Safety Advisor- Northwest Southwest, Cameroon

Organisation Background

Founded in 2011, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports humanitarian aid workers by establishing safety coordination platforms in insecure contexts. INSO provides registered NGOs with a range of free services, including real-time incident tracking, analytical reports, safety-related data and mapping, crisis management support, staff orientations and training.

INSO works in 20 of the world’s most insecure countries with its headquarters in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice.

INSO Cameroon

INSO Cameroon began as part of the Lake Chad Basin program in 2017 and launched as a stand-alone platform at the end of 2021.  Today, the program operates regional offices in Maroua, Buea and an antenna in Bamenda, with its country office in Yaoundé. The Northwest, Southwest, and Far North regions face significant humanitarian needs due to conflicts between armed groups, intercommunal violence, climate hazards, and weak socioeconomic infrastructure. As part of INSO Cameroon, you will support over 120 local and international NGOs in these areas, helping them safely deliver life-saving humanitarian aid.

Job Summary

As a Safety Advisor, you will have a unique opportunity to work in a close-knit team providing analysis and advice to improve humanitarian access that is vital to the efforts of the NGO community to deliver aid to the thousands of people who need it. You will explore local dynamics and develop an understanding of what is relevant to NGOs seeking to inform strategic decision-making and programming. You will be outgoing and resilient, with the ability to analyse complex issues and contexts, give practical safety and security advice, and share INSO’s commitment to humanitarian principles.

This position is based in a field office and reports to the Deputy Director.

Major Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain an active information network to obtain credible and relevant safety information.
• Provide NGOs with timely and credible safety information and contextual analysis of the local operating environment.
• Develop analytical products on regional and country-wide dynamics or developments of relevance to NGOs.
• Manage small office teams, including supervision of national staff and oversight of local logistics and administration.
• Facilitate and lead regional NGO roundtables.
• Engage with relevant actors, including the UN and the NGO community, to improve humanitarian access in the Northwest and Southwest regions.
• Participate in regional coordination and advocacy bodies related to humanitarian access.
• Assist NGOs in developing their own safety management capacities by reviewing policy documents, conducting site surveys, and assisting in crisis planning.
• Effectively represent, promote and protect INSO’s mandate of independence, impartiality and neutrality.

Requirements

• Fluency in English.
• Proven writing, editing, and analytical skills and the keenest eye for detail.
• Personal and professional resilience in a fast moving, high output, quality-driven program.
• Experience in the humanitarian, and/or risk management and/or humanitarian access sectors.
• Demonstrable understanding of humanitarian safety practices and principles.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and values.
• Graduate level education in a relevant field or equivalent work experience.

Nice to have

• Prior experience in an inter-agency role.
• Experience in insecure/conflict-affected environments.
• Prior experience in West and/or Central Africa or a similar context.
• Local language skills.
• Experience with NGO security and/or project management.
• Existing local information networks.
• Ability to manage staff and teams under strict systems and deadlines.

Key Personal Competencies

• A good listener
• An effective communicator
• Excellent analyst
• Team player
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Outgoing and proactive personality

INSO’s Safeguarding Policy

INSO is fully committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting of all potential new staff, trustees and volunteers and we will ensure rigorous compliance with our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policy throughout the recruitment process.

Terms & Conditions

12-month renewable contract. €5000 per month salary, 4 calendar days annual leave per month and 7 days of R&R every 2 months with a €1250 R&R allowance each cycle, global medical coverage (excluding USA) and AD&D insurance.

How to apply

Please send the following to jobs@cmr.ngosafety.org and reference ‘Safety Advisor’ in the subject line.   Applications should be in English and include:

• An updated CV (maximum 3 pages).
• A one-page cover letter explaining why you are interested in working for INSO and how your qualifications align with the competencies required for the role.
• One relevant and substantive writing sample in English that demonstrates your analytical and report writing abilities (10-page maximum).

Please do not send any additional information.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.