INTERSOS recruits 01 Humanitarian Access Training Facilitator_ Consultant – HQ

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

 

Terms of reference

Job Title: Humanitarian Access Training Facilitator_ consultant

Code:  SR-00-10244

Duty station: home-based and field (Hybrid)

Starting date: 01/10/2026

Contract duration: 14 days

Reporting to: (Supervision) Deputy Director General

Type of Duty Station: Non-family

 

General context of the project

INTERSOS operates across several complex humanitarian environments in West and Central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chad, Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In these contexts, maintaining and expanding humanitarian access is a daily operational challenge that requires skilled staff capable of navigating local dynamics with sensitivity, pragmatism, and principled engagement.

INTERSOS field staff have previously received humanitarian access training based on the CCHN (Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation) model. Building on this foundation, INTERSOS has identified a need to deepen skills in a specific area: strengthening engagement with communities and local leaders to build and sustain acceptance. Rather than focusing on national-level political constraints, this training will prioritise local dynamics, equipping teams with practical tools to operate effectively even when faced with bureaucratic or political blockages.

 

General purpose of the position

The overall objective of the training is to strengthen INTERSOS field teams’ capacity to secure and maintain humanitarian access at the local level through an acceptance-based approach.

Specific objectives :

• Equip participants with analytical tools to map local stakeholders, understand community perceptions, and identify factors that influence trust and acceptance.
• Develop practical skills to build and maintain relationships with communities, local authorities, and leaders of armed groups, while adapting communication styles and staff posture.
• Strengthen capacity to engage and negotiate with sensitive and armed actors that respect humanitarian principles and manage risks effectively.
• Present community-based approaches as a key security lever, reinforcing the role of local actors in the protection of humanitarian personnel and operations.
• Enable participants to identify context-specific, pragmatic solutions to maintain access despite local obstacles.

The training targets INTERSOS field staff across the following countries: DRC, Chad, CAR, Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The exact number of participants per country, their positions, and profiles (roles, experience levels, and prior exposure to humanitarian access and negotiation with local actors) will be confirmed by INTERSOS prior to the design phase. Participants are expected to be actively working on humanitarian projects in complex environments and to have some prior exposure to access-related challenges. They may be expected to engage in preparatory work before the training if required by the trainer.

Main responsibilities and tasks:

The selected trainer will be responsible for the following :

Preparatory Phase

• Conduct a needs assessment and context review, in consultation with INTERSOS focal points for each country.
• Collect and review relevant project summaries and contextual information provided by INTERSOS.
• Design training content and materials tailored to the operational contexts of the target countries.
• Develop pre-training assignments or reading materials for participants attending the online session.

Training Delivery

The training will be delivered in a hybrid format :

• In-person component: a 3-day training to be held in Goma (DRC) or elsewhere based on the evolution of the outbreak of Ebola in DRC. Should the Ebola situation make it no longer appropriate to conduct the training in Goma, the training will be relocated to another country selected by INTERSOS.
• Online component: One online session of 3 days for participants for all remaining countries.

Content Areas

The training programme must cover the following thematic areas :

• Analysis of local dynamics: stakeholder mapping, perception analysis, trust-building factors.
• Practical relationship-building with communities, local authorities, and local leaders of armed groups.
• Adaptation of communication strategies and staff posture in sensitive environments.
• Negotiation with sensitive actors : principles, techniques, risk management, and humanitarian boundaries.
• Community-based approaches as a security management tool.
• Identifying context-specific, pragmatic solutions for maintaining access

Deliverables

• Detailed training agenda and programme.
• Training materials (presentations, handouts).
• Pre-training assignments (if applicable for online participants).
• Facilitation of in-person training session (3 days).
• Facilitation of online training sessions.
• Post-training evaluation summary and brief report with key recommendations.

NOTE: Interested Consultants are invited to submit their CVs highlighting relevant experience on the training’s content by Monday, 22nd of June.

Shortlisted candidates will be requested to prepare a comprehensive package which must include the following components:

1. Financial Quotation (RFQ): A detailed financial quotation for the full consultancy period. The consultancy will include only trainer fees and preparation costs. INTERSOS shall be responsible for organising and covering all costs related to the Consultant’s travel and stay required for the assignment, including but not limited to :

• International and domestic transportation (including train ticket to airport, airport taxes, and other local transport charges) ;
• Visa fees and related administrative costs ;
• Accommodation for the entire duration of the assignment ;
• Per diem for daily expenses (35 euros a day when in the field);
• Local transportation required for the performance of the assignment.

2. Technical proposal: A brief proposal outlining your understanding of the scope and detailing your proposed methodology you would apply to achieve the objectives within the specified timeframe and location.

Required profile and experience:

• Master’s degree (Maîtrise) in Sustainable Development Support, International Relations, Political Science, or a related humanitarian field.

• Over 20 years of significant experience in senior field management and coordination roles within the humanitarian and development sectors, including roles such as Country Director or Senior Program Leader
• Extensive experience working in complex, conflict-affected, and volatile environments, with a strong emphasis on multi-country programs and missions across West and Central Africa (e.g., Mali, DRC, Chad, CAR, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon).
• Proven track record as a Humanitarian Access Advisor or Specialist, successfully designing, contextualising, and implementing field-level access strategies
• Strong background in conducting context-specific needs assessments, multi-country baseline studies, and producing high-level analytical reports and operational recommendations

• Deep practical knowledge of humanitarian negotiation tools and access frameworks, including advanced familiarity with the CCHN model, INSO negotiation modules, and Civil-Military Coordination .
• Advanced expertise in local stakeholder mapping, perception analysis, and managing direct field-level communications or negotiations with sensitive stakeholders and leaders of local armed groups.

• French: excellent written and verbal reporting skills.
• English: Professional working proficiency (minimum B2 level) suitable for multi-country online facilitation and reporting

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to build trust, bridge coordination gaps, and engage both international staff and local NGO platforms.
• High degree of flexibility and operational pragmatism when working within unpredictable or volatile security environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk-management capabilities tailored to identifying localised, community-based solutions.

General conditions:

• INTERSOS will be responsible for managing logistics and internet connectivity for participants joining the online sessions in each country. Trainers are expected to account for potential connectivity constraints when designing online modules. INTERSOS shall be responsible for ensuring that participants have access to adequate technical equipment, internet connectivity, and any necessary software required to participate in the training.

• The Consultant cannot guarantee the quality, stability, or availability of internet connections used by participants. Consequently, the Consultant shall not be held liable for interruptions, delays, reduced participation, or learning outcomes resulting from connectivity issues, power outages, equipment failures, or other technical problems beyond the Consultant’s reasonable control.

• The trainer commits to the confidentiality of all information shared by INTERSOS in the context of this assignment.

• Training materials developed under this assignment are the property of INTERSOS and may be adapted for future use.

• Payment will be made according to INTERSOS’s financial procedures, with the first 20% at the end of the preparatory phase and the remaining 80% upon conclusion of the contract, subject to receipt and approval of the deliverables.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates are invited to apply following the link below:

https://www.intersos.org/en/work-with-us-hq/#intersos-vacancy-headquarters/vacancy-details/6a302bc11e37c45b1f7c1160/

Please note that our application process is made of 3 quick steps: register (including your name, email, password and citizenship), sign-up and apply by attaching your CV in PDF format. Through the platform, candidates will be able to track their applications’ history with INTERSOS.

Please also mention the name, position and contact details of at least three references: two line managers and one HR referent. Family members are to be excluded.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.