Safety and Access Coordinator- Afghanistan

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Safety and Access Coordinator

Code: SR-28-8458

Duty station: Kabul with frequent field visits to field locations

Starting date: 01/08/2023

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting to: Country Director

Supervision of:Security team

Dependents: Non-family duty station

General context of the project

Protracted humanitarian crisis and conflict, displacement, governance failure and a deep socio-economic crisis have had a devastating impact on the Afghan population, namely on the most vulnerable groups, caught up in the active conflict-zones, displaced and returned to the country. The South Region, in particular Kandahar and Zabul Provinces, is amongst the critically affected areas. Political and security situation remains volatile, despite the peace talks: almost 50% of the territory is considered contested with frequents clashes and airstrikes.

INTERSOS has been present in Afghanistan since 2001 with a country office in Kabul, a field base in Kandahar City and a sub-base in Qalat. INTERSOS focuses on implementing emergency response and relief programs in different sectors: Health, Nutrition, Protection and WASH, serving the conflict-affected population (displaced and not displaced) and with community living in hard-to reach areas. A special focus is dedicated to Extreme Vulnerable Individuals (women, children, person with disabilities, etc.).

The program’s general objective is to contribute to reduce the protection and health risks of hard to reach conflict-affected communities. The proposed program aims to improve access to integrated protection, primary health care (including sexual and reproductive health care) and nutrition services in the conflict affected areas of Kandahar and Zabul Provinces.

General purpose of the position

Support the definition, development, implementation and evaluation the security strategy of the mission, ensuring capacity building in risk management matters and technical support to the security staffs.

Support the Country Director in monitoring the compliance with INTERSOS risk management tools and procedures.

Provide strategic advice to Senior Management Team on security, access, staff safety and risk management.

Ensure that structures and systems for access safety and security management are in place and respected.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Design of mission security policies and strategies

• Support the analysis of country risk management with the aim to identify risk treatment measure and contingency plans
• In coordination with the Country Director and other departments support the development and implementation of Risk management strategies, tools, protocols, policies and procedures
• Ensure a deep and strategic situational awareness
• Collect regular data on security incidents and humanitarian access impediments and provide analysis

Staff management and networking

• Participate in recruitment of staffs, train and coach Area and Security focal persons in the field
• If needed support field focal point, Head of Base, Logistics etc. on mapping and gathering information/contacts critical infrastructures or checkpoints
• Support and train Base safety and access Officer, Security Managers, Area Security focal persons and relevant staffs in security measures
• Build network and liaise with members the security apparatus, military, different organizations, key individuals and other relevant actors involved in security at country level
• Strengthen inter-agency communication. Identify and link with all the key individuals, stakeholders and other organizations with priorities to:
  • NGO security-dedicated fora and other NGOs, both national and international (International NGO Safety Organization (INSO), European Interagency Security Forum (EISF), Saving Lives Together (SLT – framework for security collaboration between NGOs and the United Nations)
  • UN agencies and their contact points
  • host government security officials (military, police, other)
  • community leaders and formal and informal leaders

Support communication on standards and procedures

• Review existing security coordination mechanisms for the operational bases and provide recommendations to improve the flow of external security information
• Assess and enhance communication strategies implementing measures to improve INTERSOS communications infrastructure
• Inform international and national staffs about the security tools and procedures in place in order to guarantee a high level of awareness
• Upload safety and security documents on the communication platforms on IMP in order to guarantee the mission to share information on local security contexts
• Facilitate the set-up of clear communication channels within the mission
• Design guidelines on the information that can be shared, and the procedures to be followed upon reception of information
• Organize weekly and monthly briefing on access, safety and security, and provide context, safety and security briefing to new staffs
• Provide country safety and security analysis on a weekly/biweekly bases according to the context needs

Incident and crisis management

• Ensure CPPs and related SOPs are up to date and in line with context and situation analysis
• Ensure that contingency plan is in place and known by all the staffs and drills are conducted regularly
• Guarantee proper and timely support for incident and crisis management
• Support the Country Director in decision making and coordination with other third parties when needed
• Ensure that continuity plans are well defined and shared with the staffs in order to ensure a proper continuation of mission activities
• Provide support to staff members in case of need and replace the Country Director in his absence

Required profile and experience

Education

• University Degree in relevant field (Social Sciences, Psychology, Social Work, Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law or other fields related to social development and humanitarian work, security or risk management)
• Master degree in humanitarian studies or risk management or other fields related desirable

Professional Experience

• Minimum of five years of working experience in security at coordinator or manager level in complex humanitarian crisis

Professional Requirements

• Minimum of five years of working experience in security at coordinator or manager level in complex humanitarian crisis
• Good understanding of humanitarian safety practices and principles
• Desirable experience of humanitarian negotiation (with national authorities, local authorities, non-state actors, military forces) and humanitarian access in complex emergencies

Languages

• Fluent in English

Personal Requirements

• Strategic vision, leadership, people management;
• Culturally sensitive and able to understand and work in a very complex contexts;
• Creative competency to set up new strategies, new projects, new tools;
• Problem solving attitude;
• Good team player with strong initiative;
• Good interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to adapt and work in difficult situations