Independent International Consultant Security Adviser At UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

On 15 August 2021, the Taliban took over as the De facto Authorities (DfA) in Afghanistan, and this eventually led to the evacuation of several national UN personnel and their eligible dependents under UNSMS policy on Measures to Avoid Risk. Following the evacuation exercise, UNDSS and IASMN conducted a Lessons Learned Review between July and October 2022 which resulted in a report titled: Lessons Learned on the UN Security Management System’s response during the 2021 Afghanistan Crisis” (LLR) . The report has 18 recommendations a number of which relate to evacuation of national personnel and eligible dependents.

In view of the LLR, an Independent Consultant Security Advisor (ICSA) is required to review the use and processing of Personal Security Risk Assessment (PSRA) for evacuation of national personnel in the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) in Afghanistan; identify the anomalies and provide measures and recommendations on how they can be addressed and serve as guidance for all future similar incidents. Another deliverable, as specifically required in recommendation 11 of LLR, is to draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for addressing the exceptional evacuation of national personnel and dependents.

The Terms of Reference of the International Consultant Security Adviser includes but not limited to the following:

1. Review/Standardize and enhance the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for addressing the exceptional evacuation of national personnel and dependents during critical incidents and or crisis situations in Afghanistan.
2. Establish consultation/contact with relevant Offices/Departments, with the PSA’s approval, to review the evacuation policy and provide recommendations for incentives and support for staff who continue to stay and deliver during a crisis.
3. Prepare and develop a straightforward process for assessing how national personnel and/or dependents are to be considered to be endangered as a direct consequence of their employment by organizations of the United Nations common system.
4. Review and enhance the existing PSRA process with a view of systematizing the evacuation criteria and recommend a standardized format that will be well understood and uniformly implemented by all UNSMS Organizations operating in Afghanistan with clear procedures on how UNDSS personnel can better support other Security Areas during similar crisis, especially for National UN personnel.
5. Review and standardize the process of maintaining a clear data regarding staff and eligible dependents for evacuation.

Duration of Assignment:
The Independent Consultant Security Advisor’s service will be for a period of 60-days.

Specific Prerequisites:
The successful candidate must, at the minimum, be at the level of a retired Chief Security Adviser
(CSA) with the United Nations and preferably at the P-5 level with sufficient knowledge and experience of UN Policies, Administrative Issuances and the UNSMS. Prior experience in Afghanistan is not required.

He/She is required to develop a Lesson Learned Report on evacuation of national personnel and
dependents following the Taliban takeover of 15 August 2021 and in line with the report on the
Lessons Learned on the UN Security Management System’s response during the 2021 Afghanistan.
Crisis.

Scope and Responsibilities:
The Independent Consultant Security Advisor will work full time from Kabul and may be required to travel to field locations within Afghanistan during the period of consultancy.