OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The Safety and Access Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the proper application of DRC’s Safety Risk Management System (SRMS) in all areas of operations in Ethiopia’s mission. This includes the application of the Global Safety Policy, identifying known and foreseen risks, and determining and implementing appropriate mitigation measures, mechanisms, and procedures. In addition, ongoing context assessment and day-to-day safety and security management shall be done in close cooperation with Senior Management and Safety Focal Points, thereby enhancing the operational continuity and resilience of the DRC Ethiopia mission.

Responsibilities and tasks

Safety and Access analysis

• Develop and regularly update the existing DRC Safety Risk Management System (SRMS) to cover all DRC program locations.
• Manage the Safety Level System (SLS) for field sites based on individual Safety Risk Assessments (SRA) and ensure Area Offices strive to improve compliance with Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS).
• Identify actual, perceived, and foreseeable risks, along with measures to maintain program continuity and enhance resilience through robust security and risk management.
• Lead the development and production of contextualized risk management policy, protocols, and procedures in close collaboration with area and country offices.
• Facilitate program access and continuity through timely, quality, and informed advice.
• Produce monthly and quarterly security analysis/reports (including ad hoc daily updates, weekly summaries, and monthly trend analysis) where requested.
• Develop, maintain, and participate in networks for (safety) information sharing internally and externally.
• Develop and build relations/networks with DRC partners and participate in safety and access meetings.
• Provide safety input in meetings and support the Senior Management Team (SMT) and the Extend Senior Management Team (E-SMT) in decision-making.

Safety and Access management

• Support the recruitment of Safety Focal Points with Area Managers and provide capacity building, mentoring, and training.
• Deliver and prepare high-quality safety training for DRC and implementing partners’ staff
• Maintain relevant safety documentation, data, and records (staff presence lists, training register, incident tracking, maps, etc.)
• Ensure new staff and visitors receives a pre-arrival briefing prior to arriving in the country and a country briefing on arrival.
• Coordinate with the RO/HQ Crisis Management Team (CMT) when needed and participate in the Incident Management Teams (IMT) when activated.
• Support the development of the capacity of Incident Management Teams (IMTs) and Contingency Plans (CPs) for all area and country offices.
• Work with the Head of Support Services to ensure that safety is adequately budgeted for in grants, support proposal
• Development and donor reporting requirements, where applicable, and provide internal and external reporting inputs.
• Act as the safety focal point to support the supply chain team process for procuring safety-related equipment, facilities, and other resources/services

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master

DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum 05 years as Safety Coordinator/Advisor for an INGO in Ethiopia.
• Proven experience in context/security analysis and advising humanitarian personnel; proven experience in humanitarian access, crises, and fragile contexts.
• Understanding of and ability to manage sensitive information and maintain high level of confidentiality within and outside the organization.
• Experience in developing and updating SOPs, contingency plans, and other risk assessment and management documents and tools.

• Experience in incident/crisis management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ready to encourage, motivate, and guide team members to confidently approach safety and security issues, especially during crises.
• Experience in conducting safety training for staff and experience in partner capacity building.
• Ability to provide conflict analysis (written).
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Computer literate, able to use all common software packages.
• Flexible, able to be based in highly insecure environments and travel to difficult and insecure areas at short notice.
• Proven ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.
• In-depth understanding of previous and current Ethiopia context.

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• University degree in security, developmental, political, conflict, law studies, or other relevant fields.
• Other advanced safety management-related qualifications/certificates.

LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Fluency in written and spoken Amharic