Humanitarian Access & Safety Officer (Nationals Only) at Medecins Du Monde

Medecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care. MdM operating in Nigeria, Borno state since October 2016.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Humanitarian Access & Safety Officer

Location: Damboa, Borno
Employment Type: Full-time

Main Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of the Base Manager, the Humanitarian Access and Safety Officer in Damboa (HASO) will be responsible to develop and follow up a context analysis mechanism, to adapt and implement a safety framework, to set up and maintain a network of relations with authorities, other NGOs and field-level focal points to proceed for assessment of new areas of intervention, request of access authorizations, to report and to anticipate security-related events, in accordance to national and MdM internal procedures, under a confidentiality based approach. 
• He/She would have technical links with the Humanitarian Access and Safety Manager (HASM) based in Maiduguri.

Activities Description
Security Management:

• Compile and update a contact list (from authority, security entities, community leaders, HF staff, district office staff, local council ...etc.) to ensure safe access to implement MDM medical activities.
• Assess the security context on a daily basis and update the Base Manager and the Field Coordinator. 
• Analyze and report the security and contextual data using MDM validated tools.
• Take active role in developing security documents for Damboa .
• To support and monitor the implementation of the security pack in Damboa field base.
• To ensure the daily management of the security within Damboa base and clinics, including the management of the guards, the management of security materials and equipment, etc.
• Validate staff movements in the operational base.
• Ensure proper update and delivery of constant companion cards for key staffs.
• Conduct on-going security risk and threats assessment.
• Maintain and analyse an incident reporting system.
• Advise on technical protection and communications matters, such as site selection and protection, as well as the functioning and good use of communications equipment.
• Be involved in incident response management and subsequent reviews and evaluations in collaboration with the General Coordinator, HASM and Field Coordinator.
• To provide briefings about cultural and social customs in the operational context.
• Monitor and report on adherence to procedures and plans in the field base.
• Assess and maintains timely update and replenishment of safety and security related kits with relevant departments.
• Identify safety and security training needs for the team members, conduct trainings and capacity building actions in collaboration with HASM
• To provide briefings about the operational context to visiting staffs and ensure staffs are kept up to date on changing security conditions.

Liaison with Authorities and Humanitarian Actors:

• Develop, maintain and establish an effective communication and good relationship with authorities and other humanitarian actors in Damboa LGA in order to proceed for: Facilitating visits of MDM staff with authorities, and obtaining access authorization for current and potential intervention areas.
• Keep informed the Field Coordinator timely of any information concerning changes in the procedures in the context.
• Liaise and exchange relevant information with other humanitarian organisations and with the authorities in Damboa, keeping the field coordinator informed of such information.
• To represent MDM values as secular, independent organization whose commitment is to support sustainable improvement of health policies.
• Participate in any scheduled technical and coordination meetings when needed especially the field level civil military coordination meetings.
• To serve as an interlocutor with security forces in the field.

Assessment:

• Participate in developing SOP, validation procedures and briefing prior to field trips to new and/or sensitive areas in Damboa LGA with technical guidance of the HASSM.
• Develop and update a focal points database for info collection on permanent basis.
• During identification of MDM new locations of interventions, HASO should collect information about the possible places from the different networks (i.e., Authority, community leaders, MAG, Civilian in Conflict, other relevant actors) and gather needed information about the location safety, access, and other relevant actors on the screen.
• To get verification of safe access by communication with key people in the operational context during before each medical team field movements and other field visit.
• During fieldtrips, responsible in coordinating movement plans, represent MDM in check points, and introduce the objective of the assessment, importance, and methodology if needed.
• Inform the medical team of any information/issues/concerns that might affect the team safety or MDM acceptance in the operational base (i.e., if they face/feel community resistance for family planning, vaccination, handling GBV case… etc. 

Project Implementation:

• HASO is the person in charge to answer authority on non-technical questions, (example in check points) 
• He is in charge to introduce MDM team to people and to explain about MDM, presence, activities. etc.
• Identify possible places for team hibernation in the field and advise on adaptation of security pack based on new needs and context factors.
• Identify relevant actors in the area and get involved in the actors mapping, including analysis of relationships and dynamics between different actors and impact on MDM intervention.

Others:

• Be flexible in performing his duties 
• Inform immediately the Field Coordinator in case of any security problem 
• Realize a bi-weekly and monthly report to submit to the Field coordinator, keeping the HASSM in-copy.
• Participate in a pro-active way in MdM internal meetings that maybe requested
• Perform other additional duties on request of the Field Coordinator and country coordination team.

Essential Qualifications

• University degree in social sciences or other related field; certification in security management course is an asset
• Prior experience as security focal person for INGO preferable
• Basic or Advanced Security Management Training from INSO or any recognized institution.
• Very good research and analytical skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft office and Excel is desired
• Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively, including ability to prepare reports, make presentations
• Full command in writing, reading and speaking of English, Hausa, and Kanuri
• Good intuition skill is desired
• Experience of working effectively in complex security environments 
• Experienced and knowledgeable in security/safety-related subjects, threat/risk assessment, strong representation and negotiating skills, security management, networking and personal and organizational security awareness
• Be proactive in improving skills by keeping up to date with new / latest development in safety and security operations procedures

Salary
N400,000 - N500,000 / month.

Application Closing Date
23rd May, 2025.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified send in their CV and Cover letter in the same document to recruitment.nigeria@medecinsdumonde.net using the Job Title & Location as the subject of email.

Note

• Only successful applicants will be called for the next steps and are obligated to disclose any information about family member(s) currently in the employment with MDM-France in any location. 
• No monetary transactions, neither demands of favors in kind, nor other types of favoritism will be tolerated in the MDM recruitment process.
• MDM reserves the right to refuse hiring a candidate having benefitted from any such acts. All illicit demands may be pursued through the judicial system.
• MDM is an equal opportunity employer and encourages any Nigerian citizen to apply irrespective of race, gender, religion, creed, political affiliation.
• Dual Employment is considered gross misconduct and hence not acceptable.
• MDM reserves the right to cancel any step or whole of the recruitment process at any stage.
• MDM France takes this opportunity to thank all potential candidates for their application.
• Candidates are required to submit references upon application.
• This position is not relocatable.
• Shortlisting and interviews will take place on a rolling basis and applications process will close if a suitable candidate is found prior to the advertised close date.
•  Please note that MdM does not engage in or accept bribes in exchange for job opportunities. 
• Any attempts to offer or accept bribes will result in immediate disqualification from the recruitment process.
• Due to the nature of this role we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and the role might be filled and closed before the closing date. 
• Early applications are encouraged.