“Humanitarian Access & Risk Officer – Marib”

For our program in Yemen, we are looking for a Humanitarian Access & Risk Officer, the 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 
Status: Full time
Location:  Marib base
Reporting to: Program Manager Marib 
Functional Link: Humanitarian Access & Risk Advisor 

Job Purpose

The Humanitarian Access and Risk officer is responsible for ensuring the follow-up and implementation of humanitarian access, safety, security, and liaison activities in Marib. He/she is also responsible to support Field Coordinator ensuring adherence to security rules in MdM Marib office- GH.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Context and Risk Analysis: 

• Assist in overseeing adherence to MDM security pack. 
• Assist in in updating, monitoring and implementation of the security pack in the MDM Marib area. 
• Coordinate with UN, INGO’s SFPs, and other stakeholders in Marib on access, and security issues
• Proactively monitor the security situation at the project area, and update the PM/Field Coordinator accordingly.  Report context change to the HARA
• Provide humanitarian access updates to the Programme Manager and program staff as needed. 
• Conduct regular Safety Risk Assessments and risk analysis with participation of MDM national and international staff
• Ensure all the staff have access and understand the Security Rules. Assist in facilitating safety and security trainings.
• Provide induction security brief for the Int’l staff upon their arrival, as well as for the newly recruited national staff 
• Provide regular awareness sessions to MdM staff on security preparedness, prevention, and response. Training sessions may include SOPs; Contingency Plans (CPs); Incident Reporting, how to react, etc.
• Assist in providing technical training to Security guards regularly 
• Assist in reporting and responding to incidents at the area.
• Maintain a Communication tree for all MDM staff and make sure that it is in place
• Ensure the logistics means linked to the emergency preparedness are available, functional, and reliable. This includes communication equipment, tracking, hibernation kits, etc.

Field networking and follow-up of field team movements:

• Ensure movement follow-up of team/vehicles/goods movement by the logistic team
• Ensure vehicle tracking and mapping, using MDM tools (Road Book), for all MDM movements
• Create and maintain a field network at the community level to make sure that MdM activities are accepted 
• Develop and update a list of contacts and a 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 a problem in the field, to ensure safe access/ emergency response during implementation of MDM medical activities. 
• 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 the identification of MDM new locations of interventions, while the medical team will be focusing on technical selection criteria, the Humanitarian Access and Risk Officer should assess the access routes, safety concerns, emergency preparedness, and other humanitarian organizations in the area.
• In the field during implementation of activities: 
  • Humanitarian Access and Risk Officer is in charge of answering authority non-technical questions (for example, in checkpoints) 
  • S/He is in charge of introducing the 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's response to medical team questions. Use his/her presence in the field to assess the safety concerns. 
  • 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 backup in case of coverage failure. 
  • Organize meetings with authorities as required.  
• Monitor deadlines, alert and ensure renewal of the various necessary authorizations/ documents
• 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 proactive way to MdM internal meetings (general, admin, …)
• Participate in the working groups with other NGOs. 
• Carry out a monthly access and safety sitrep.
• 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. 

Experience required: 

• 3 years’ experience, from which 2 years are in a similar level in humanitarian access, risk reduction or a relevant field, with NGO experience preferred;

Personal skills required:

• Knowledge and experience in context analysis and the ability to network and build relations
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the capacity 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 customs exemption and travel arrangements
• 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