Preliminary job information

• Job Title: LIAISON AND SECURITY OFFICER
• Country and Base of posting: YEMEN - HODEIDAH
• Reports hierarchically to:   LIAISON AND SECURITY MANAGER
• Creation / Replacement (incl. name): Creation
• Announcing Date: 26TH MAY, 2021
• Closing Date: 08TH JUNE, 2021
• Contract period: 3 MONTHS 
• Salary: According to organization grades

General information on the mission

Context

Première Urgence - Aide Médicale Internationale (PU-AMI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organization. Our teams are committed to supporting civilian victims of marginalization and exclusion, or those hit by natural disasters, wars and economic collapses by answering their fundamental needs. Our aim is to provide emergency relief to uprooted people in order to help them recover their dignity and regain self-sufficiency. The association leads in average 190 projects a year in the following sectors of intervention: Food Security, Health, Nutrition, Construction and Rehabilitation of infrastructures, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Economic Recovery. PU-AMI is providing assistance to around 5 million people in 20 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and France.

Yemen is one of the 30 poorest countries in the world with 54% of the population (2014 est.) living below the poverty line on less than two dollars a day. In parallel, since 2011 and the Yemeni revolution, the State is facing major humanitarian challenges. The transitional process failed to provide sustainable peace in the region. The country is now divided in two, with northern Yemen being under severe stress to provide for its population. In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition began airstrikes in support of southern based pro-government forces, leading to a very unstable situation and dire humanitarian needs. 
The armed conflict has spread rapidly throughout much of Yemen since mid-March 2015, with devastating consequences for civilians. Two years of violence has led one of the world's poorest countries into chaos. Around 70% of the population, or 18.8 million people, now depend on humanitarian aid (OCHA); 2.8 million people are displaced; Dozens of schools and hospitals were the target of attacks; 17 million Yemenis are food insecure and 3 million children and pregnant or lactating women are acutely malnourished. The lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation also affects 14 million people. 14.8 million people have no access to health care. A generation of Yemeni children is at risk, as nearly 2 million children do not have access to education because of conflict, poverty and discrimination. Yemen has turned into the number one humanitarian crisis in absolute numbers of people in need.

PU-AMI’s history in the country and intervention strategy

PU-AMI has been present in Yemen since 2007. From 2007 to 2011, PU-AMI supported the primary health system in Hodeidah Governorate. After a one-year stand-by in 2011 due to security reasons, the mission re-started in July 2012 with a nutrition project focusing both on emergency response and a longer-term community-based approach in Hodeidah and extended its activity in Raymah Governorate. 
In 2017, PU-AMI continues to concentrate its intervention in 6 districts of Hodeida and 3 districts of Raymah. The number of IDPs in those two Governorates is very large and weight consequently on a population already living in extreme precariousness. The core field of intervention for PU-AMI in these Governorates is an integrated approach on nutrition including community-based activities (OTP/SFP and community mobilization as a strong component of the program, within health facilities, but also within an outreached approach and mobile clinics). 
In Hodeidah governorate, PU-AMI works to contribute to reduce the impact and severity of nutritional challenges and to improve health status of most vulnerable populations, through supplementary nutrition integrated response based upon health, hygiene and nutrition education and capacity building (Mobile Health Clinic, support to Health facilities, General Food Distributions, etc.). 
In Raymah governorate, PU-AMI is responding to the ongoing nutrition crisis through the same activities as in Hodeidah (primary health care and management of acute malnutrition for children U5 and pregnant and lactating women), as well as running a Stabilization Centre for severely malnourished children with medical complications. 
As part of this integrated approach in those two governorates, PU-AMI also implements food security and livelihoods activities, mostly consisting on general food distribution and some Food for Training activities (started in 01/2017). In addition, water, hygiene and sanitation will also be part of PUI intervention in the focused area, with WASH being prioritized in the rehabilitation of health facilities to manage more effectively nutrition activities.
In May 2017, PU-AMI started being a part of the Emergency Cholera Response in Hodeida and Raymah through the set up or Oral Rehydration Points and support of one Cholera Treatment Centre in Raymah.
PU-AMI will also position itself in influencing positions, through effective participation to clusters and sub-clusters (nutrition; food security and livelihoods; WASH) and working closely with relevant government departments (MOPIC; MOPH).The mission will explore opportunities for geographical expansion through developing and clarifying expansion criteria beyond the current Governorates and District.  

