The Danish Refugee Council ( DRC ) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in over 40 countries to provide appropriate assistance with a rights-based approach to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and migrants.
Our vision is to help refugees, internally displaced people and their host communities to a dignified life. We protect lives and human rights and empower beneficiaries throughout conflict displacement by providing shelter, food and hope in terms of work, education and integration towards a sustainable future.
DRC established an operational presence in Colombia in 2011 with a focus on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) and providing support to the conflict-affected population in the south of the country. With the onset of large mixed migration flows into Colombia due to the Venezuelan crisis, DRC initiated an integrated humanitarian response in 2018 to meet the urgent needs of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, Colombian returnees, and host communities in some of the most vulnerable areas of Colombia, such as the Caribbean coastal areas (Riohacha and Barranquilla), urban centers (Bogotá and Cundinamarca), and Caquetá. In 2021, DRC opened field offices on the South Pacific coast in the department of Nariño and the northern part of Colombia in Norte de Santander and Bolívar.
About the work
We work to enable communities emerging from conflict to regain access to their homes and support the efforts of governments, relief and development organisations to enable community recovery and transition to social and economic development.
DRC is currently seeking a Support Officer who will work to support ACM’s Comprehensive Mine Action program implemented in municipalities in the department of Nariño.
Position: Context Officer
Job Objective:
The Context Officer is a member of the Incident Management Team (IMT) in the Nariño area, reporting to the Area Manager and supporting the humanitarian access and liaison processes of the DRC teams at field level. The Context Officer will be responsible for monitoring the context dynamics, for an adequate and smooth humanitarian access of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in the Nariño department and for the effective supervision of all mission procedures, including reporting and contributing to the context analysis. The Context Officer is an active member of the management, development and maintenance of appropriate and effective relationships with authorities, counterparts and different stakeholders. The incumbent will also contribute to establishing routine liaisons with community leaders for the safe humanitarian access of the team and related administrative issues. Provide humanitarian access and security risk management advice to the Area Manager on stakeholder relationship building, humanitarian access negotiation and mediation, contextual understanding, critical incident management and timely provision of alerts. Work closely with the Country Office Coordinator/Specialist. S/he will help maximize the effectiveness of DRC activities in Nariño.
Responsibilities
Networking, linking and acceptance:
- Ensure the proper use and maintenance of the communication equipment provided for the development of their functions.
- Establish and maintain good relationships and a network of contacts with local authorities, humanitarian organisations, communities and stakeholders and any relevant partners for the collection of information related to the humanitarian context in the areas covered by the site, as well as in other possible future locations, specifically in the areas of intervention.
- Develop and regularly update the list of stakeholders by department/municipality in the DRC operational area in the department of Nariño.
- Work with operations teams to develop, maintain and share monthly stakeholder directories and DRC intervention charts.
- Schedule regular meetings with operations team leaders to exchange contextual information relevant to access and security.
- Identify access barriers, support program teams to develop and implement community engagement strategies that promote uptake and access.
- Support the Area/Base/Operation Manager in monitoring and validating staff movements, reporting the occurrence of irregularities.
Monitoring, Reporting and Analysis:
- Evaluate the situation in the operational areas of the Nariño department for the proper functioning of the activities
- Conduct periodic security risk assessments as per DRC policy.
- Identify access indicators and key decision points and link them to the implementation phases of activities at the field level.
- Provide security-related advice on program development and execution.
- Support the Area/Base Manager in the preparation and delivery of Incident Reports to the DRC National office.
- With the support of the Area Manager, provide inductions to new members of the Organization and visitors.
- Monitor and support Support in the proper functioning of communication systems: Mobile phones, satellite phones and VHF radio phones prioritizing operations
- Participate in the periodic meetings of the “Local Coordination Team” (ELC) of Nariño.
Training/Capacity Building:
- Contribute to and promote training in context and access procedures as required for program staff.
- Promote and support the integration of humanitarian access approaches into programme design, implementation and operation.
- Build capacity, awareness and preparation of focal points and community liaisons who implement activities on the ground.
- Provide ongoing support to DRC staff on context and access awareness, prevention and response. Support may include entry/access points; contingency plans; security and safety management; incident reporting; prevention and response mechanisms; and communications.
