NGO Security Focal Point

Location: South Sudan NGO Forum, Juba
Applications opened: 06 Sep 2013
Employer: Tearfund

Position Type: Expatriate staff
Location: Juba, South Sudan with field visits
Work station: NGO Secretariat Office, based at Tearfund Compound

Managing: One expatriate staff member, Security Information Analyst
Reporting to: NGO Secretariat Coordinator



The South Sudan NGO Secretariat coordinates the efforts of the NGO Steering Committee as voted representatives of the South Sudan NGO Forum, which currently includes approximately 150 international member organizations and 85 national member organizations.

The activities of the NGO Secretariat focus on five main aims which are: information sharing, engagement, policy, NNGO capacity building, and security information management.


Primary Functions:

The NGO Security Focal Point (SFP) has been a function of the NGO Secretariat as a full-time position since September 2008. For the past several years, the NGO Forum has grown substantially, both in terms of numbers of operating NGOs and staff members, but also in terms of increased needs arising from the complex operational environment. The SFP position supports the work of the NGO Forum on issues relating to the safety and security of NGO staff and operations and provides NGO representation on security issues in relevant external meetings.

The NGO Security Focal Point manages 1 International staff member; the Security Information Analyst.



The NGO Security Focal Point supports the work of the NGO Forum through the following key tasks:

Information Collection: (20%)
Stay well-informed with political, security, and economic developments in South Sudan, as well as the broader region.
Monitor security management and humanitarian-related research and publications.
Travel to State Capitals and other NGO concentrations in the field as needed. This may be a self-designed and independent assessment, or as a participant in a UN-led security assessment—sometimes to remote and/or high-risk areas.

Information Management & Coordination: (50%)
Collect and circulate pertinent security information through the NGO Forum security mailing list and other modes of communication. This is a full-time role during a security incident.
Collect and manage security information for our member organizations, including contact information and office/residence locations.
Publish regular Security Updates to circulate to Forum members.
Direct Security Information Analyst with the overall revision and management of various security products at the Country and state levels, including security phone tree, assembly point system, FAQ documents, and incident database.
Oversee the development of maps of NGO locations and security incidents.
Assist with contingency planning and scenario planning for NGOs, and ensure that the NGO community is fully accounted for in UN and diplomatic community contingency plans.
Develop and standardise “good practice” checklists for priority threats and share relevant security resources.
Assist coordinating NGO access to UN Security trainings.
Support the recruitment and cultivation of State-level volunteer security focal points. Strengthen NGO security coordination at the State-level.

Communication: (10%)
Facilitate NGO Security Meetings, briefings, task force meetings, or workshops as often as necessary and ensure information is disseminated to relevant stakeholders.
Help to ensure that all new NGOs are conversant with relevant security protocols and take security issues seriously.
Represent the NGO Forum at meetings with UNMISS, UN AFPs, donors, diplomatic corps, and other external stakeholders and advocate NGO security challenges and needs.
Support the Information Management Officer to expand and manage the security section of the NGO Forum website and mapping products.

Program Quality and Management: (10%)
Provide constant security assistance to more than 150 NGO Forum member organizations. This may be at any time of day, via phone, email, or in person.
Support improved analysis of the overall security context.
Represent the NGO forum at the UN Security Cell and country-level Security Management Team (SMT) meetings, and all other relevant NGO, UN, or government meetings.
Regularly update NGO staff numbers and areas of operation for NGOs and UNDSS/UNMISS contingency planning.
Support the development of briefing papers / tools for sharing of information on common security concerns as required.
Maintain a security resource database of security manuals, and other practical tools and documents accessible to NGO Forum members.

Partnership: (10%)
Ensure effective collaboration between the NGO Secretariat, UN, government, donors, national NGOs, and other stakeholders on security-related issues.
Develop and maintain productive relationships with key individuals in relevant government ministries and security organs, the diplomatic corps, international and national NGOs, UN Missions (UNMISS and UNISFA), UN Agencies/Funds/Programs (AFPs), donors, and other relevant individuals (private security companies, regional analysts, researchers, journalists, etc.).
Engage with global-level NGO security consortia and other security coordination mechanisms for information sharing and best practice approaches.



Qualifications:
At least ten years of experience working for a humanitarian or development organisation, or research institution (think tank), focusing on peace, conflict, humanitarian relief, or development.
Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in peace and conflict studies, security studies, international affairs, economics, political science, international development, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
Candidate must demonstrate high academic achievement. Knowledge of quantitative research methods preferred.
Experience in post-conflict and/or insecure environments preferred.
Experience in South Sudan, Sudan, or East Africa preferred.
Above-average computer literacy, especially with MS Office products (Office, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, etc.). Experience with WordPress and GIS/mapping software highly desired.
Fluency in written and spoken English is required.




Personal/Professional Skills:
The position has a considerable workload, and the candidate must be willing to work long hours—including overnights during a security emergency.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
The position will have a lot of independence. The candidate must be a self-starter and exhibit initiative.
The candidate must possess common sense, an ability to learn quickly, and must work well under pressure. The candidate must be able to work in high stress/high pressure situations.
High attention to detail is required.
An ability to approach complex situations from a creative and innovative perspective.
An ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, with a high degree of respect for varying cultures and backgrounds, is required.
Developing and maintaining key relationships is essential; a social personality and sense of humour is helpful.
Outstanding communication skills. The candidate must be able to write clear and succinct analytical reports, to explain complex security dynamics to audiences with varying levels of comprehension, and brief high-level individuals. The candidate must be able to speak carefully and diplomatically, and must be a competent and comfortable public speaker.



Physical/Environment:
The candidate must be willing to work in a hazardous, conflict/post-conflict environment. The candidate must be comfortable working in significantly underdeveloped conditions with intermittent active armed hostilities.
Although the position is based in the national capital, the candidate is expected to operate with poor communications infrastructure, and may experience frequent power outages.
The candidate must be willing to travel to remote and high-risk locations.
This is a non-family/unaccompanied post with limited amenities.

The candidate will be evaluated in a three-month probationary period before being offered a 12 month contract.




Salary and Benefits:

NGO consultancy contract including R and R allowance, living expenses, medical and evacuation insurance.



To Apply:

Send a resume or CV, letter of motivation, brief (2-3 page) sample of analysis or other written work, and three professional references to Chris Willach at security@southsudanngoforum.org, CC Claire Tiffen southsudan-gic@tearfund.org & Stephen Gabra southsudan-hrm@tearfund.org


The subject line of the email must be: “Application: SFP for NGO Secretariat”

Each attachment must have the following naming scheme:

SFP – Last name, First name – resume (or CV)
SFP – Last name, First name – letter of motivation
SFP – Last name, First name – writing sample
SFP – Last name, First name – list of references
SFP – Last name, First name – application form