Overview
The Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator (HASC) is responsible for ensuring the organization's security policies are responsive to the context, advising on humanitarian access, analyzing security trends, and managing a team of security professionals.
Key Responsibilities
- Facilitate the development of an access strategy and framework for the country program.
- Support Security Focal Points (SFPs) and program teams in designing operational strategies for new project openings, including actor mapping and engagement strategies.
- Develop ongoing relationships with local authorities, non-State armed actors, and other power brokers.
- Work to ensure IRC, its mission, and work in operational areas are known and accepted.
- Provide technical input and advice in assessments for new IRC programs in new geographic areas.
- Provide technical support and coordination to SFPs within the Country Program.
- Ensure dedicated safety and security staff have clear work plans with measurable objectives.
- Participate in Senior Management Team (SMT) meetings and advise on security and access issues.
- Participate in internal project meetings (PCM).
- Participate in external security-related meetings (UNDSS, INSO, OCHA, CMCoord, etc.).
- Maintain regular contact with security officers from other humanitarian actors, UN agencies, and relevant organizations.
- Contribute to strategic discussions by providing continuous analysis of the security, economic, and political context.
- Identify contextual trends that could potentially affect IRC operations.
- Produce analysis of likely scenarios and advise the country team on adapting programs and operations.
- Compile and submit daily and monthly security reports.
- Support IRC teams in identifying and managing safety and security risks.
- Ensure IRC security protocols, procedures, and plans are followed by all staff.
- Ensure safety or security incidents are managed and reported according to IRC procedures.
- Provide analysis of significant incidents and recommendations to limit future occurrences.
- Advise operations teams on best solutions for communication equipment and safe alternative means.
- Develop a training plan addressing capacity building needs.
- Organize and facilitate regular security awareness training (level 1) for all staff.
- Organize and facilitate regular security management (level 2) and humanitarian access training for SFPs.
- Coordinate online training initiatives for all staff and SFPs.
- Ensure visitors and new staff receive appropriate briefing and/or orientation.
- Pilot the design, update, and dissemination of all security and access policies, procedures, plans, and assessments.
- Implement and regularly update Security Risk Assessments (SRA).
- Design and regularly update Security Management Plans (SMPs), including SOPs and Contingency Plans.
- Evaluate, review, and update hibernation and evacuation plans.
- Design and regularly update briefing materials for visitors and new staff.
Required Experience
- Minimum 5–7 years of experience in humanitarian contexts, including at least 3 years in security risk management or humanitarian access in high-risk environments.
- Proven experience in coordinating complex field operations.
- Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, code of conduct, and specific work linked to NGO field and operations contexts.
- Ability to carry out complex contextual analysis and identify developing trends.
- Strong experience as a trainer; ability to develop, implement, and facilitate learning to a wide range of audiences.
- Regional experience preferred.
- Proven experience in NGO security management, including development of security frameworks, incident management, and field implementation.
- Experience in Sahel strongly preferred or comparable high-insecurity environments, with demonstrated exposure to access constraints and security incidents.
Qualifications
- University degree in management, political science or related field preferred.
- Diploma or technical certification in a related field with significant relevant experience.
