Regional Security Advisor (RSA) – West & Central Africa and Caribbean

Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon with regular travel throughout the region

Start date: 1 October 2024

Duration: 15 months with possibility of renewal

Line manager: Regional Director, West & Central Africa and Caribbean

Technical advisor: Global Security Adviser, EWDE HQ

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) is a German NGO providing humanitarian aid in 31 countries, supporting people affected by natural hazard related disasters, war, and displacement and who are not able to cope on their own in the emergency situation they find themselves in. DKH emphasizes locally led responses through a global network of partners, promoting localized humanitarian action and equal partnerships. Committed to long-term, equitable partnerships, DKH strengthens local partners’ capacities and facilitates mutual learning and innovative cooperation, empowering partners and communities in decision-making. Fostering localized humanitarian action and an equal partnership approach lies at the very core of our work.

Part of the Protestant agency for Diakonie and Development (EWDE) under the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), DKH’s Regional Office for West & Central Africa and the Caribbean (WaCAR) in Dakar, Senegal, oversees operations in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Haiti, and Niger.

Join our team to support partner programming and project implementation while ensuring the safety of DKH staff and assets. This role impacts our security strategy in the region and suits those who enjoy working in an international, cross-cultural team with the convenience of a local office. Ideal for individuals who love to travel, help others develop expertise, and manage multiple responsibilities.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The RSA provides technical leadership in Health, Safety & Security (HSS) management in the WaCAR region, to protect DKH staff, assets, operations, and interests. They advise the Regional Director on safety and security risks, support country offices, and work closely with country security staff and the EWDE global security unit. The RSA coordinates and ensures adherence to security procedures, supporting DKH program staff. In collaboration with CRs, the RSA provides technical guidance and advice to security staff and focal points in DR Congo, Chad, and Haiti, and is responsible for operational HSS in Cameroon as the Security Focal Point (FSP).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical leadership

• Provide technical advice and support on HSS and incident management to the Regional Director and Country Representatives and make HSS decisions during emergencies if necessary.
• Guide and advise SFPs across the region.
• Ensure HSS management is integrated into program planning and strategy development in the WaCAR region.

Operational security

• Ensure a consistent yet flexible approach to HSS across the region, suggesting improvements to processes, guidelines, and tools.
• Draft and/or regularly revise HSS plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Areas of Operations (AoO) in line with EWDE HSS standards.
• Conduct and review Security Risk Assessments (SRA), update risk ratings for Security Phases, facilitate compliance with HSS plans and regulations, and provide HSS input for contingency planning.
• Assess and support the HSS capacity and systems of DKH partner organizations, leveraging DKH’s tools and best practices.
• Advise on and support efforts to enhance DKH’s reputation, image, and acceptance within communities and among stakeholders.
• Ensure the safety and security of all assets and infrastructure within the region.
• Liaise with external security networks on regional humanitarian safety and security matters, including at the country level for Cameroon.
• If requested, provide HSS support to the DKH sister organization Bread for the World (BftW) and professional volunteers in the WaCAR region.

Incident management

• Lead and advise on serious incidents and manage incident processes for the Regional Director and Country Representatives.
• Participate in Incident Management Teams (IMT) for all Country Offices in the WaCAR region.
• Coordinate the Regional Office and Cameroon country office IMTs, facilitate the IMT process, and execute IMT leaders’ decisions.
• Monitor events in assigned countries, review incident report submissions for accuracy, and follow up as necessary.
• Coordinate with the EWDE Global Security Unit on IMT in line with global EWDE Incident/Emergency/ Crisis Management procedures.
• Support EWDE-wide incident/emergency/crisis management efforts in the region as needed.

Travel security & travel risk management

• Ensure country offices implement field travel and visitor management procedures according to EWDE HSS Standard SOP 5 and SOP 6.
• Provide security briefings for visitors and new staff arriving in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
• Conduct travel risk assessments, security briefings, and ongoing traveler monitoring.
• Advise Yaoundé-based staff, consultants, and visitors on risk mitigation, and coordinate with line managers to sign off on travel applications and provide travel clearance.
• Coordinate safety and security arrangements for field visits of DKH staff, consultants, and visitors with partner organizations.

Capacity strengthening

• Lead and manage capacity strengthening in HSS by setting clear goals and delivering training to enhance the skills of country office SFPs and partner organizations.
• Facilitate staff training based on EWDE HSS Minimum Training Requirements, including first aid, safe driving, fire drills, and security seminars.

Fleet safety

• Monitor the implementation of vehicle and fleet safety policies and procedures across the region in accordance with EWDE HSS Standard SOP4.
• Review and investigate road traffic accidents and incidents to establish root causes and prevent future occurrences.
• Perform vehicle safety audits to identify potential hazards, ensuring employees follow safety policies and vehicles are well-maintained and safe.
• Build the capacity of country office SFPs in vehicle and fleet safety management.

QUALIFICATION, EXPERTISE, AND SKILLS

• 5 years minimum of experience in security management, preferably in humanitarian assistance
• University degree (minimum Bachelor’s) or relevant work experience in a relevant field
• Expertise in security procedures, risk assessment, and analysis of local and regional security trends
• Proficient in communicating with stakeholders in politically and culturally sensitive environments
• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles and international NGO standards
• Professional working proficiency in French and in English (written/spoken)
• Excellent coaching, mentoring, and presentation skills, with the ability to convey information (written and verbal) clearly to diverse audiences
• Experience working in dynamic, politically sensitive contexts while maintaining organization and detail orientation under pressure with minimal supervision
• Team player with a strong sense of responsibility, diplomacy, and commitment to quality and results
• Demonstrates integrity, respect for diversity, and patience

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

DKH team members are expected to support all efforts for increased accountability towards the beneficiaries while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of projects.