NGO Safety Program (NSP) Area Manager - Puntland

Area Manager

Puntland

Background

The NGO Safety Program (NSP) for Somalia / Somaliland is a program created by NGOs, which aims at supporting International and National NGOs to operate safely and securely in Somalia / Somaliland. NSP, initially called the NGO Security Preparedness and Support (NGO SPAS), was established in 2004 by NGOs operating in Somalia / Somaliland. NSP is administratively and legally hosted by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) to provide it with a legal and administrative framework, through which to fulfill its functions more efficiently, effectively and accountably.

NSP provides support to NGOs through 4 types of activities: Information and Analysis (Reports, briefs), Training (Personal security, capacity building of NGOs), Response (incident management support…), SPU facilitation for Puntland and Somaliland.

NSP is currently funded by ECHO, DFID, CHF, SDC. All NSP services are free of charge for NGOs.

Purpose

The Area manager has 3 core responsibilities:

• To be NSP Representative in his/her area of operation, providing high level liaison and coordination services with NGOs and other relevant actors and support them for any security and safety related issue

• To produce high quality reports and analysis with his team in close collaboration with the Information and analysis manager, with a particular focus on Mogadishu

• To organize any emergency response in case of request by an NGO

Hierarchy

• Reports to the Program Director

• Manages the Field Officers in Puntland (3) and Garowe compound staff

Key responsibilities

The list of responsibilities is not exhaustive: other tasks may be requested to adapt operational needs.

• General Management

• Participate proactively to the definition of NSP strategy

• On request, participate to the drafting of proposals based on that strategy

• Follow-up the action plan based on the strategy and reports against it

• Participate the capitalization and to the development of the Institutional memory of NSP

• Representation / coordination

• Represent NSP in Puntland and participate systematically to all coordination meetings relevant to NSP mandate (Security Cell, NGOs meeting, OCHA Meetings etc), security constraints allowing

• Set up relevant mechanism of coordination to ensure better security for NGOs

• Ensure NSP mandate is known and correctly understood by all stakeholders

• Pro-actively liaise and ensure good rapport with Local Authority Officials, Elders and any other relevant stakeholders

• Pro-actively liaise and ensure good rapport with NGOs operating in Puntland, with UN Agencies, particularly UNOCHA and UNDSS, and any other relevant stakeholders

• Act as the local focal point for safety co-ordinator and information sharing between the relevant actors and NGOs within the area of operations

• Organize a high-quality monthly or bi-monthly security briefing for NGOs, in link with the Analysis Manager

• Initiate and propose when relevant new coordination mechanisms (meetings, reports, communications) to ensure better security for NGOs, in link with the Program director

• Information and Analysis

• Drafting of security reports and other written briefs for NGOs:

• Pro-actively collect information relevant to NGOs safety and security: create and maintain a diversified network of information sources (Governments, NGOs, journalists, internet, elders, business)

• Ensure information collected is cross-checked, is credible and timely

• Report this information in high quality daily reports sent by email to the NSP Analysis Manager

• Report immediately to the NSP Analysis Manager any security incident concerning NGOs or other breaking news

• Be on standby and available for any complement of information request by the line manager

• Pro-actively participate and propose the drafting of other analysis reports (Week, area brief, maps) on request and in link with NSP Analysis Manager

• Initiate, propose and produce other relevant support documents for NGOs, in link with the Information and Analysis Manager.

• Circulate Security information at a local level:

• Ensure breaking news, flash reports, advisories or other important information relevant to NGOs are immediately circulated, locally through different means of communications (email, sms, radio, phone etc...)

• Set-up if necessary relevant IT system to circulate this information

• Initiate and organize security assessment

• Initiate and organize security assessments missions, with the validation of the Program Manager

• Draft mission reports and SRAs

• Prepare a monthly brief for NGOs in their area of operation, in link with the line manager

• As mentioned in the Representation / Coordination section, organize a high-quality monthly or bi-monthly security briefing for NGOs, in link with the Analysis Manager

• Ad hoc briefing to NGOs

• Be available to NGOs for any brief request and prioritize those Ad Hoc briefing.

