Humanitarian Access and Safety Technical Officer Tempo Inteiro

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is hiring a Humanitarian Access and Safety Technical Officer.

Job Description

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s values. To be dedicated, innovative, inclusive and accountable are attitudes and beliefs that shall guide our actions and relationships. NRC has a commitment to safety and wellbeing and together we build a positive working culture to feel valued, empowered, supported, safe and have a sense of belonging. NRC does not tolerate employees exploiting or abusing people and has zero tolerance to inaction.

Background

The purpose of NRC’s Humanitarian Access and Safety (HAS) function is to enable a principled humanitarian response in a safe manner, for the communities and partners we work with and our staff. Despite NRC’s success in delivering assistance to those in need, security and access constraints remain significant challenges. Obstacles such as conflict and violence, environmental and physical challenges, bureaucratic hurdles, and interference in humanitarian operations, hinder the delivery of services and protection to displacement affected people.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Humanitarian Access and Safety (HAS) Technical Officer provides a range of support in humanitarian access, safety, and security within the area. Under the direct supervision of the Area Manager and with technical support and supervision from the HAS Manager, the HAS Technical Officer supports the implementation and monitoring of the NRC’s HAS Policy, plans, procedures, trackers, and processes in the Area Office and related Program Office (Mueda and Mocimboa da Praia). This role requires frequent presence in the field supporting the safe and principled delivery of programmes and the Duty of Care for NRC staff.

Generic Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the NRC Global HAS Management System at area level, prepare reports as required, and execute area-focused elements of the HAS Operational Plan.
• Contribute to a culture of enabling a safe and principled humanitarian response and support the implementation of Safe and Inclusive Programming Minimum Standards.
• Support the development of area-level HAS documents, including contingency plans, access strategies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), in line with organisational standards.
• Maintain an understanding of the Area’s humanitarian context and regularly brief area management on key security developments, NRC exposure, access challenges, and emerging threats to inform decision-making.
• Assist the HAS Manager with Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) and access assessments, including Rapid SRAs for new operational locations, collaborating with management to identify and implement relevant mitigation measures and support safe programming.
• Conduct drills and train staff in access, safety, and security topics and provide regular briefings.
• In coordination with line manager and HAS Manager, liaise with UN agencies, NGOs, local authorities, and other external actors to share and obtain security information to inform operations and security management as well as increase humanitarian access and protect humanitarian space at the area level.
• Ensure compliance and adherence to NRC policies, guidance, and procedures, and a specific responsibility for HAS policies and procedures.

Specific Responsibilities

• Prepare and facilitate HAS induction sessions for new area staff, as well as briefings and debriefings with colleagues or visitors sharing relevant information about activity locations, emphasising practical safety and security risks prevention and mitigation measures and reporting mechanisms.
• Keep up to date all necessary information for HAS documents including Safe Mission Planning (SMP), Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs), Hibernation, Relocation, and Evacuation Plan (HRE), and Medical Evacuation Plan (MEDEVAC).
• Conduct site assessments for all new rental premises and provide any safety and security measures to be addressed prior to use. Follow up on the implementation of identified measures for these infrastructures.
• Ensure vehicle and staff movements are monitored according to procedures and that necessary safety and security equipment within each vehicle is available and in good condition.
• Accompany colleagues and/or visitors regularly to the field to identify, plan and implement HAS procedures, enrich security risk assessments, and support in obtaining and maintaining humanitarian access.
• Request or generate user creation for new area personnel in the online travel authorisation request system.
• Verify and approve travel requests for activities and visits within the area.
• Keep the area personnel communication tree updated and conduct test activations.
• Ensure necessary training for the correct use of alternative communication system devices, in coordination with Support teams.
• After certification, facilitate the planning and execution of the Hostile Environment Individual Security Training (HEIST), Field First Aid, and fire safety training periodically for Area staff, maintaining the corresponding training tracker.
• Promote and facilitate the proper reporting, documentation, and support the management of HAS incidents in the area.
• Facilitate staff hibernation or relocation in emergency situations.
• Promote Safeguarding principles and commitments within NRC and amongst beneficiaries served by NRC.
• Perform any other tasks related to HAS and the position as delegated by the line manager.
• Work with management to ensure that all staff give their informed consent based on briefing upon arrival and that updates are regularly shared on the security context.
• Under the guidance of the HAS Manager, contribute to improving humanitarian access for NRC operations across the area by assisting teams in developing access strategies and engagement plans.
• Collaborate with the Area Management Group (AMG) members and the HAS Manager to manage access, safety, and security related incidents at the area level, ensuring their documentation in NRC Protect.
• When designated by management, lead and/or advise on the engagement with parties to the conflict, including non-state armed groups and state armed forces at the area level.
• Contribute HAS information required for project proposals to donors, internal or external audits, and any other requests from area or HAS Management.
• Participate in Project Cycle Management, by providing contextual analysis and technical advice on operational and programmatic modalities.
• In collaboration with the HAS Manager and the partnership focal points, contribute to capacity building and knowledge sharing initiatives with local partners regarding security risk management and humanitarian access in the Area.
• Represent NRC in external forums at the Area level, such as security coordination groups, Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG) and CivMil Coordination, as well as other forums on request by the Area Manager and HAS Manager.

Critical Interfaces

• Area Management Group members for security risk management, incident management, mitigation measures implementation, and cross-functional priorities.
• Support and Logistics team for collaboration on security compliance of all NRC office and accommodation premises, driver safety SOPs and training.
• Human Resources team for ensuring Duty of Care and coordinating capacity building of staff.
• Finance team for HAS related inputs to budgets.
• Core Competency staff for conflict sensitivity, programme criticality, the Do No Harm principle, humanitarian needs analysis, and implementation modalities. Where present, Protection from Violence lead is a key interface.
• Access and Security/Safety focal points in peer organisations for information sharing, joint advocacy, joint training and operations at the Area level.
• Authorities for engagement to enable safe and principled access and programme delivery.

Generic Professional Competencies

• Minimum one to two years of relevant experience in humanitarian or development operations.
• Foundational understanding of Humanitarian Principles and their application in programmatic and advocacy responses, NGO safety and risk management, and humanitarian access.
• Previous experience working in complex contexts.
• Proficient in MS Office applications including Word and Excel.
• Working proficiency in Portuguese and English, both written and verbal.

Context Related Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

• Experience in liaising with communities and authorities as well as with NGOs.
• Working proficiency and/or conversational Macua, Maconde and Mwani are added values

Behavioural Competencies

• Handling insecure environment.
• Planning and delivering results.
• Working with People.
• Analysing.
• Communicating with impact and respect.
• Coping with change