Consultancy Roster – Access & Security Manager – Gaza Response

Background:

Consultant Objectives:

• Serve as interim surge support to Mercy Corps team in Gaza and provide technical support and guidance in the areas of safety, security and access to all Gaza based/located staff.

• Provide technical support to program teams in assessing the suitability of establishing operations in new or changing locations.

• Ensure continuous support and communication across staff in Gaza, the Gaza response leadership (on the ground and within the country program), and country security team members.

Consultant Activities:

• Support and advise Emergency Response and program teams on all policies, procedures, guidelines, and planning for staff safety and operational security in Gaza.  Provide security trainings for staff as necessary.

• Ensure compliance to the MC Security Management framework within the SMP and all annexes.

• Manage protocols and procedures to ensure MC facilities are secure.

• Evaluate, review, and update (as required) the hibernation and evacuation plans for MC GHs/offices in Gaza and ensure that practical preparations are in place and briefed to all staff.

• Compile and submit ad-hoc security reporting that tracks incidents and trends within MCs area of operation. Establish daily cadence of contextual updates with the Emergency Response Director and/or Country Director.

• Ensure all incidents are formally reported within MC Incident Reporting protocols.

• Undertake continual assessments of equipment and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.

• Provide and implement the best possible solutions for the use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff, including here proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment

• Identify barriers to access and support program teams in developing mitigation strategies.

• Provide technical support to program teams in assessing the suitability of establishing operations in new locations and produce Security Risk Assessments for new locations and/or high-risk environments.

• Promote and support the integration of humanitarian access approaches into program design and implementation

• Constantly monitor available sources to collect, compile, and report information, including incidents and trends pertinent to humanitarian access in areas of operations

• Issue and monitor Notifications of Humanitarian Movements according to existing Civic-Military coordination mechanisms led by UN, as/when applicable.

Consultant Deliverables:

• Contributions to regular tracking and monthly security reports.

• Development of Security Risk Assessments, or project-specific risk mitigation plans for program implementation based on physical presence and coordination.

• Participation in security-specific forums and meetings inside Gaza.

• Issuance and monitoring of Notifications of Humanitarian Movements according to existing Civic-Military coordination mechanisms led by UN.

Timeframe / Schedule:

The Consultant will report to:

Required Experience & Skills:

• 3+ years in a relevant security management, risk management, NGO country program management position

• Have worked at least 5 years in a high-risk environment

• Have completed a US/UK certified HEAT/HEST course in the past 2 years.

• Experience in Civic-Military Coordination is desirable

• Certification in Security Risk Management or risk management is desirable

• Knowledge of operating humanitarian INGOs- solid understanding of humanitarian and resilience programming is required

• Experience in OPt/Gaza is desirable

• Minimum of FREC3, MIRA or equivalent is desirable

• Prior experience in critical incident management

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with others in a multi-cultural and high-risk environment

• Experience supervising and coaching junior staff members is preferred

• Must have working proficiency in English. Arabic is a plus.