Background/Context

The NRC Central and West Africa region is composed of country offices in Burkina Faso/Niger, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and Nigeria. All countries are experiencing a deterioration of the security situation, increasing humanitarian needs and displacements due to conflict.

This Regional Access Adviser role is part of the Central and West Africa Regional team and directly contributes to ‘Phase III’ of an USAID/BHA funded series of projects focused on ‘strengthening field level capacity on humanitarian access and negotiations’. Phases I and II sought to stimulate individual and collective self-reflection and encourage long-term, sustainable approaches to access. Phase III will target field-based responders and higher level decision makers at regional and global level agencies to respond more effectively in complex operating environments.

This will be achieved through:

• Enhancing understanding amongst frontline humanitarian staff of access skills through direct trainings.
• Engaging decision makers on access and negotiations principles and the role of these competencies and skills in effective humanitarian response.

More broadly, NRC aims to expand its access into new areas in Central and West Africa Region to address unmet needs and respond to new emergencies. The goal is to ensure that NRC is present and able to provide assistance in areas with the highest needs. Within the region, Country Offices are working to expand into new areas or are focused on sustaining current access and seeking to improve ongoing operations.

What you will do

As the Regional Access Advisor (RAA), you will play a key role in implementing an USAID/BHA funded project on Access and Negotiations within their region.

In addition, you will be a key member of the global team responsible for project delivery. Your role will also entail providing support to NRC and its partners through the articulation of an integrated approach between programmes, security, advocacy and access, with an emphasis on enabling and sustaining access in volatile, high risk or hard to reach areas. Humanitarian negotiations, remote programming approaches and partnerships with local organisations will be important elements of the approach and you will be required to provide practical support and guidance to the rest of the team on these aspects.

To be successful in this role, you will need to be proactive and able to work independently and take initiative. You will also need to apply your networking and negotiation skills by generating buy-in from multiple constituencies. Above all, being able to articulate a clear commitment to the humanitarian principles.

In line with USAID/BHA Access & Negotiations Phase III (80%):

• Key member of the global project team delivering on USAID/BHA Access & Negotiations Phase III Project.
• Development and delivery of humanitarian access trainings within the region to a diverse audience including frontline staff and key decision makers.
• Support to curriculum and content development for trainings, e-learning and learning events.
• Identification and delivery of evidence gathering on issues related to access and negotiations.
• Identify, organize and deliver key learning events within the region.
• Logistics, financial management, M&E and reporting as appropriate

Support to NRC regional and country offices (20%)

• Contribute to NRC’s interagency access coordination and capacity building efforts at the regional level
• Advise the NRC Country Offices on how to plan for and deliver programmes in high risk and/or hard to reach areas, particularly supporting programme criticality determinations at country level, and the practical implementation of this advice. Draw on this experience to contribute to the evidence and curriculum development within the USAID/BHA project outputs.
• Actively contribute to regional initiatives where ‘hard to reach’ is a key consideration

What you will bring

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in humanitarian work in conflict/post-conflict environments/volatile contexts
• Master’s Degree in related field (or Bachelor’s with equivalent work experience)
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of humanitarian access and familiarity with industry access tools, resources and methodologies
• Experienced trainer and mentor with knowledge of skills development capacity
• Fluency in French and English, both written and verbal.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, including capability to negotiate with stakeholders
• Experience in project management, particularly budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.

We know that you are curious and would like to learn more about this role; please click JD Regional Access Advisor (USAID-BHA) – CWA to access the full Job Description.

Publication Closing July 26th 2022

We are also looking for people who share our values:

• To be dedicated in what we do;
• To be innovative with our solutions;
• To act as one unified and inclusive team;
• To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the beneficiaries that we exist to serve; and to each other… the members of our NRC family.

What We Offer

• 18 months fixed term contract
• An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause in the humanitarian field
• A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply but we are also open to external applicants who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.

To apply as an internal candidate, click on the suitcase icon “I am an employee” on the top right of the page to be redirected to NRC’s internal career site

*Apply by completing all the system required fields of your experience in your application*