Safety Coordinator (National applications)

Position title: Safety Coordinator

Supervised by: Country Director

Reporting to: Country Director

Duty Station: Yaoundé-Cameroon

Area of Operation: Cameroon

Employment Period: 6 months

Type of contract: National contract

Salary & Benefits: Non-Management, Band G

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

The West and Central Africa, North Africa and Latin America (WANALA) region has 73 bases spread around three main areas in 12 countries: 43 in West Africa (former WARO), 11 in North Africa (former NARO) and 19 in the Americas.

Under the leadership of the regional office in Dakar and closely linked to interventions in neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), DRC began operations in Cameroon in 2018 by responding to the humanitarian needs of refugees from CAR and vulnerable Cameroonians in the Adamaoua region. Currently, DRC operates a regional office in Meiganga and two sub-offices in Djohong (Adamaoua region) and Garoua-Boulai (Eastern region). Interventions focus on finding durable solutions for the most vulnerable, using the holistic approach of graduation to improve both protection and economic recovery. Interventions include identifying key protection risks and inter-population conflicts to identify social cohesion and conflict resolution projects that will bring communities together. The Emergency Mobile Team (EMPACT) established DRC’s program presence in the Southwest region in late 2018 to address the needs of forcibly displaced people in the context of the Anglophone crisis, beginning humanitarian activities in January 2019. DRC operates in the Meme and Fako divisions, with an office in Buea. Programming focuses in rural and hard-to-reach areas to meet people’s basic needs for food, shelter, and NFIs, while improving the protection environment and providing income generation opportunities.

2. Overall purpose of the role:

Under the authority of the Country Director, the Safety Coordinator will provide advice and technical support on the four stages (Assess, Decide, Plan, Act) of DRC Safety Risk Management system (SRMS) in Cameroon, ensuring compliance with DRC Global Safety and Global Access policies. A detailed description of DRC SRMS can be found here Chapter 20 – DRC SRMS; the areas of competence of the Safety Coordinator are detailed on chapters 20.4 to 20.7.

The Safety Coordinator will be based in Yaoundé but is expected to travel up to 50% of the working time through the country (NWSW, Adamaoua/Est, Extreme North, not limited to these regions) to deliver trainings on the implementation of the SRMS. Example of such trainings include and are not limited to how to plan and conduct field movements; how to correctly do a Safety Risk Assessment; how to select, monitor and update contingency plans indicators.

This position requires a previous experience in safety and humanitarian access strong communication and analysis skills to feed informed decision-making regarding DRC operations.

3. Responsibilities:
The Safety Coordinator will support the Country Director in maintaining the mentioned aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management system (SRMS) in the country, for all regions with DRC operations. Under the direct management of the Country Director, he /she is expected to pursue the following objectives and duties in his/her daily work:

Overall objectives

• Oversee the development and implementation of the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC’s) Safety Risk Management System (SRMS)
• Support the Country Director and the Country Offices in ensuring compliance with DRC safety policy as stated in Chapters 19 & 20 of the DRC Operations Handbook
• To develop policies and procedure (SOPs), in coordination with project staff, for the safe delivery of program activities
• Visit the Area offices in the SW, Adamaoua/Est regularly to deliver training to DRC staff on the diverse aspects of the SRMS and the associated SOPs
• Conduct SRMS assessment in area of interest for DRC such as the extreme north and the northwest regions

SRMS:

• Ensure that the country is up to date with the different components of the DRC Safety Management System: Contingency plans; Safety Level System (SLS), Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS), Local Safety Rules (LSR), Safety Risk and Threat Assessments (SRA); Record of Emergency Data (RED) as per the SRMS tracker that will be provided.
• Ensure that the country provide updated Safety Risk Assessments (SRA), Context Assessments and Programme Assessments for each programme area pursuant to DRC Safety Policy.
• Ensure each programme area has appropriate SOPs developed and implemented. Monitor compliance with SOPs. Keep track of the SOPs in the SRMS tracker.
• Ensure that appropriate Safety improvement plans (SIP) accompany the MOSS audits to address outstanding requirements not yet met.
• Conduct regular reviews with Incident Management Teams (IMTs) in country offices to ensure that all components of the contingency plans (Hibernation, Relocation, Evacuation, Medical Emergency and Abduction) are up to date, realistic and understood.
• Ensure coverage in case of absence of the Country Director as the primary point of contact for safety related matters with the Regional Office and other local actors (UNDSS, etc).

Capacity Building

• Conduct – or facilitate the delivery of – safety training for staff at all levels. Ensure that the country is at par with DRC Safety Training agenda.
• Regularly travel to Area offices in SW, Adamaoua/Est to deliver training to DRC staff on the diverse aspects of the SRMS and the associated SOPs. Contribute to maintaining a “safety culture” by mainstreaming DRC Global Safety Policy and SRMS at all levels of DRC operations.
• Assist and mentor the Area Safety Teams on their role of custodians of the SRMS integrity.

Information Management and Reporting:

• Maintain detailed soft and hard copy files of all relevant safety documents and make sure they are rapidly accessible to of Critical Incident or Crisis Management Teams.
• Maintain the SRMS tracker and the Safety SharePoint up to date and available online to all the designated users.
• Conduct regular calls with the Area Safety Teams in the regions to monitor the overall situation and provide regular situation reports regarding compliance with DRC Global Safety Policy.
• Ensure an up-to-date visitor briefing package is provided to all visitors and international staff, in case of absence of the Country Director.
• Ba able to substitute the Country Director in conducting safety briefings for all visitors and staff at the Country level.
• Provide briefings on thematic and specific issues, as requested by the Country Director or the Regional SMRS Coordinator and the Global Safety Advisor.

In addition to the above, the Safety Coordinator may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Country Director.

4. Required Qualifications

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 3 years of practical experience in sector area working for an INGO
• Management and/or supervisory experience within an NGO or similar organisation
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems.
• Ability to conduct and produce high quality safety risk assessments (SRAs).
• Experience with critical incident management.
• Proven commitment to accountability practices.
• Experience with information gathering analysis and report writing.
• Experience working with national partners, local/government authorities, and UN organisations

Education:

• Master’s degree (e.g. political science, international development, or economics)
• In lieu of the above, a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience in the sector

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Full professional proficiency in French and English

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humour

6. General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request