Job Description

“Humanitarian Access & Risk Officer– Marib”

For our program in Yemen, we are looking for a Humanitarian Access & Risk Officer, this position will be based in Marib. 
Médecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care.

Position: Humanitarian Access & Risk Officer (HARO)
Contract: Full-time
Location: Marib
Reporting to: Program Manager Marib 

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the candidate is responsible to ensure the follow-up and implementation of humanitarian access, safety, security and liaising rules in the assigned base. He is also responsible to collect and report information necessary for contextual analysis and the adaptation of security and safety procedures for MdM assets and teams.

Main activities

Context and Risk Analysis: 

• Assist overseeing adherence to safety/security procedures and plans.
• To assist in regularly review and update Security Pack. Support and monitor the implementation of the security pack in MDM Marib area of intervention.
• Coordinate with other NGO’s security FP in Marib.
• Proactively monitor security situation at the project area in collaboration with the other INGOs SFP, update the PM/Field Coordinator accordingly and report regularly the context analysis to Country Security Advisor.
• Update regularly Program Manager, relevant MDM staff and coordination team (if needed) about security/context and the possible scenarios in southern intervention areas. 
• Provide day to day security update to the Programme Manager/FieldCo and the program staff. 
• Conduct regular Safety Risk Assessments and create/update risk analysis with participation of MDM national and international staff.
• Assist in training the office staff on MdM security rules and regulation. 
• Provide induction security brief for the Int’l staff upon their arrival as well as for the newly recruited national staff. 
• Ensure all the staff has access and understand Security Rules
• Provide regular support for MdM staff on security preparedness, prevention, and response. Support may include SOPs; Contingency Plans (CPs); Security Management; Incident Reporting; Prevention and Response Mechanisms; and Communications. 
• Train Security guards regularly. 
• Identify security/safety barriers to access and support the program teams and develop strategies to address. 
• Maintain and analyse an incident reporting system
• Keep updated the list of the security events for area of intervention in southern governorates of Yemen 
• Maintain a Communication tree for all MDM staff and make sure that are in place.
• Ensure the logistic means linked to the Security Management are ready to deploy, reliable and appropriate. Concretely: Telecommunication, transport, tracking, cartography & mapping, hibernation room and the package embedded on it, electricity, fuel, water, and food.

Field networking and follow up of field team movements:

• Ensure movement follow-up of team/vehicles/goods movement by logistic team.
• Ensure vehicle tracking and mapping, using MDM tools for tracking and mapping (Road Book), for all MDM movements.
• Create and maintain a field network at community level to make sure that MdM activities are well accepted and report any change
• Develop and update list of contacts and stakeholder map per district including a contact list from authority, security entities, community leaders, HF staff, district office staff, local council ...etc. that can be used in case of having problem in the field, to ensure safe access/ emergency response during implementation of MDM medical activities. 
• Update and develop the specific location security’s SOP in Marib of MDM intervention areas. 
• In the office (before movement to the field), with support of PM/Field Coordinator: 
  • Ensure the extraction of proper permissions (shipment, expat movement…etc.). 
  • Participate in validation of team field visits through update of the PM/Field Coordinator. 
  • To get verification of safe access by communication with key people (to be identified in each targeted location) before each field visit.  
• During identification of MDM new locations of interventions, while the medical team will be focusing on technical selection criteria, Security and Access Officer should gather necessary information concerning access routes, safety concerns, emergency preparedness, and other humanitarian organizations on board.

In the field during implementation of activities: 

• Access & Security Officer is in charge to answer authority non-technical questions, (example in check points) 
• S/He is in charge to introduce MDM team to people and to explain about MDM, presence, activities...etc.
• During community assessment, s/he will be managing the people who might affect the community response to medical team questions. Use his/her presence in the field to assess the context and security. 
• Use his presence in the field to establish networks and maintain good relationships.
• Identify possible places for team hibernation in the field.
• Ensure security communication back up in case of coverage failure. 
• Organize meetings between the coordination and officials 
• Welcome international visitors and new expatriates (first briefing, handing over of documentation, keys, telephone, etc.)
• Monitor deadlines, alert and ensure renewal of the various necessary authorizations
• To ensure representation, liaison and compliance with legal requirements
• He/she will remain the focal person for UNHAS flight booking and follow up at Marib base 

Reporting and attendance to different meetings

• Participate in a pro-active way to MdM internal meetings (general, admin, …)
• Participate in the working groups with other NGOs. 
• Carry out a monthly security sitrep including context, analyses, activities and priorities. 
• Prepare and keep updated his/her individual Action Plan
• Participate to any scheduled technical and coordination meetings when needed.

PROFILE REQUIRED

Qualification required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, humanitarian affairs, risk management, security or other relevant areas. 
• 3 years’ experience from which 2 years are in a similar level in humanitarian access, risk reduction or relevant field, with NGO experience preferred;

Technical skills

• Knowledge and experience in context analysis and ability to network and build relations;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including capacities to negotiate with non-government stakeholders and armed actors. 
• Ability to conduct proper risk analysis, mapping and context analysis. 
• Ability to conduct training with satisfactory presentation skills. 
• Knowledge in custom exemption and travel arrangement. 
• Understanding of humanitarian principles, risk management and access challenges. 
• Ability to work in a fluid, unpredictable and complex security environment.
• Ability to work with others of different backgrounds and identities.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Strong work ethic and rigor.
• Strong sense of responsibility.
• Strong organization skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.