Desired start date: 01/10/2025
Duration of the mission: 01/31/2026
Location : Goma
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association that, for over 40 years, has been providing relief to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs, such as food, water, and shelter. Particularly committed to combating diseases linked to unsafe water, the world’s leading cause of death, SI’s interventions provide expertise in the areas of access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion, as well as in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in 26 countries, SI’s teams – a total of 3,200 people, including expatriates, national employees, permanent staff at headquarters, and a few volunteers – operate with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultures.
The mission
Solidarités International has been working in the DRC since 2001, responding to the humanitarian needs of populations affected by conflicts and natural disasters and participating in the fight against epidemics.
The mission is active in the areas of food security and livelihoods (FSL), water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH), and multi-sectoral cash transfer assistance (direct cash or vouchers). Each of our activities includes a strong Protection component (transversal or “stand alone” via an implementing partner).
Our programs cover emergency response, through rapid response (RRM) and second-line programs. However, they also include recovery and development activities in stabilized areas. This approach illustrates the mission’s chosen strategy, namely maintaining a strong emergency response capacity while developing sustainable solutions to the problems affecting the populations of the eastern part of the country.
The mission is composed of a coordination and three operational bases located in Petit Nord Kivu (Goma, with a sub-base in Kiwandja), in Grand Nord Kivu (Beni with a sub-base in Nobili) and in Ituri (Bunia, with the prospect of opening/reopening sub-bases in Mahagi and Fataki). As part of our multi-year strategy, we aim to open new bases and develop our programmatic portfolio.
The Ituri operational zone is participating in this growth dynamic, in conjunction with the National Coordination. Indeed, field teams are implementing various projects (emergency, recovery, and development) while conducting multi-sectoral assessments with the aim of obtaining additional funding and continuing its support to vulnerable populations. Currently, the base is funded by the following donors: SDC, BHA, ECHO, and FCDO. It is also worth mentioning that a project is being implemented with a national partner active in the area.
General objective:
The Security and Access Coordinator supports the Country Director, Field Coordinators, and base managers in managing security and humanitarian access.
They participate in gathering information, analyzing the context, and implementing appropriate procedures.
They also participate in training and raising awareness among teams on security and humanitarian access management.
Finally, they are a key player in managing security crises.
Main Challenges:
The challenge of the position is therefore to enable SI to maintain its operationality and humanitarian access while ensuring optimized security, through (i) a contextual analysis, (ii) security management procedures adapted to the risks and which allow the teams to remain operational and responsive, and (iii) management of security incidents which do not permanently affect the presence or operational capacity of SI in an area.
For SI, it is a question of maintaining its ability to remain a front-line player in the DRC.
Priorities for the first 2/3 months:
Contact with internal and external networks
Taking charge of the security & access management system in place, and monitoring/supporting operations at country and field levels
Remote or face-to-face support for field missions, according to prioritization set with Country Director
Security :
The security context is complex, volatile and varies depending on the areas where SI operates:
– Numerous inter-community conflicts
– Numerous armed groups, depending on the territories
– High logistical constraints and strong seasonality
– Humanitarian access remains negotiable and our teams manage to deploy interventions in sensitive areas.
SI will offer you the following conditions
A salaried position: Depending on experience, from EUR 2860 gross per month (2600 basic salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 800.
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s home country and the duty station.
Breaks: During the mission, a system of alternating between work and leave is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with USD 850 allocated by Solidarités International). In addition to these break periods, there is one additional day of rest per month worked.
Social and medical coverage: Expatriates benefit from insurance that reimburses all health costs (including medical and surgical expenses, dental and ophthalmological care, and repatriation) and a welfare system that includes war risks. The costs of essential vaccinations and anti-malarial treatment are reimbursed.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
– Possibility of going out in compliance with security measures
– Single room – private and/or shared bathrooms depending on the room
– Common areas (kitchen, living room, showers/toilets)
– Community life
– Spacious GH house, garden (hut)
– Electricity 24/7 (occasional cuts)
– Hot water (showers)
– Curfew
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
Master’s degree related to the field at least 5 years of professional experience in the field and/or in Coordination.
Experience in a position related to personnel and organizational security, risk assessment, security management and security awareness.
Prior experience in team management.
At least one experience in an emergency context.
- Experience in the humanitarian sector: 3-4 years
- Experience in a similar position: 3-4 years
SKILLS:
Technical skills:
Mastery of security management concepts and tools
Mastery of the concepts of acceptance, humanitarian access, and “do no harm”
Mastery of International Humanitarian Law and humanitarian principles
Demonstrated ability to represent the organization and defend the interests of SI
Taste for teamwork and attraction to strengthening people’s capacities
Cross-disciplinary skills:
Organizational and prioritization skills
Communication and external representation skills (for access negotiation)
Ability to work in a tense environment, resistance to stress
Availability, flexibility, autonomy
Strong adaptability skills
Accustomed to working in a politically and security-unstable environment.
Knowledge of the Congolese context a plus
LANGUAGES:
French
Swahili is an asset
English is an asset
Do you recognize yourself in this description?
If so, send us your CV and cover letter.
Applications containing only CVs will not be considered.
SI reserves the right to close a recruitment before the deadline of the advertisement. Thank you for your understanding.
And to find out more about Solidarités International: www.solidarites.org
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Solidarités International (SI) is committed to preventing and combating any type of abuse—any act of sexual exploitation, abuse, and/or harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or its employees, harm to persons and/or property, fraud, corruption, undeclared conflicts of interest, or the financing of activities that violate human rights—that may be perpetrated in the context of its operations. SI has a zero-tolerance policy for any type of abuse, particularly acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is a fair-trade employer that combats all forms of discrimination. SI will never request any compensation for participating in a recruitment process.
Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to finding all forms of discrimination. SI will never ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.