Overall objective
The liaison and Security Officer (LSO), under the management of the Liaison and Security Manager (LSM) assists the LSM in security management in Hodeidah base. The Liaison and Security Officer develops and maintains security networks and good working relations with relevant local authorities in Hodeidah and Raymah. 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES: 

1. Liaison & Coordination.
2. Security & Context Updating. 
3. Reporting and Other Tasks. 

Specific Goals and Related Activities

Under the supervision and validation of the Liaison & Security Manager, the Liaison & Security Officer will:

Objective 1. Liaison & Coordination:

• Second the Liaison & Security Manager by Establish & maintain effective relationships with relevant governorate authorities in Hodeidah and Raymah (SCMCHA, GHO, Security Agencies. etc.) as well as with district authorities, communities & tribal leaders in order to allow PU-AMI operations to take place smoothly regarding project implementation to and needs of the mission.
• In coordination with the logistics and program teams, and with the support of the LSM, the LSO should be responsible in preparing the permit requests with relevant documents and submit on time with accurate information to the relevant authorities in order to be granted timely travel permits. The LSO should effectively follow with authorities in the governorates and HOM Assistant the validation of the requested permits. The LSO should be proactive in resolving any blocking issue preventing PU-AMI from obtaining any document needed to ensure operations and movements and to make sure that PU-AMI activities are well accepted and report any changing.
• Update on weekly basis and send to LSM and HOM Assistant the permit tracker report.
• The LSO should inform and coordinate with the district authorities prior to each movement to ensure smooth access for PU-AMI staff.  
• Create, develop and maintain his/her own liaison network.
• Keep a complete and updated detailed list of all useful contacts in the Hodeidah and Raymah Governorates (from SCMCHA, GHO, security entities, districts authorities, community leaders, HF staff, district office staff, local council ...etc.) that can be used in case of having problem in the field/check points, to ensure safe access during implementation of PU-AMI activities. With names, telephones, addresses and other relevant details.
• Second the Liaison & Security Manager by arranging meetings with different authorities in relation with access and administration issues for the Field Coordinator. Provide translation/interpretation from Arabic into English and vice versa during meetings. Arrangement and participation to meetings related to access issues together with PMs with relevant authorities.
• According to plans pre-validated by the LSM, The LSO will be Conducting regular visits to areas of intervention in Hodeidah and Raymah meeting with different authorities to maintain network, ease access when needed and resolve any issues. The LSO Shares the visit report with the LSM & FCO. He/ She uses his/her presence in the field to assess the context and security as well as establish networks and maintain good relationships. 
• Draft letters to relevant authorities when requested by the LSM and ensure proper translation of letters received/to be sent to authorities. 
• Support the LSM on explaining about PU-AMI activities, presence and procedures as well as answering questions to authorities after the validation of the LSM and FCO. 
• Ensure clear understanding of policies and procedures related to communications with authorities, and convey any changes immediately to relevant staff after proper validation from the LSM. 
• Objective 2. Security & Context Updating: 
• Collect information related to security and political context in PU-AMI intervention areas in Hodeidah and Raymah governorates and provide day-to-day update to the LSM
• Assist in Coordination and making ad hoc contacts with other INGOs liaison and security counterparts to share administrative related information and collect security related information upon needs. Identifying and updating INGOs contacts lists on regular basis. 
• Second the LSM in updating the team about security/contexts in Hodeidah and areas of intervention. 
• Immediately report to the LSM any serious security incidents impacting the safety of our programs and staff in Hodeida and Raymah.
• Upon requests of LSM & FCO, assist in conducting security training and briefing to all PU-AMI staff on different security and safety SOPs as well as PU-AMI security rules. 
• Upon requests of LSM, assist in reporting and monitoring on the safety of PU-AMI premises (Office, Guesthouse, Warehouses & Health Facilities)
• Ensure that PU-AMI security & safety rules (for premises; including office and guesthouse, vehicles and in the field) are followed by all staff during working time and use of PU-AMI premises / facilities; alert the LSM and Field coo 
• Be in charge of tracking of PU-AMI movements and report on daily basis to LSM & FCO. 
• Participate and report on security assessments in PU-AMI areas of intervention. 
• Upon requests of the LSM, assist on updating the relevant security reports (SEFU, Incidents Reports, SitRep, maps, security communication tree & Context follow-up reports) 

Objective 3. Reporting and Other Tasks:

• Participate in internal and external meetings when requested by the LSM and report minutes of meetings. 
• When requested by the LSM/FCO, accompanying PU-AMI expats during their movements to ensure safe and smooth movements.
• Be in charge of soft and hard archives of all communications with local authorities and official administrative documents obtained in the name of PU-AMI (requests, travel permits, official letters and documents, etc.) and ensure writing English version or notes about the content of the letters.
• Effectively cover the LSM related tasks during his leaves. 
• Prepare and realize a weekly activity report to submit to the LSM. 
• Translate and interpret from Arabic into English and vice versa when needed and requested by the LSM/FCO. 
• Perform any other additional duties on request of the LSM. 

Required Profile

Required knowledge and skills

Required Personal Characteristics (fitting into the team, suitability for the job and assignment)

• Demonstrated decision-making capacity
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges
• Ability to lead, manage and evaluate performance 
• Identify ways and implement actions to improve performance of self and others.
• Actively seeks new ways of improving programs or services    Good listening and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Ability to handle a heavy workload efficiently with minimal supervision
• Listen and communicates clearly, adapting to the audience level/background
• Plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility;
• Open/Committed to conduct field visits when requested/needed
• Excellent reporting skills.