The purpose of the EORE Advisory Group is to provide overall guidance and improve the EORE sector in terms of integration, effectiveness, efficiency and relevance. HI will use their co-chair position to leverage on the guidance and suggestions of the EORE Advisory Group to provide a high quality EORE response to the challenges in Ukraine. In addition, HI is an active member of the Mine Action Area of Responsibility and will continue to coordinate and share information with other actors in this forum.

HI is deploying a multisectoral response, covering:

• Armed violence reduction and humanitarian mine action
• Integrated trauma-based PSS and Rehabilitation work
• Support to health centers
• Inclusive humanitarian action support (Humanitarian-to-humanitarian service)
• Basic needs (Hygiene, NFI, Cash).

From operational bases, HI will implement the following activities under the AVR pilar:

• Land contamination impact survey
• Delivery of CPP messages
• Provision of EORE to conflict affected communities on the risks and effects caused by EO
• EORE Safety Briefings for Humanitarian Actors operating in areas suspected or confirmed to be contaminated by EO

YOUR MISSION:

The Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) Field Technical Specialist contributes within the country where he/she is based to the implementation of the mandate and the 10-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion. He/she ensures optimal quality and impact of the projects implemented in the country, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms.
He/she will be responsible for the following:

• Supports the Ukraine mission to develop its strategy, especially with regard to EORE intervention and contributing more widely to its conflict-sensitive HMA strategy
• Is responsible for the technical framing, dissemination, support and regular follow-up (quality insurance) of the risk education activities
• Oversees the development and adaptation any technical and IEC material necessary to implement the EORE and CPP activities
• Build the capacities of RE Project manager and RE agents through face to face or remote trainings and coaching
• Coordinate with other RE and HMA actors and represent HI internally and externally, whenever necessary.

Responsibility 1: Expertise

You contribute to the mission strategies through the framing of the sectorial offer on EORE and CPP, with support from Global Specialists and ensure relevant follow-up

• You participate in continuous needs assessments and contamination impact surveys for development of new projects and / or adaptation of existing projects

You ensure technical support to projects in line with the global technical frameworks and standards on EORE and CPP

• You provide adequate technical guidance and support to Project Manager in line with strategies, standards and mandatory transversal approaches
• You provide ongoing training for the technical and projects field staff
• You design and contextualize technical tools, training, materials and other relevant documents, and disseminate them among the mission/humanitarian community upon prior validation by the relevant HQ Technical Specialists
• You ensure good communication and coordination with team members and other internal stakeholders through regular meetings
• You contribute to the adaption of project methodologies and EORE and CPP techniques (community focused, community based, mass media, etc) to ensure continued relevancy in the evolving context
• You in charge of updating EORE and CPP Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and lead in any technical development of EORE related guidelines;
• You ensure adequate support to multi-sector responses within projects, in line with the other Specialist
• You ensure a local sectorial watch and best practice capture on EORE and CPP sector

Team management and internal coordination

• You directly manage the EORE team (PMs and officers) You participate to the design of positions, recruitment and induction of EORE and CPP team members
• You work in close coordination with administration and logistics teams as required
• You follow-up and provide technical support for the professional development of each member of the Inclusion team including development of individual action plans and performance appraisals, amongst others.
• You help monitoring and following-up inclusion activity budget lines use

You ensure the control & monitoring of the technical quality and relevance of HI’s activities in the programmes under EORE activities

• You ensure regular technical quality control of projects and programmes and issue warnings and recommendations when required
• You perform frequent field visits for technical supervision, on-the-job training, and quality assurance
• You support quantitative and qualitative data collection from EORE and CPP teams, in particular focused on ensuring that data is disaggregated by gender, age and disability
• You contribute to writing internal and external reports. You provide relevant data related to EORE and CPP activities (statistics, monthly objectives, etc.)
• You monitor the implementation of audit recommendations, if applicable, in EORE and CPP scope

Responsibility 2: Business development

• You ensure the development of major opportunities or new projects in the region in EORE and CPP
• You contribute to the context analysis in the field of EORE and more largely, Humanitarian Mine Action
• You contribute to the design and writing of new projects for the mission
• You identify & transform major opportunities in the mission under your scope
• You identify & develop local partnerships and/or consortium with NGOs, Institutions, Companies on technical priorities or important topics in EORE and CPP
• You lead the development and the data analysis of EORE and CPP needs assessments, effect/impact studies, KAP surveys, and other research efforts

Responsibility 3: Influence

• You contribute to the local external prestige and influence of HI’s expertise in the field of EORE and CPP
• You represent HI with the national authorities, the supporting UN Agencies and other local authorities, to facilitate HI’s EORE and CPP interventions and avoid duplication
• You are in charge of the influence and promotion of the technical capacity of HI at country level throughout the local and national relevant networks
• You contribute to advocacy on specific themes at country level, in line with the global advocacy priorities

YOUR PROFILE

• You hold a bachelor or master’s degree
• You have at least 3 years of field professional experience in humanitarian mine action (EORE, Non-Technical Survey, CPP, etc.) and 7 years of professional experience, including work in low-to-middle-income countries (previous experience in East Europe is a strong asset).
• Previous experience in the design and implementation of community focused and community based EORE activities is mandatory. Professional experience with IEDs in an EORE context is a strong asset
• You have general computer skills (use of MS Office package, Internet, Skype). Experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and creation of maps is an asset
• You are able to produce written and oral institutional communication in English. Proficiency in Ukrainian would be a strong plus
• You are able to produce clear, concise and responsible communication suited to the interlocutor (adult or child) by adapting communication and messages to an intercultural environment and remotely
• You understand the importance of establishing clear frameworks, rules and limits and negotiating and managing problems and conflicts
• You are able to assess the impact/effects of EORE activities and promote participation and cooperation in EORE activities and in multi-disciplinary/sector-based work
• You already have professional experience in training and coaching field teams
• You demonstrate a high level of motivation and proactivity
• You can work as part of a team/network and you can be audacious by showing initiative or being entrepreneurial
• You are able to work under high pressure, without constant supervision and in a tensed and volatile context with strict security measures
• You show a strong ability to give and receive constructive feedback by discussing with multi-disciplinary teams, working as part of a network and collaborating

CONDITIONS:

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission:https://hi.org/en/join-the-team

• International contract starting as soon as possible
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
  • Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals
  • Pension scheme adapted to the situation of our employees: If you already have a personal pension scheme HI will contribute at the same level of your personal monthly contribution with a maximum of 272.53€/month ; If you do not have a personal pension scheme, we will open a private pension account with your contribution of 272.53€/month and a contribution of HI of the same amount
  • Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution
  • Repatriation insurance paid by HI
  • Salary from 2869 € gross/month upon experience
  • Perdiem : to be determined
  • Hardship : 550 € net/month paid with your salary
  • Paid leaves : 25 days per year;
  • R&R to be determined
  • Unaccompanied position
  • Collective housing taken in charge by HI
• If you are resident in the country: local package