- Starting date: 01-07-2024
- Contract length: 2 months
- Based: Odesa (with frequent in-country travel to partner project locations in Odeska, Mykolaivska and Khersonska oblasts)
Background
The Netherlands Refugee Foundation (SV, Stichting Vluchteling) is a humanitarian organisation based in The Hague, the Netherlands. SV was founded in 1976 to help refugees, displaced persons and returnees who are in acute need, anywhere in the world. It provides life-saving assistance to people who are victims of conflict, violence, or disasters, providing medical care, shelter, food and drinking water. People in need can also count on SV in protracted crises, with education, psychosocial support and demining of residential areas.
SV works in partnership with international and local implementing partners. Immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, SV responded in partnership with pre-identified international partners. At the beginning of 2023 SV established a small presence in Ukraine in order to be better able to support its local Ukrainian partners. It was the very first time for SV to establish an office in a country where it is supporting humanitarian projects. The office is based in Odesa and the partner projects are mainly in Odeska, Mykolaivska and Khersonska oblasts. The team consists of 8 staff in Ukraine, and 4 additional staff working from the Hague.
As this is the first time that SV works with an in-country team, structures, systems and processes are under constant development. Members of the Ukraine team contribute to establishing the new ways of working as well and to making procedures robust in support of the programming. There are currently Security SOPs in place, but this need revising following changes in the context.
Purpose of the consultancy
Working closely with the SV HQ Head of Programme, the HASS Consultant will assist the SV with organizational learning and overall organizational security awareness and response capacity.
In Ukraine, the HASS Consultant will work closely with the national Logistics & Security Officer (LSO) to help ensure the SV Ukraine team and partners are correctly identifying and mitigating safety and security risks, and to help ensure SV staff, partners and people receiving assistance are not put at additional risk due to the humanitarian work of SV.
Place in the organisation
The HASS Consultant will report directly to the new Country Director but will be also closely linked with the SV HQ Head of Programmes who also acts as the focal point for safety and security for SV globally.
Key deliverables:
Together with HQ colleagues:
- Review overall organizational security awareness and response capacity, especially in contexts where SV has a Country Office.
- Advise HQ on minimum Safety and Security requirements for potentially opening other country offices in other countries.
- Design and prepare an agile, adequate and appropriate policy to link the Country CIMT response on the ground to a HQ CIMT in the Hague.
- Integrate questions regarding security awareness of our partner organizations in the due diligence process (OCRA), with suggestions for follow up to partners with low scores.
- Submit a report with recommendations for further security improvements at the organizational level, understanding the capacity of SV as a small INGO.
Together with the Ukraine CD and LSO Officer:
- Revise the SV Ukraine SOP and all related documents, taking into consideration the unique set up of SV. This will include, among other documents: revising the Risk Matrix, updating HRE plans with triggers, field mission protocols and prioritization.
- Lead and help LSO set up system to ensure all staff understand the SOPs and adhere to them.
- Discuss with 7-8 local partners their security protocols and systems currently in place, and offer appropriate and relevant advice, as requested.
- Assess power blackout and winter preparedness for the SV Ukraine team and initiate mitigation plans within a limited budget.
- Discuss with CD and the SV HQ in the Hague a Country CIMT set up fit for the country team and organizational capacity. Prepare and conduct a Country CIMT and HQ CIMT joint simulation exercise.
What we expect from you:
- Relevant education, training and previous professional experience in the field of HASS.
- Proven track record of providing Safety and Security advice to NGOs in a number of different humanitarian and conflict contexts.
- Experience of the current Ukraine context essential.
- Excellent oral and written skills in English. Knowledge of Ukrainian and/or Russian an advantage.
- Proven track record of working with local partners and smaller organizations in the humanitarian sector.
- Excellent communication and capacity building / mentoring skills.
- Ability to easily travel to Ukraine and willingness to travel to Odeska, Mykolaivska and Khersonska oblasts.
What do we offer you:
- A consultancy contract and working conditions appropriate for a non-profit organization, depending on experience.
- A position based in Odesa with frequent field travel and the opportunity to help an agile and dynamic organization to improve safety and security for staff, partners and communities receiving our assistance.
How to apply
Something for you? Then please respond as soon as possible.
Please send your CV in English and short cover letter to: solliciteren@vluchteling.nl. Deadline for applications is 16 June 2024, however due to the urgency of this position, we will follow a rolling recruitment process.
The Netherlands Refugee Foundation has a Code of Conduct, containing the values and principles of the Netherlands Refugee Foundation, including regarding integrity & reliability and the prevention of any form of discrimination and / or abuse of power. Every employee must endorse these and act accordingly at all times. Taking references and requesting a Certificate of Good Conduct are part of the application procedure. The Netherlands Refugee Foundation is part of the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
No acquisition appreciated.
