Manager, Security - Africa

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Agenda for Renewal provides a vision for how the IFRC sees its role in the implementation of Strategy 2030. The Agenda for Renewal ensures that the IFRC provides strategic and operational membership coordination, National Society Development services and represents the collective with humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy.

The IFRC Secretariat work is guided by its Plan & Budget 2021-2025, articulated around five strategic priorities: Climate and Environmental Crises, Evolving Crises and Disasters, Growing gaps in health and wellbeing, Migration and Identity, Values Power and Inclusion. The Plan &; Budget 2021-2025 also defines three enablers: Engaged, Accountable, Trusted.

The Secretariat of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is responsible of the overall security management in the Region for all IFRC and Participating National Societies (PNSs) personnel with integration or security agreements with the IFRC, hereafter named RC personnel within this document. The Regional Security Coordinator is reporting directly to the Regional Head of Corporate Services and under the technical management of the Manager of the Global Security Unit in Geneva.

Advises and provides guidance to Regional Head of Corporate Services, Director of Africa Region, Heads of Country Clusters on all security related matters;

• The Security Manager, Africa is line managed by the Regional Head Corporate Services and receives technical direction from the Global Security Unit in Geneva.
• The Security Manager, Africa serves as the lead technical resource on risk assessment, security management, and critical incident management within the region, providing training, professional expertise, and guidance to Director of Africa region, Heads of Country Cluster Support Teams.
• The Security Manager, Africa provides advice and training to country and regional management and personnel on the implementation of the Minimum-Security Requirements (MSR) and serves a key role in MSR compliance monitoring by reviewing the MSR related documents produced by country offices in the region (such as security regulations, relocation and medical plans, self-assessments etc.).
• The Security Manager, Africa also monitors and analyses the security situation in the region and helps identify security related trends and issues that affect the Federation and RC/RC Movement.
• The Security Manager, Africa maintains external relations and information sharing with ICRC, UN and NGO’s in the Region.

• Support the GSU Geneva with MSR compliance review, in accordance with the established MSR review protocol.
• Undertake security assessment missions of IFRC operations according to the needs and as directed by the Regional Director to ensure compliance with the IFRC Minimum-Security Requirements (MSR).
• Identify security risk to RC personnel and operations and assist in developing risk mitigation measures.
• Advise and assist IFRC managers and PNSs in the development of appropriate security plans and procedures in accordance with MSR.
• Provide security related input into the operational plans in the Region in order to enhance security of field operations.
• Provide security related input in all Emergency Appeals and participate in Emergency Task Force meetings as required.
• Advise senior management in the IFRC and PNSs on required changes to operations and procedures to address identified trends and issues.
• Disseminate and promote the various IFRC security tools and initiatives in the region to all Movement partners such as the Stay Safe handbooks and ”Stay safe” e-leaning modules.
• Establish and maintain internal and external security related contacts and participate in security meetings both internally and externally with ICRC, UN, local authorities and NGO’s as required. Assist IFRC and PNS offices under IFRC security management in developing similar external relations network within their area of operations as required.
• Advise field managers on coordinating actions required to deal with security sensitive situations.
• Follow up on security incident reporting and assist the Operational Field Managers in the region in incident analysis and country/delegation specific “incident mapping”.
• Maintain a list of all RC personnel security incidents within the Region.
• Support in any Critical Incident Management (CIM).

• Provide country specific security briefings and debriefings to RC personnel and visitors entering or exiting the Region and others as required. Maintain a briefing and debriefing file and on regular basis provide the Director with feedback from debriefings.
• Coordinate training sessions for managers, delegates and RC personnel national staff in both basic security awareness and technical security related areas such as security management, security risk assessment and CIM.
• Develop and support security focal points identified in the Region.
• Support the technical security competency assessment of recruited national security officers during recruitment process in regional offices.
• Create, maintain and improve any Duty Officer system.
• Undertake operational field liaison functions as assigned by the Director.

LATERAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Establish and ensure effective working relations with the delegates and national staff.
• Establish and maintain effective liaison relations with ICRC, UN, the interagency community and local authorities.
• Ensure effective working and reporting relations with the Security Unit in Geneva.
• Ensure effective liaison with National Society leadership at all levels in the Region.

ACCOUNTABILITY

• To strengthen the security management structure and improve the IFRC overall preventive security management by ensuring MSR compliance.
• To provide timely and effective support to field managers regarding all security related matters.
• To ensure that the Operational Field Managers in the Region are kept informed of all security incidents, security trends, relocation/evacuation procedures and all proposed actions or measures to improve individual, institutional and operational security.
• To ensure that all security incidents are reported to the Global Security Unit in Geneva.

• Relevant security education and/or compatible humanitarian security related work experience (Required).
• Successfully Completed the Stay Safe e-learning courses (basic and manager)(Required).
• Any other security relevant training /education or relevant Military or Police experience (Preferred).

• 5 Years work experience in humanitarian work, preferably in the region (Required).
• First-hand experience with IFRC security management system (Required).
• In-country contextual understanding and operational experience (Required).
• 3 years’ working experience in Africa (Required).
• Training and human resources management experience (Preferred).

• Demonstrated success in planning, project management and reporting; Advanced computer knowledge as user (Required).
• Sharing the RC/RC principles and values (Required).
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment (Required).
• Proven ability as a good communicator (Required).
• Good analytical skills in political, socioeconomics and security areas (Required).
• Self-supporting in computers (Microsoft office, database, email, etc.) (Required).
• Valid driving licence (light vehicle) (Preferred).
• Fluently spoken and written English (Required).
• Fluently spoken and written French (Preferred).
• Good command of another IFRC official language (Spanish or Arabic)(Preferred).

• Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.
• Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.