Title: Humanitarian Access and Security Officer 

Status: Contract

Duration : Until October 31,2026

Reports to : Field Coordinator 

Location : Axum

Required No. :1

Travel required: Yes

Context of the mission

For more than 30 years, Médecins du Monde (MDM) France, a campaigning medical organization committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies. Those working for this independent organization do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations. MdM currently works in 44 countries across all continents where it focuses on 4 priority areas: caring for the health of migrants and displaced people, promoting sexual and reproductive health, harm reduction associated with drug use, emergencies and crisis.

Médecins du Monde is operating in Ethiopia since 1986 in different types of health projects from long-term interventions to emergency response.

MdM France has concentrated its efforts on projects related to access to primary health care (projects centered on rural health facilities and isolated populations), reduction of maternal mortality through improved quality of obstetric care, promotion of sexual and reproductive health rights including protection against gender-based violence, provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and reduction of malnutrition.

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Field Coordinator, the Humanitarian Access & Security Officer is responsible for facilitating and maintaining safe humanitarian access in MdM intervention areas by building and strengthening relationships with local authorities, community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders to enhance acceptance and understanding of MdM’s mandate, principles, and activities. The position ensures the safety and security of MdM premises, staff, partners, and beneficiaries through continuous monitoring and analysis of the operational context, supporting the implementation of security procedures, and promoting adherence to established security protocols. The officer also contributes to the development, maintenance, and regular updating of key security management tools, including context analyses, risk assessments, access strategies, and contingency plans, to support informed decision-making and the safe and effective implementation of MdM programs

Job Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Political Science, Humanitarian Affairs, Business Administration, Police Science or relevant areas.

Experience: 2 years’ experience from which 1 year is in a similar level in humanitarian access, risk reduction or relevant field, with NGO experience preferred.

Job Competencies

• Specific training in security management is an asset

• Knowledge/experience of Office 365, SharePoint/cloud systems

• Use of tracking and mapping mobile applications

• Knowledge of data protection methods

• Experience of working in hardship area context in Ethiopian would be an asset

• Capacity to work and to live in a multicultural environment

• Ability to cope with last minutes changes and solution oriented

• Listening and diplomacy skills

• Independence, ability to take the initiative and responsibility

• Ability to work under stressful situations.

• Good analysis, objective, able to take a step back and analyse.

• Communication – listens and communicates clearly, adapting delivery to the audience

• Capacity to delegate and to supervise and coach the work

• Strong problem solving and organizational skills in day to day and crisis situations

• Ability to plan, organize and meet deadlines.

• Adaptability to changing priorities.

Languages

• Fluent in English language (speaking and writing) is mandatory.

• Local languages (Tigrigna and Amharic) and Knowledge of the local context are required.

• Recruitment/Hiring for this role is contingent upon funding approval.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Regional/local authorities

• Develop and maintain effective communication and good relationships with national, regional and local authorities as well as with other actors, to help and facilitate MDM operations in Axum 

• Liaise with MdM departments and the involved authorities to obtain documents necessary for smooth operations (MoUs, reports, etc.)

• Ensure all administrative and legal obligations are fulfilled at local level for registration, movement, transportation etc.

• Ensure updated knowledge of regulatory requirements and existence of updated administrative processes explaining documents according to regulations and procedures from the authorities

• Keep base/coordination team updated about any modifications and information in the procedures and the legal context, guidelines etc.

• Make necessary communication documents needed as per Field Coordinator requests and the mission needs.

• Extractions of movement permits for international staff during their visit to MDM HFs.

• Conduct any other task assigned by Field Coordinator.

Context and Security:

• Coordinate with other NGO’s security FP.

• Update the team about security/context in the intervention areas.

• Identify a contact list (from authority, security entities, community leaders, health facility staff, district office staff, local council ...etc.) that can be used in case of having problem in the field/check points, to ensure safe access during implementation of MDM medical activities.

• Provide day to day security update to the Field Coordinator and the program staff.

• Update and develop the specific location security’s SOP.

• Maintain updated security management literature of the organization.

• Conduct regular Safety Risk Assessments and create/update risk analysis with participation of MDM national and international staff.

• Assist in training the office staff on MdM security rules and regulation.

• Provide security brief for the international staff upon their arrival as well as for the newly recruited national staff.

• Provide regular support for MdM staff on security preparedness, prevention, and response. Support may include SOPs; Contingency Plans (CPs); Security Management; Incident Reporting; Prevention and Response Mechanisms; and Communications.

• Identify security/safety barriers to access and support the program teams and develop strategies to address.

• Develop and update list of contacts and stakeholder map per district.

• Share with Field Coordinator and Project Manager the cross checking of information and give analysis of the context/situation and the possible scenarios.

Field networking and follow up of field team movements:

• Create and maintain a field network at community level to make sure that MdM activities are well accepted and report any changes.

• In the office (before moving to the field), with support from the Field Coordinator:

• Ensure the extraction of proper permissions (shipment, expat movement…etc.).

• Participate in validation of team field visits through update of the Field Coordinator.

• To get verification of safe access by communicating with key people (to be identified in each targeted location) before each field visit.

• During identification of MDM new locations of interventions, while the medical team will be focusing on technical selection criteria, Liaison & Security Officer can check the other needed information about the location safety, access, and other humanitarian organizations on board.

In the field during implementation of activities:

• Liaison & Security Officer is the person in charge of answering authority non-technical questions, (e.g., check points)

• S/He is in charge to introduce MDM team to people and explaining about MDM, presence, activities...etc.

• During community assessment, s/he will be managing the people who might affect the community response to medical team questions. Use his/her presence in the field to assess the context and security.

• Use his presence in the field to establish networks and maintain good relationships.

• Identify possible places for team hibernation in the field.

• Ensure security communication back up in case of coverage failure.

• Identify the influential actors in the area and participate in actors mapping for each location. Try to understand the social composition of the targeted communities including identification of marginalized groups, cultural norms, relationship between men and women in the community and any other social factors that can be linked to MDM intervention.

Reporting and attendance at different meetings:

• Realize weekly activities report to submit to the Field Coordinator and HASS Advisor.

• Participate in a pro-active way to MdM internal meetings (general, admin, …)

• Participate in working groups with other NGOs.

Others:

• Be flexible in performing his/her duties.

• Inform immediately of the security focal point in case of any security problem

• Perform other additional duties on request of the Field Coordinator or General Coordinator

How To Apply

Interested applicants are required to fill in the application form through the following link THIS LINK

NB :

• Please attach your CV along with your credentials and ID.

• Candidates who can join quickly will be considered for this recruitment process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.

• Early applications are advantageous. We will start long listing before the end date of the vacancy, and we will close the vacancy if we get a suitable candidate before the deadline.

Job Requirements Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Humanitarian Affairs, Business Administration, Police Science or in a related field of study with relevant work experience from which 1 year is in a similar level in humanitarian access, risk reduction or relevant field, with NGO experience preferred. How to Apply Click on the apply button below (Please attach your CV along with your credentials and ID.)