Humanitarian Access and Safety Specialist (Internal recruitment)

Introduction 

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home. 

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. 

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency. 

1. Background 

DRC has been operating in West Africa since 1998. The DRC West Africa Regional Office (hereafter: WARO) is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers six countries outside of Senegal. Led by the Regional Director, the DRC WARO oversees, supports and provides strategic directions for DRC’s Country Offices within the region, which currently includes Mali, Burkina Faso, the Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tchad and the Central African Republic. 

Under the leadership of the regional office in Dakar and in close connection with the interventions in the neighboring Central African Republic (CAR), DRC began its operations in Cameroon in 2018 responding to the humanitarian needs of refugees from CAR and vulnerable Cameroonians in the Adamawa region, progressively extending its operations to Southwest and Far North regions. DRC’s interventions in these areas include providing assistance to vulnerable populations, especially IDPs and refugees to enable them to meet their basic needs, shelter and protection, providing durable solutions to the ultra-poor while rendering them resilient to shocks via resilience and peacebuilding activities. Due to the lack of emergency response services to the newly displaced in the NWSW regions, the DRC has stepped in with emergency protection and food assistance in the NW region in collaboration with two national organizations as partners.  

2. Purpose 

As Humanitarian Accesss & Safety Specialist you will manage all aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management (SRM) system across Cameroon and directly support DRC strategic partners (GPA and COMINSUD) in implementing safety and access roadmaps and action plans, in the framework of the FLASH project.  25% of your time will be dedicated to support Access and Safety needs in Yaounde and in other bases. 

3. Duties and Responsibilities 

Overall Objectives of the role:  

• Manage the development and implementation of the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC’s) Safety Risk Management System (SRMS) in the Northwest and other DRC CMR areas of implementation when requested. 

• Facilitate program access and continuity by providing reliable advice and timely action. 

• Work closely with DRC’s local partners, assess their needs and build their capacity in terms of safety and access, while incorporating any best practices and lessons learnt from their experience and mastery of local context.  

• Lead on “Equitable Partnership for Hard to Reach” component of the FLASH project, including the joint development of an access and security roadmap and action plan with GPA and COMINSUD. 

• Ensure compliance with DRC safety policy as per the DRC Operations Handbook. 

• Ensure timely and qualitative reporting through DRC’s tools and reports. 

• Ensure effective communication within the NW operation as well as with the DRC’s Country Office.  

• Be accountable for Access and Safety related issues and decision making.  

Humanitarian Access and Programme Continuity 

• Ensure a holistic approach is implemented with regards to access negotiations to include DRC program and support services staff as well as local communities and other stakeholders.  

• Work in collaboration with the partners’ teams to ensure that humanitarian access and engagement strategies deliver the required purpose while minimizing unforeseen adverse consequences on people in need (do no harm) and respect of humanitarian principles, within DRC risk acceptance. 

• Jointly with the partners, produce analysis and evaluations on the humanitarian space and access on a regular basis, with regard to DRC Partners’ presence and operations. Jointly identify potential scenarios, indicators of change in the humanitarian space and key decision points at micro, mid and macro level. 

• Keep track of any developments related to access and humanitarian space and ensure timely reporting of any security incidents or concerns.  

Safety Management 

• Ensure compliance with Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS), SOPs and Local Safety Rules. 

• Conduct regular Safety Risk Assessments (SRA) for each programme area pursuant to DRC Safety Policy 

• Develop Safety Improvement Plans and Contingency Plans as required. 

• Act as support for the Incident Management Team (IMT); Ensure IMT members are aware of their responsibilities. Act as the primary point of contact for safety-related matters with the field office of NW, Country Office and other local actors (INSO, UNHCR, OCHA, CHINGO, UNDSS, etc). 

• Maintain detailed soft and hard copy files of all relevant safety documents. Monitor the overall situation and provide regular situation reports. Maintain an up-to-date incident tracking database and Provide staff with relevant and concise safety-related information and analysis, both through external and internal reports, publications, etc. 

• Provide the relevant briefings for all teams as required at the appropriate level. 

Capacity Building 

• Conduct – or facilitate the delivery of – safety training for staff at all levels. Ensure watchmen and guards are trained and aware of their responsibilities, in accordance with the SOPs governing access control. 

• Conduct needs assessment for capacity building of DRC’s local partners, prepare and deliver training courses, workshops and other related material to increase capacity.  

• Daily coaching and accompaniment of partners’ access and security focal points  

• Liaison: Develop a network of contacts through other NGOs, INSO, Government agencies and other useful contacts. Act as the primary representative for DRC Northwest on Safety and Access matters. 

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role. 

4. Required Qualifications 

Essential: 

• Master's degree in political science, peace & conflict studies, history, disaster management or a military education. 

• Minimum 3-5 years of working experience as a safety and security manager/advisor with an INGO 

• Proven ability to conduct needs assessment and capacity building internally and externally 

• Proven experience in coaching partners 

• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems 

• Experience with information gathering analysis and report writing 

• Ability to conduct and produce high quality safety risk assessments (SRAs) 

• Experience with critical incident management 

• Experience working in hostile or hazardous environments 

• Experience working in multicultural work settings 

Desirable: 

Valid HEAST or HEAT training will be considered an asset. 

5. Required Skills & Qualities 

• Core Competencies of DRC:  

• Striving for excellence 

• Collaboration 

• Taking the lead 

• Communication 

• Demonstrating Integrity 

• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment  

• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration 

• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required 

• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills are necessary 

• Adaptable and Flexible 

• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills 

• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace 

• Team-oriented & good sense of humor 

6. General Regulations 

The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework 

• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization 

• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period 

• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization 

• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request 

7. Application Process 

Are you interested? Then apply for this position on line: https://drc.ngo/about-us/work-with-us/. All applicants must send a cover letter, an updated CV (no longer than four pages), and a document containing 03 references including name, phone number email address of the referees. Out the 03, at least 01 must be a recent line manager. All must be in French or in English. 

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.  

However, candidates should take into consideration that the DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which he/she will be working (in this case, Cameroon).   

For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit the organization's website at drc.ngo.  

Applications will close on 07/04/2025 at 23:59 GMT. However, it is possible for the DRC to start the recruitment process even before the advertisement is closed, if an application meets the expectations and requirements of the position.