South Sudan: ROVING SECURITY FOCAL POINT – SOUTH SUDAN

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job title: Roving Security Focal Point

Duty Station: Based in Juba with monthly rapid response missions in South Sudan’s project locations.

Starting date: 1 September 2017

Duration of contract: 5 months

Reporting to: Head of Mission

Supervision of: N/A

Dependents: Non-family duty station

General context of the project

The situation in South Sudan continues to be very fragile. The collapse of the Government of National Unity in July 2016 precipitated triggers for conflict, insecurity, economic crisis and food insecurity across the country, with the currency in free fall and inflation skyrocketing. In February 2017, the Government of Salva Kiir and the United Nations declared famine. In parts of the country, nearly 5 million (40%) of the population are at risk. Besides civil conflict and drought, other key internal displacement hazards include flooding and health epidemics, especially cholera.

South Sudan has been affected by complex emergencies, both natural and conflict-related, for decades. INTERSOS has been present in South Sudan since 2006, with a country office in Juba and field bases in six States of the country, namely Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity, Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria and Central Equatoria. INTERSOS focuses on implementing emergency response and relief programs in different sectors: Protection, Education, NFI/Shelter and WASH with a special focus on serving the conflict-affected population, which were forced to displace from their homes by the conflict but also the hosting communities, which often are equally vulnerable.

This project will be implemented under the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund and will be operational as GBV mobile response to reach difficult accessible areas in the whole country where there is the most urgent need.

General purpose of the position

This position will be a roving field position as an integral part of the protection GBV mobile response in all States within South Sudan. This project is a pilot one, to be initiated by the Protection Cluster to reach otherwise inaccessible locations. In this way, it will be easier to rapidly respond to the most urgent needs.

The Security Focal Point will work with other protection partners of the Integrated Protection Mobile Team (IPMT), the cluster and sub-cluster representatives in order to guarantee the safety and security of participating members in every mission. S/he will provide specific analysis and advice on the security situation, elaborate detailed contingency plans before each deployment and actively participate in the planning of the mission. In addition, the FP will facilitate training courses for staff, essential communication from remote locations, incident management and training for guards and drivers.

Tasks and responsibilities

Collaboration and Representation

• Plan mobile mission jointly with other mobile protection units, and develop a contingency and preparedness plan (SoP’s/CPP) for every mission;
• Participate in joint field assessments to continuously provide an independent point of view on the security situation on the ground;
• Represent INTERSOS with relevant national stakeholders on safety and security matters at field level, and brief HoM regularly;
• Coordinate field mission activities related to safety and security in collaboration with UNDSS and UNHCR and with protection partners and INTERSOS GBV Specialists;
• Develop and maintain emergency key contact lists of personnel involved in all field mission;
• Act as a liaison between humanitarian partners and security agencies/personnel if any;

Network building

• Build and maintain a network of information sources which allow the gathering of reliable data and information to create an incident database;
• Meet with other Protection cluster partners, the NGO community at field level and support the creation of local coordination mechanisms regarding Safety and Security;
• Conduct safety and security assessments;
• Produce security reports (including analysis based on incident reports) which will be shared with protection partners and the humanitarian community;
• Produce regular alerts and advisories relating to incidents and developments in all field missions as required;
• Support the development of safety rules and regulations for members of the IPMT and field staff based in the area, if requested;
• Ensure compliance with INTERSOS policy and safety-related guidelines and ensure internal INTERSOS contingency plans and SOPs reflect the prevailing security situation on the ground;
• Regularly review and update INTERSOS safety and security guidelines, safety level, and minimum operating safety standards (MOSS);
• Monitor the mobile response team’s stock and minimum assets for field mission;
• Support the HoM in crises in case of any incident on the field;
• Regularly brief INTERSOS staff and update the HoM on security concerns and developments in the country.

Required profile/experience

• Degree in developmental and/or political and/or conflict studies (or equivalent work experience);
• Minimum 2 years as Safety and Security Manager/Adviser for an NGO in a high risk/conflict zone (or equivalent role);
• Proven experience in context/security analysis and advising humanitarian personnel;
• Proven in-country experience with UN integrated and peacekeeping missions and CIVMIL relations;
• Proven experience in preparing security reports for senior UN and NGO managers;
• Proven experience in crisis management;
• Experience in developing and updating SOPs, contingency plans and other risk assessment and management documents;
• Experience in conducting safety training and capacity building;
• Experience in management of security incident databases and analytical tools is an asset;
• First aid qualification is an asset;
• Familiar with the issues and cultures in South Sudan;
• Full proficiency in written and spoken English;
• Ability to work under pressure or in crisis situations;
• Proven interpersonal skills and ability to work in team and in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment;
• Readiness and ability to travel around South Sudan as part of the mobile team according to the needs of the project;
• Willingness to spend at least 80% of time on the field in hard-to reach areas living in temporary bases;
• Willingness to live, adapt and work in insecure, unstable and/or harsh environments.

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their CV, motivation letter and 2 references to recruitment@intersos.org with subject line: "**SR-41-177 Roving Security Focal Point – South Sudan**”.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.