Regional Access Advisor – Middle East Region

Background

Access to people in need remains one of the greatest challenges for humanitarian organisations working to reach vulnerable communities. Shrinking humanitarian space and deteriorating security have left many of those most in need with limited or no assistance. Given the operational conditions of highly dynamic security, political and conflict situations, humanitarians are preparing for increasing complexity in reaching the most vulnerable populations in hard to reach areas.

Moreover, the economic deterioration across the region, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to additional challenges in terms of social cohesion and dynamics in an already volatile context. The role and relevance of Non State Armed Groups, together with the structural weaknesses of regular armies across the region, has challenged the application of International Humanitarian Law contributing to risks faced by communities as well as NRC’s staff.

The NRC Middle East Regional Office (MERO) is composed of country offices in Libya, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. MERO oversees the country operations in the region, and provides strategic guidance and oversight across core programme, advocacy and support functions.

The Job Purpose

The Regional Access Advisor (RAA) will play a key role in implementing an USAID/BHA funded project on Access and Negotiations within their region. The project aims to support both field workers and critical decision-makers to improve presence and programming in complex operating environments.

The Regional Access Advisor will be a key member of the global team responsible for project delivery and also provide support to NRC and its partners through the articulation of an integrated approach between programmes, security, advocacy and access, with an emphasis on enabling and sustaining access in volatile, high risk or hard to reach areas. Humanitarian negotiations, remote programming approaches and partnerships with local organisations will be important elements of the approach and the position will be required to provide practical support and guidance to the rest of the team on these aspects.

What you will do;

• Ensure capacity building of staff in areas related to humanitarian access, negotiations, acceptance and civil-military coordination as well as capacity building for NRC’s local partners and Community based organizations
• Advise the NRC Country Offices on how to plan for and deliver programmes in high risk and/or hard to reach areas and the practical implementation of this advice.
• Guide NRC’s work to develop concrete acceptance strategies and measurable impact, including advice on building and maintaining good relations with local communities, armed actors and other relevant stakeholders, particularly in volatile or hard to reach areas.
• Support the NRC Country and Regional Offices in making strategic, informed decisions related to humanitarian access and the practical application of humanitarian principles.
• Ensure linkages between programmes, security, access, and support functions on issues of principled access.
• Support the development of relevant advocacy strategies with advice and input related to humanitarian access.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the political, social, security and humanitarian situation for developments affecting humanitarian access and provide Provide regular context analytical report on local and regional dynamics.
• Key member of the global project team delivering on USAID/BHA Access & Negotiations Phase III Project.
• Provide technical support to Regional and Country offices in the delivery of assistance to Hard to reach populations
• Engagement and negotiations with all relevant actors – develop a systemic approach to engagement and oversee development of Access Strategies in the region
• Contribute to NRC’s interagency access coordination at regional level as well as NRC’s positioning on access coordination at humanitarian community level including by disseminating knowledge and best practices.
• Contribute to “evidence gathering” or research on best practices related to humanitarian access and operations, to include topics on bureaucratic impediments, operations in hard to reach areas, risk mitigation measures, etc.

Professional Competencies & Qualifications required

• Master’s Degree in related field (or Bachelor’s with equivalent work experience)
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in humanitarian access/security in conflict/post-conflict environments/volatile contexts
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of protection concerns in high risk settings as well as familiarity with industry access tools, resources and methodologies
• Experience in capacity building and skills development
• Demonstrated strong understanding of humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law and how to operationalize them within programming.
• Understanding of humanitarian access dilemmas undermining delivery of effective humanitarian assistance in hard to reach areas, specifically in the Middle East Region.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, fluency in Arabic, both written and verbal is also highly desirable
• Excellent writing, analytical and problem solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, including capability to negotiate with stakeholders

Behavioural Competencies

• Empowering and building trust
• Managing resources to optimize results
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills
• Ability and willingness to work and live under pressure in insecure environments
• Flexible, creative and cooperative
• Working with people | Collaborative leadership

What We Offer

NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability.

We offer an opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause and a chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take initiative.

We are also looking for people who share our values:

• To be dedicated in what we do;
• To be innovative with our solutions;
• To act as one unified and inclusive team;
• To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the people we exist to serve, and to each other… the members of our NRC family.

Additional Information:

Duty Station: Amman, Jordan

Duration of contract: Fixed term 12 months, full-time, in accordance with local labour laws.

Grade 9 in NRC’s grading structure

Travel: 40-60% to Middle East Countries of Operations

Reporting line: Regional Head of Health, Safety & Security Middle East Region with a dotted line to Global Lead Humanitarian Access and Hard to Reach