• Training

• Assist in training as required in Kenya and Somalia

• Response

• Be available and reachable 24 / 7 for NGOs in their area of operation

• Support any NGO needs in terms of evacuation

• Propose immediate support to any NGOs experiencing a security incident: threat analysis, enquiry, support toward local authorities etc

• Monitoring and Reporting

• Prepare weekly reports (sitrep) for his / her line manager every Monday

• Update and sent every Monday the NGO request and response table

• Staff Management

• Responsible for the management of the Field Officers under his / her responsibility, with a clear understanding of the pressures associated with operating in hostile environments (recruitment, appraisal, work plan, authorization of movement, missions orders, leave request disciplinary measures etc..)

• Responsible for the capacity building of the Information and Analysis team.

• Base Management

• Manages the Garowe office

• Ensure Security of the compound and of movements are secured: constantly monitor and assess security of the premises (guards, staff, and noticeable events). Particularly, ensure meetings are safe.

• Ensure security rules are followed by visitors

• Responsible for the administration, finances and logistics for the Garowe office, in link with the Senior Administration and Finance Officer

• Request movement validation by the line manager before any movements out of duty station

General

Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html)

Posting details

• This position is based in Somalia. Somalia is a hazardous environment and the selected candidate must adhere to all security precautions and contribute to the security of the team. He must be able to exercise a large degree of common sense and personal discipline.

• The position requires the holder to be able to undertake tasking at short notice with due regard to the security environment

• The position requires the holder to be able to work effectively and efficiently unsupervised. The selected candidate must be able to plan and manage their own time effectively. The holder must exercise a strong work ethic and take responsibility for his/her own actions.

• This position requires a high degree of flexibility with respect to working hours

• The work undertaken will have a direct effect on the safety and security of individuals operating in Somalia. The successful candidate must be duly aware of this and be prepared to meet this challenge.

Qualifications & Experience

• In depth and operational knowledge of the Somali context is absolutely mandatory

• Minimum Bachelor degree, preferably Masters, in Political Sciences, Social sciences, development studies or other related field;

• Minimum of 5 years of working experience in a senior position within NGOs / UN, particularly within the field of security, field coordination, base management

• Minimum of 3 years of living, working and operating in hostile environments.

• Proven experience in high quality production of reports and analysis

• Proven experience in development and maintenance of multi-stakeholders networks

Skills and competences:

• Excellent writing skills

• Strong willingness to work and adapt to the NGO sector in compliance with basic humanitarian principles

• Demonstrated capacity to work with minimal supervision and maintain a high level of engagement.

• Demonstrated capacity to recognize when and where proactive action is required and to initiate timely and appropriate action.

• Demonstrated leadership capacity

• Demonstrated ability to make clear and articulated presentations of complex information

• Good GIS / Mapping knowledge

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with local staff and other stakeholders

• Calm and focused decision making

Conditions

Availability: May, 2013. Duty station: Garowe, Somalia (an insecure and unpredictable environment). The selected candidate must adhere to all security precautions and contribute to the security of the team. R and R: 1 week every 6 weeks, on top of usual DRC holidays. Contract: 1 year renewable contract.

Salary and other conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates (available at www.drc.dk under Vacancies). This position is graded as A9.

Further information

You are welcome to contact NSP Program Manager Emmanuel Rinck on email: emmanuel@nspsomalia.org for further information on the programme and the position. Please note that applications are not to be sent to Mr.Rinck; we only receive applications via email to: info@somaliangoconsortium.org

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk.

Commitments

DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability committments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework.

How to apply:

Application and CV

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post. Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications will be considered. CV-only applications will not be considered. Please forward the application and CV to info@somaliangoconsortium.org, marked “Area Manager Puntland NSP”, no later than March 25th, 2013

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.