Consultant – Security Expert (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) – Readvertised At Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa

Consultancy: Security Expert

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Duration: 04 weeks

About SIHA: Want to know more about us? Follow the link www.sihanet.org

Background of the Consultancy:

Feminist movements in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA) play a crucial role in providing frontline services to marginalized communities, advocating for gender-transformative policies and laws, demanding government accountability for human rights, and pushing for democracy. However, the space for the movements to operate freely is shrinking, as government and non- state actors use legislation, threats, or violence to hinder their work. SIHA, under the Komboa Project, aims to better equip formal and informal feminist movements in the GHoA to operate in volatile and restrictive settings including provision of tools and resources to manage, mitigate, and respond to risks and shocks, contributing in turn to strengthening their resilience. In addition, SIHA operates in volatile and complex environments characterized by political instability, armed conflict, and unforeseeable threats. Ensuring the safety and security of staff and assets is paramount to SIHA’s operations.

In this context, SIHA seeks a Security Expert Consultant to conduct a comprehensive risk and security assessment of SIHA Ethiopia and develop robust contingency plans to safeguard the organization’s personnel and resources. The consultant will also focus on equipping SIHA Ethiopia members and affiliates with the necessary skills to handle the challenges posed by the current security environment.

Objective of the Consultancy: The main objective of this consultancy is to enhance the safety and security of SIHA Ethiopia staff by conducting a thorough risk assessment and developing an organizational risk matrix and contingency plans.

Scope of Work:

a). Risk Assessment and Management:

• Perform a comprehensive risk assessment for SIHA Ethiopia operations.
• Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities specific to the local context.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies to address identified risks.

b). Organizational Risk Matrix & Contingency Plans:

• Develop a detailed risk matrix that outlines various risks, their likelihood, impact, and mitigation measures for the SIHA Ethiopia Office.
• Ensure the risk matrix is tailored to the specific operational environment of Ethiopia.
• Develop contingency plans for different emergency scenarios, including evacuation plans, communication protocols, and crisis management procedures.
• Ensure these plans are practical, actionable, and well-documented.

c). Deliver training on risk management and security measures

• Develop training materials and agenda for training on risk management and security measures for SIHA staff and key partners,
• Prepare training report.

Deliverables:

1. A detailed report outlining the findings of the risk assessment, including identified threats and vulnerabilities. The report should include recommendations for risk mitigation and management.
2. A comprehensive risk matrix tailored to SIHA Ethiopia operational context as well as well-documented contingency plans for various emergency scenarios.
3. A training on risk management and security measures for SIHA staff and our key partners.

Timeline:

The consultancy is expected to take place over 4 weeks. The timeline includes preparation, on- site activities, and report finalization.

Key Competencies:

1. Proven experience in security risk management, preferably in conflict or post-conflict settings.
2. Familiarity with the security dynamics and socio-political context of Ethiopia.
3. Understanding of the specific challenges faced by civil society organizations operating in volatile environments.
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
5. Ability to deliver training in a clear, engaging, and effective manner.
6. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
7. Ability to develop practical and actionable risk management solutions.