WFP recrute 01 Officier Régional de l’Interaction Militaire Humanitaire
The current state of humanitarian response is characterized by more frequent natural disasters and the protracted nature of conflict-induced crises. Due to its mandate, operational presence and size, WFP operates more regularly in contexts where the military and other armed actors are present. This has led to an inevitable sharing of operational space between military entities and the humanitarian community.
As a result, WFP is working to establish a dialogue which will, at a minimum, allow for coexistence with military entities in areas of operation in order to improve information sharing, as part of WFP’s access strategy in West Africa and respect for humanitarian principles, to coordinate predictable and systematic staff access, and to ensure appropriate planning and response, especially in the context of COVID-19 and its limitations. In addition, WFP seeks to establish context-specific civil-military coordination strategies and guidance as appropriate.
Objective
The objective of the Humanitarian and Military Interaction Officer in the Regional Bureau is to provide technical support to the country offices and the Regional Bureau management on civil-military coordination and access issues, and to ensure that there is a coordinated and coherent humanitarian approach to civil-military coordination that allows for the implementation of WFP’s programs with the objective of maximizing access to humanitarian assistance for the most vulnerable populations.
Accountabilities/Responsibilities
The Humanitarian and Military Interaction Officer will report to the Head of the Emergency Unit of the Regional Office, the officer will perform the following functions, in collaboration with other colleagues at the national and regional levels and other partner organizations
Coordination
General
Serve as the main focal point for all regional civil-military issues for WFP, in close consultation with the country offices, and especially the following units Security, Program, Logistics, Protection and Community Communication.
Support the Regional Bureau Management in initiating, where appropriate, and pursuing dialogue and coordination with regional, sub-regional and international military counterparts, UN agencies and other humanitarian actors to ensure the appropriate level of preparedness and information exchange on civil-military coordination. Key civil-military interlocutors to draw upon will include, but not be limited to :
- International, multinational, and foreign armed forces — in particular, G5 Sahel and Stand-by Forces of the African Union and ECOWAS, Accra Initiative;
- Representatives of the G5 Sahel;
- Representatives of the United Nations Integrated Mission in the region;
This will involve in particular
- Create and coordinate the implementation of the WFP civil-military strategy in the region, with contributions from the various regional units. Actively work to establish a network of interlocutors at the operational and strategic level, and ensure the preparation of exchanges (format of meetings, preparation of key messages and language).
- Liaise and coordinate – at the regional level and as appropriate – with regional authorities, security actors, humanitarian partners and other stakeholders to ensure a coherent and consistent civil-military approach in the geographical areas covered by WFP operations in West Africa, and to ensure that risks to WFP staff and operational partners are mitigated.
- Liaise with the Regional Bureau and the Civil-Military Coordination Officers in the country offices on civil-military initiatives of the country office.
With Humanitarian Partners
Establish and maintain a network of contacts with other UN agencies or regionally based staff who are responsible for civil-military relations as well as NGO focal points for civil-military coordination.
Participate in OCHA Access Working Groups and Regional Civil-Military Coordination (CMcoord) meetings and consultations with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners.
With military entities
Facilitate the establishment and maintenance of communication with foreign and international military forces, and regional and sub-regional armed actors in order to establish mechanisms for resolving strategic and operational issues, with the goal of creating a communication mechanism and protocol between humanitarian and military/security parties
To the extent possible and appropriate, support planning activities and exercises/training events with military/state counterparts.
Promote greater adherence to humanitarian principles and existing civil-military guidance documents.
Establish with the security manager, the establishment and/or securing (if needed) of a deconfliction mechanism.
Operations:
The Officer will act as the primary WFP focal point for access and civil-military issues in the region, and this will involve:
- Promote and advocate with security forces on the range of WFP / WFP country office planning and operational activities, while ensuring alignment with humanitarian principles. Ensure that the humanitarian principles, operational priorities and response plans of the humanitarian community, as they relate to civil-military relations, are communicated and duly taken into account.
- Provide specialized assistance on civil-military relations considerations for the development of implementation plans to assist WFP in emergency response.
- Be prepared to be part of an integrated planning process and/or coordination of humanitarian convoys with other security actors in the region, UN missions and other actors.
- Assist, advise and facilitate the development of country specific guidelines on civil-military relations and the use of military assets of national and international forces.
- Assist, advise and facilitate the development of country-specific guidance on relations with local armed actors and their commanders, in liaison with local authorities.
- Ensure that applicable civil-military coordination guidelines, country-specific guidelines, or generic guidelines are properly disseminated and understood by humanitarian actors and the military and/or police forces present.
- Raising awareness and training humanitarian, civilian and military actors to ensure a common understanding of humanitarian principles and civil-military parameters.
- Promote and advocate for compliance with applicable guidelines within the broader humanitarian community and advise on potential consequences if guidelines are compromised.
Reports
- Design, in collaboration with relevant units in the regional office and in conjunction with relevant country office staff, a coherent civil-military coordination and access strategy for the region.
- Create and maintain an actor mapping of the actors involved in civil-military coordination in the region: humanitarian partners, armed forces, multinational armed forces, etc.
- Monitor, analyze and report on the progress of civil-military relations in agreed formats and timeframes.
- On a day-to-day basis, in coordination with the security and program team, conduct an ongoing assessment and analysis of the civil-military environment to identify difficulties and challenges in the interaction between the humanitarian and military communities in the region, with the aim of formulating and implementing an access strategy for the region, or supporting country offices in their access strategies.
- Identify any potential/actual challenges regarding coordination between the military and security forces and the humanitarian community in the region.
Education
You have
Advanced university degree (recognized by https://www.whed.net/home.php) in one or more of the following disciplines: Security, International Relations, Political/Social Science, Business Administration, Economics or Management. Additional specific training such as OCHA UN-CMCoord is an advantage.
Experience
You have:
A minimum of eight (8) years (Consultancy level II) of professional level experience in International Humanitarian Work or in a Civil-Military Coordination, Logistics, Security or Other Operational Management Function, or Military Experience. Substantial exposure or experience in both sectors is a strong asset.
Languages: Fluency in spoken and written French is required, and knowledge of English is necessary.
Desired Expériences and skills:
- Good analytical and problem solving skills;
- Resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, negotiation skills;
- Knowledge and experience in the application of civil-military coordination, international policies and practices;
- Ability to deal with situations that may threaten health or safety (own and others);
- Flexibility in accepting tasks outside the normal office description;
- Ability to prioritize and plan, coordinate and follow own work plan in accordance with operational requirements;
- Willingness to travel in the region and work in difficult field environments/locations.
Deadline for application: 09 May 2023.
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