- Attend and provide special training as required
Other key responsibilities:
- Coordination, liaison and attendance at meetings with other coordinators, authorities, NGOs to determine operational needs and necessary support;
- Examine reports on security incidents that may occur in the department of Nariño and in particular in the areas of intervention of DRC.
- Participate daily with field programs and management to ensure daily operations meet operational requirements.
- Any other task that may be assigned.
Safety and Health at Work
- Seek comprehensive care for your health.
- Actively participate in the formation of the COPASST – Workplace Coexistence Committee – Emergency Brigades, as well as the activities they carry out.
- Comply with the rules, regulations and instructions of the SST SG.
- Report any potential hazards and risks at your workplace in a timely manner.
- Attend SST training defined by the SG-SST training program.
- Ensure that your workplace and work area are kept in order and clean.
- Provide clear, truthful and complete information about your health status.
- Immediately report any work accidents, incidents (near accidents) and illnesses diagnosed as occupational to the SST area and your immediate supervisor.
- Report to the immediate supervisor the need to take corrective or preventive actions, which correspond to real or potential non-conformities of the process to which it belongs.
- Participate in training activities, drills and those scheduled by occupational health and safety.
- Participate and contribute to compliance with the SG-SST policy and objectives.
All DRC staff are expected to undertake the following general duties :
- Work within the framework of DRC’s core values and standards.
- Be familiar with and adhere to all DRC policies and procedures.
- Carry out their work in conditions and living standards that may be basic and not adjusted to conventional domestic standards.
- Assume their role in a manner appropriate to the cultural context and within the local legal framework.
Experience and Technical Skills:
- At least two (2) years of experience in a similar position, preferably with an International NGO.
- Willingness to work irregular hours, 24/7/365; respect meetings, deadlines and other reasonable requests;
- Ability to work in a fluid, unpredictable and complex security environment;
- Strong ability to prioritize work under pressure and coordinate multiple tasks.
- Maintain a good team spirit among staff and colleagues.
- Knowledge and experience working with authorities and external stakeholders and ability to network and build relationships;
- Perform any other duties as reasonably assigned by management;
- Good computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.
Desired Certifications:
- First aid training certificates.
- Training for the Certified Trainer (ToT) in security, context and humanitarian access issues.
- Good connections with stakeholders.
- Certificates related to safety and security.
Skills:
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
- Excellent and proven communication skills and ability to play as part of a team.
- Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.
Education:
- University degree in political science or social sciences preferred. Alternatively, at least 5 years of experience in a role
Languages:
- Knowledge of English. Desirable
We offer:
- The opportunity to belong to one of the best NGOs worldwide.
- Employment contract: fixed-term of 6 months with all legal benefits, renewable based on performance and availability of funds.
- Salary: starting at $3,341,000 – $3,760,000, COP per month depending on the candidate’s experience and skills.
- Start date: Subject to allocation of funds.
- Prepaid medicine, 100% coverage of the policy for the employee and special price for beneficiaries.
- Access to over 1,000 free online trainings and certificates.
- Salary and conditions in accordance with the terms of employment in Colombia.
Application Process:
All applicants must upload a cover letter (maximum one page) and a current resume (no more than four pages)
If you apply, it is understood that you are immediately available to work in these locations: Southern Colombia, municipalities of Llorente (Tumaco), Nariño.
Applications sent by email will not be considered!
Closing date for applications : Sunday, January 12, 2025 11:59 pm Local Time
Please register through the website www.drc.ngo . Id 172865/ position: Context Officer .
The applicant who applies for this call authorizes DRC to validate the personal information provided in the resume. Your identification will be verified in public and private databases for the exclusive use of validating the information, in accordance with our anti-fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing policies.
The applicant who freely and voluntarily wishes to take part in the selection process to fill the position of this call, must strictly adhere to the rules that apply to the subject (suitability of the degrees presented, execution of tests on a personal and individual basis and veracity of the information) adhering to the DRC manuals and anti-fraud policies, under penalty of declaring disqualified the applicant who incurs in any irregularity in the opinion of the organization, even by mere suspicion, and even in possible criminal conduct according to Colombian legislation.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying and meet the requirements of the vacancy, please consult the following link:
