Regional Safety Coordinator

 

The Danish Refugee Council is an independent International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) working on all aspects of forced displacement in more than thirty countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced displacement on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief. 

 

In 2018, in connection with a global organizational restructuring process, DRC established a North Africa Regional Office (NARO), based in Tunis. Led by a Regional Director the office oversees, supports and provides strategic directions for DRC’s country offices within the region, which currently includes Tunisia, Sudan, Algeria and Libya – but with potential expansion in the coming years. 

 

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is seeking an experienced Safety Coordinator to help develop a newly established Regional Office in Tunis and to provide professional guidance and support to DRC’s country operations within the North Africa Region. 

 

The regional Safety Coordinator will manage all aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management System (SRMS) for both DRC and DDG programmes within geographical area of responsibility. 

 

This role has a regional focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the whole regional area. The role contributes to the development of regional strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing activities with regional scope.  

 

Responsibilities:  

 

1. Oversee the development and implementation of the SRMS process, including:  

 

• Assist and monitor the development of Country SRAs; supervise the assessment of Safety Levels Scores (SLS) and provide strategic recommendations to the Regional   Director for approval; 

• Oversee the Safety Risk Management (SRM) process  

• Develop area and country safety management policies, protocols and procedures 

• Facilitate Safety Risk Assessments (SRAs) and support the implementation of mitigation measures 

• Analyze, manage and report relevant information within geographical area of responsibility 

• Maintain relevant safety documentation, data and records for the areas of concern 

• Develop the capacity of, and coordinate, relevant Crisis Management Teams (CMTs) 

• Technically advise on the procurement of safety-related equipment, facilities and other resources. 

• Advise Country Managers and Safety Focal Points (SFPs)/Safety staff on available safety management strategies, including the transfer, avoidance, acceptance and/or      control of risks; 

• Conduct (at least) annual travel to each permissible DRC office or site location for review; 

• Support the development of Country safety plans, including Critical Incident Management Plans (CIMP); Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); Contingency Plans  (CPs); Safety Improvement Plans (SIPs); and Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS); 

• Coordinate the implementation of safety management plans and other related functions; and assist in the implementation of staff capacity training plans and          management of external training through third-party vendors (in association with HQ);  

• Monitor and evaluate the SRMS process in country programmes for compliance/quality assurance, providing updates on the quality and progress of SRMS    implementation to relevant stakeholders; 

• Management of regional international travel process, including support to of travel to high risk environments (SLS 5-6) in the North Africa region  

• Input/review to country R&R policies minimum on annual basis or as required after context changes.  

• Safety support to international workshops for country/regional staff. 

 

Training, supervision and support 

• Support and deliver safety-related training 

• Mentor and provide technical supervision to local safety staff 

• Facilitate surge support to IMTs as required. 

 

2. Facilitate program access and continuity through the provision of dependable advice, including:  

 

• Provision of quarterly analysis, statistics and reporting on key developments within the country to the RD and HQ. Support and monitor the quality of weekly and  monthly reporting within the North Africa region countries; 

• Tailored analysis and assessments for internal consumption (both HQ and Country Office teams), including provision of/support to SRAs on specific areas, incidents,    themes, issues or scenarios as required; 

• Establish and maintain a list of contacts throughout the Region; 

• Provide advice on program development and implementation, including program assessments in support to country teams and the bid process; 

• Identify potential scenarios, indicators of change and key decision points, including triggers for contingency planning; 

 

3. Represent the Region within inter-agency fora as related to safety issues, including:  

 

• Attend NGO security coordination, UN and other relevant external fora; 

• Establish a network of contacts and represent DRC/DDG at security meetings in support to the Regional Office team, or Country Offices if requested. 

 

 

 

4. Capacity building of all staff, consultants and implementing partners, including:  

 

• Oversight / Provision of operational safety briefings and orientation to all new and visiting staff travelling to duty stations defined as hostile environments (SLS 4-6) in  the North Africa Region;  

• Support Training local safety staff in the delivery of established safety training modules and in new areas for developing capacity; 

• Support the Organizing and coordination of the delivery of Personal Safety Training (PAST) as required for staff.  

 

5. Incident and crisis management and response, including:  

 

• Support the establishment of IMTs at country level, including reviewing CIMPs, CM training, and support area-specific CPs to harmonize with DRC HQ CMT; 

• Coordinate the Country IMT in the event of a critical incident or crisis; 

• Support the delivery of bi-annual training exercises to ensure that the Country IMT is capable of responding; 

• Support the development of business continuity/disaster recovery planning, including remote management planning. 

 

6. Quality assurance of safety-related policies, protocols, procedures and regulations:  

 

• Follow up on Scheduled MOSS audits of all program areas; 

• Provide methodological and technical support for the training of guards, drivers and Watchkeepers; 

• Assess the implementation of physical and asset protection protocols and regulations;  

• Conduct regular site assessments and advise on mitigation measures; 

• Assist logisticians and administrators with the technical design, procurement, delivery and control of safety equipment and countermeasures; 

• Act as the focal point for specialist systems and support options, contributing to overall DRC security policy. 

 

 

• Minimum 3-5 years of working experience as a safety and security manager/advisor with an INGO 

• Experience working in multicultural work settings 

• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems 

• Experience with information gathering, analysis and report writing 

• Ability to conduct and produce high quality safety risk assessments (SRAs)  

• Experience with critical incident management 

• Experience with delivering safety-related training 

• Experience working in hostile or hazardous environments