Afghanistan: Regional Security Advisor Cordaid, Middle East and Asia

Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is one of the leading CSO’s in the Netherlands, working in fragile contexts on Health, Resilience, Economic opportunities, Humanitarian aid and Security & Justice. Apart from our work abroad we also contribute to new forms of job creation and social innovation in The Netherlands.

Cordaid is a member of the international Catholic networks Caritas and CIDSE and we are active in worldwide civil society networks. We work in around 30 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

Cordaid is looking for a Regional Security Advisor for Middle East and Asia

Introduction

The Regional Security Advisor (RSA) will be hosted in Kabul, Afghanistan and will advise and support Country Directors within the Middle East and Asia region (Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Myanmar) in enabling continued operations on the ground while facilitating Duty of Care to Cordaid staff and consultants. S/he will advise, mentor and support National Security Advisors (NSAs) and maintain close cooperation with the Global Security Advisor (GSA) based in The Hague.

Position and responsibility

The RSA reports to the Country Director of the Afghanistan Country Office with secondary reporting lines to other Country Directors served. S/he will be guided by the GSA based in The Hague and focus on developing and supporting effective risk mitigation approaches and capacities that enable continued operations of the ground while facilitating Duty of Care to Cordaid staff and consultants. While s/he will primarily act in the role of an advisor to the respective Country Directors, s/he will also be responsible for developing and overseeing an effective safety and security set-up within the region served. This will include the hiring, training and mentoring of NSAs for each of the countries under his/her responsibility. It will also include the roll-out and maintenance of effective policies, procedures and plans. And it will include the development and management of effective tools and capacities that are appropriate to the respective country and local contexts within the region. In doing so, s/he should actively look for solutions and appropriate mitigation strategies that would enable continued design and implementation of programmes and projects, and effective oversight and support of local partners.

Objectives of the posting

To support and advice Country Directors within the Middle East and Asia Region:

· In leading the regular review of a security risk management framework within each of the countries supported, which includes a Country Security Plan (CSP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Hibernation, Relocation & Evacuation Plans (HREP) in order to promote safety and security for Cordaid staff, consultants, visitors and partners.

· In ensuring that NSA(s) keep Country Security Plans updated and enforced (including context assessment, participatory safety & security risk assessments for the different locations to assess likelihood and potential impact of various risks, standard operating procedures and contingency plans).

· In ensuring that NSA(s) update Security Levels on a regular basis with frequency appropriate to the local context.

· In ensuring that Cordaid Offices and Guesthouses are secured in accordance with the provisions of respective Country Security Plans and aligned with best practices of other International NGOs and those advocated by INSO, while ensuring that mitigation factors do not unduly impact the mental health of (expat) staff.

· In ensuring that NSA(s) conduct regular briefings and organise LRT meetings with frequency appropriate to the local context.

· In ensuring that NSA(s) conduct security briefings to new staff, consultants, advisers, and visitors upon arrival, and ensure that security procedures are complied with accordingly.

· In ensuring that NSA(s) carry out annual security training needs assessments of staff and organise staff training accordingly.

· In acting as a focal point for all high level and regional security related issues and in appointing one NSA in each of the countries served as the focal point for all country security related issues.

· In ensuring that NSA(s) are trained and capable in providing crisis management support as part of the local crisis response teams for crisis response, including logging and analysis of lessons learned as well as help prepare local crisis response team members for their relevant role in the IMT through regular table top exercises.

· In building and supporting safety and security practices within the region.

· In enabling continued operations on the ground while facilitating duty of care.

· In supporting effective security in the Field.

· In contributing to knowledge management and innovation.

· In undertaking other duties as may be assigned by the Primary Supervisor.

Qualifications

• University degree in a field relevant to security management in a conflict context or work experience that equals this;
• At least 5 years of field experience tackling security issues in fragile states and environments;
• Knowledge of the humanitarian and development sector, incl. the NGO organizational culture;
• Understanding of principles and practices in humanitarian action, NGO security management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination;
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and theoretical and practiced approaches to humanitarian access, including acceptance-based approaches;
• Advanced knowledge of, and ability to train others in, communications technology, including VHF, HF radio systems, satellite communications, cell phone mediums, etc.;
• Experience as a trainer, with an effective & participatory adult learner training style and the ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to staff with diverse backgrounds;
• Experience in incident and crisis management and in working in a stressful context.
• Good oral and written communication skills in English language.
• Ability to find solutions and appropriate mitigation strategies that would allow continued operations on the ground within fragile contexts.
• Ability to develop community acceptance to prevent security incidents.
• Ability to engage with communities to peacefully resolve security incidents.
• Ability to communicate effectively, particularly in giving feedback and advice.
• Ability to look for alternatives in a pro-active manner, if the ideal solution cannot be used.

Specifics of station

The Regional Security Advisor (RSA) will be based in Kabul, Afghanistan and will be expected to spend 40% of his/her time on Afghanistan, 30% on Iraq, 20% on Syria, 5% on Yemen and 5% on Myanmar. This is a non-accompanied posting

Contract information

The contract period is for one year starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period. We offer a competitive, fair and comprehensive salary and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. A Cordaid contract which includes R&R, a comprehensive insurance cover, social security and pension contribution, a holiday allowance, 13^th month, hardship allowance and cost of living allowance (if applicable).

Further information & how to apply

Applications including a motivation letter and extensive CV in English, including the contact details of at least three professional references, should be forwarded on attn.of mr. Remco van der Veen before May, 8^th , 2019.

An integrity screening will be part of the application procedure.

Please note that we accept applications through our website only: https://www.cordaid.org/en/vacancies/international/?cd_job_id=129210