The purpose of NRC’s Humanitarian Access and Safety (HAS) function is to enable a principled humanitarian response in a safe manner for the communities and partners we work with and our staff. Despite NRC’s success in delivering assistance to those in need, security and access constraints remain significant challenges. Obstacles such as conflict and violence, environmental and physical challenges, bureaucratic hurdles, and interference in humanitarian operations, hinder the delivery of services and protection to displacement affected people.
The Humanitarian Access and Safety (HAS) Coordinator is a key technical resource on safety and security, crisis management, and access at the area level. This role contributes to managing safety and security risks, building capacity, implementing Duty of Care (in direct coordination with People and Organisation), developing humanitarian access strategies, and facilitating principled humanitarian programming.The HAS Coordinator reports directly to the Area Manager and is technically overseen by the HAS Manager. This position is a core member of the Area Management Group.
Generic Responsibilities
Implement the NRC Global HAS Management System at the area level, prepare reports as required and execute area-focused elements of the HAS Operational Plan.
Contribute to a culture of enabling a safe and principled humanitarian response and support the implementation of Safe and Inclusive Programming Minimum Standards.
Line management responsibility for direct reporting staff. This includes:
Performance management process: setting clear goals aligned to strategic priorities, and to follow up and support staff’s achievement.
Support Area Manager and HAS Manager with workforce planning, recruitment, staff induction and development and support for Duty of Care for HAS staff in area.
Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the area’s humanitarian context, including analysis and forecasting, to regularly brief area management on key security developments, NRC exposure, access challenges, and emerging threats to inform decision-making.
Lead the development of area-level HAS documents, including contingency plans, access strategies, and context-relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), in line with organisational standards.
Support the HAS Manager in conducting Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) and access assessments, including Rapid SRAs for new operational locations, and collaborate with management to implement relevant mitigation measures and support safe programming.
Work with the Area Management Group to maintain compliance with NRC’s HAS Management System at the area level.
Facilitate ongoing culture of learning relevant to Humanitarian Access and Safety and arrange for trainings including Hostile Environment Individual Security Training (HEIST), Field First Aid, drills and simulations for NRC staff and partners, in line with NRC policies.
In consultation with the Area Manager and HAS Manager, communicate, and coordinate with relevant external actors and coordination structures and build relationships with various stakeholders to inform operations and security management as well as increase humanitarian access and protect humanitarian space at the area level.
Ensure adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures, and a specific responsibility for HAS policies and procedures.
Specific Responsibilities
Collaborate with the HAS Manager, People and Organisation staff, and the Area Manager to ensure Duty of Care standards are upheld, reflecting the diversity of the NRC workforce and visitors to the area.
Work with management to ensure that all staff give their informed consent based on briefing upon arrival and that updates are regularly shared on the security context.
Work with the Area Management Group (AMG) on emergency preparedness and contingency planning.
Collaborate with AMG members and the HAS Manager to manage access, safety and security related incidents at the Area level, ensuring their documentation in NRC Protect.
Contribute, in collaboration with the HAS Manager, to improving humanitarian access for NRC operations across the area by providing technical support on tools and strategies, supporting capacity building for area staff, and assisting teams in developing access strategies and engagement plans.
Ensure that HAS training tracker is up to date.
Lead and/or advise staff and/or visitors on the engagement with parties to the conflict, including non-state armed groups and state armed forces at the area level, when designated by management,
Participate in Project Cycle Management by providing contextual analysis and technical advice on operational and programmatic modalities in the area.
Provide the relevant HAS information required for project proposals to donors, internal or external audits, and any other requests as needed.
Contribute to capacity building and knowledge sharing initiatives with local partners regarding security risk management and humanitarian access in the area, in coordination with the HAS Manager and the partnership focal points.
Represent NRC in external forums at the area level, such as security coordination groups, Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG) and Civil-Military Coordination, as well as other forums as required.
Promote safeguarding principles and commitments within NRC and amongst communities.
Participate, actively, in the Area Management Group.
Perform any other tasks related to HAS and the position as delegated by the line manager.
Generic Professional Competencies
Minimum three years of relevant experience in a humanitarian/recovery context.
Solid understanding of the Humanitarian Principles and their application in programmatic and advocacy responses, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination.
Previous experience working in complex contexts and understanding of access negotiations.
Proficient in MS Office applications including Word and Excel.
Prior experience as a trainer is an added value.
Working proficiency in English, both written and verbal.
Context Related Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
Demonstrated knowledge of context.
Experience in liaising with communities and authorities as well as with NGOs.
Experience in risk management with implementing partners
What do We Offer
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.
We protect displaced people and support them as they build a new future. We started our relief efforts after World War Two. Today, we work in both new and protracted crises across 40 countries. We specialise in six areas: food security, education, shelter, legal assistance, protection from violence, and water, sanitation and hygiene.
We stand up for people forced to flee. NRC is a determined advocate for displaced people. We promote and defend displaced people's rights and dignity in local communities, with national governments and in the international arena. NRC’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva is a global leader in monitoring, reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country.
We work with partners across the world through NORCAP, our global provider of humanitarian, development and peacebuilding expertise. NORCAP collaborates with local, national and international partners on finding sustainable solutions to meet the needs of people at risk.
Around 15,000 humanitarians work with the NRC. Most of us are hired locally to work in the field, and a small number are based at our head office in Oslo. Many of our colleagues were once themselves forced to flee their homes.
NRC assisted almost 9.1 million people worldwide in 2024, and with your support, we can help even more.
In order to meet the needs of more than 120 million displaced people worldwide, we need to unite forces across sectors and work together as one team. Through mutual partnerships we are dedicated to finding unique solutions for people who have been forced to flee, helping them build a sustainable future for themselves and their communities.
To find out how you can support our work, please visit nrc.no/corporate or send an e-mail to corporate@nrc.no.
