Humanitarian Access Advisor – Ukraine Crisis At Stichting Vluchteling

The Netherlands Refugee Foundation, Stichting Vluchteling (SV), is an emergency relief organization that worldwide supports partner organizations to assist displaced populations. In case of acute need, the Netherlands Refugee Foundation provides funding to international and national partners in order to provide direct assistance, such as shelter, medical care, clean drinking water and sanitation. In the Netherlands, the Refugee Foundation provides information to the Dutch public about the situation of refugees and internally displaced as well as about emergency aid in general.

Stichting Vluchteling currently has a diverse and enthusiastic team with around 40 employees, working predominately from The Hague. The working atmosphere is informal yet decisive, which is necessary to be able to react fast in case of emergencies.

Due to the recent developments in Ukraine, we are looking for a;

Humanitarian Access Advisor – Ukraine Crisis

Humanitarian crises are becoming longer and more complex and resulting in increased humanitarian needs in high-risk and hard-to-reach locations, challenging humanitarian actors’ abilities to reach people in need wherever they are. Humanitarian access to those most in need is a strategic priority for SV. In 2019, SV therefore established Project Frontline. Through Project Frontline SV provides support to its partners, International Rescue Committee, INTERSOS and local partners to ensure access to those most in need. The project team provides hands-on strategy, operational and technical support to country programs, emergency teams and other partners and ensures the collection, development and dissemination of knowledge and learning more broadly.

The Humanitarian Access Advisor (HAA) will partner predominantly with INTERSOS regional and country teams to develop and deliver strategies to reach people in need, deploying regularly, and with a particular focus on the crises in Eastern Europe (Ukraine and neighboring countries). The HAA provides field-based and remote assistance to programs and operations through the provision of timely and quality advice, facilitation, support, training and coaching on humanitarian access and related topics. This field-oriented role spends substantial and extended time in the field working with colleagues to design, develop and deliver strategies to reach people in need.

Place in the organization

The HAA is part of the Programs and Advocacy Department of SV. The team currently consists of seven regional program officers, three employees for a project on health (with a focus on NCD and MHPSS), one advocacy officer and one other Humanitarian Access Advisor. The team works closely together with the Internal Operations, Fundraising and Communication departments.

For the response to the Ukraine crisis SV is recruiting three new positions: next to the Humanitarian Access Advisor, a Regional Program Officer, and a Regional Health Programme Coordinator will be joining the team.

The HAA will be based in the region and will report to the Head of the Programs (SV) and Advocacy Department for overall management, and to the Senior Humanitarian Access Advisor (IRC) for mentoring, technical support, coordination and guidance. As the HAA will predominantly work with our partner INTERSOS, he/she will have a direct line with INTERSOS’ regional and country teams in Eastern Europe. The HAA coordinates with all Project Frontline stakeholders.

What does the job entail?

• Facilitate and support the analysis, development and delivery of access strategies and plans to advance humanitarian access in assigned situations, in close collaboration with INTERSOS regional, country or emergency colleagues and other Frontline partners
• Provide expert advice to INTERSOS regional, country and emergency teams on humanitarian access strategy, and related topics including humanitarian negotiation, humanitarian civil-military coordination, engagement with authorities line-ministries or technical department and security forces, in the region around Ukraine.
• Provide tailored training and ongoing coaching to key colleagues on humanitarian access and related disciplines including humanitarian negotiation.
• Develop and manage partnerships and networks to support humanitarian access for assigned situations in collaboration with field colleagues and project partners
• Support the development, roll-out, utilization and flexible application of global technical and operational guidance and materials related to humanitarian access, negotiation and associated topics
• Share cross-context learning with field and management colleagues across Frontline partners and contribute to a community of practice and culture of learning for humanitarian access
• Contribute to reflection and analysis on humanitarian access practice and policy to support learning, debate and strategic decision-making
• Keep updated on methods, approaches and professional developments in humanitarian access and related topics

What do we expect from you?

• Relevant education at university level, for example humanitarian affairs, or demonstrable work experience at this level (5-10 years)
• Significant and senior experience leading or supporting humanitarian programs in complex crises (at least five years of demonstrable international work experience)
• Comprehensive knowledge and applied experience of humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law in strategic and operational planning
• Knowledge and applied experience of context and conflict analysis, humanitarian access strategies, humanitarian negotiation, humanitarian civil-military coordination, engagement with armed groups and/or community engagement
• Knowledge and experience of risk management, program criticality, remote management and/or complex supply chains a strong advantage
• Knowledge and experience in developing and delivering training programs and coaching support to individuals, teams and/or partners strongly preferred
• Demonstrable work experience in Ukraine and/or neighbouring countries is strongly preferred
• Excellent coordination, communication, negotiation, diplomatic and interpersonal skills
• Able to work independently with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams
• Excellent oral and written skills in English
• In addition, knowledge of the Russian, Ukrainian or Polish language is an advantage.
• Enthusiastic, creative, flexible, pro-active
• Willingness to travel (up to 60% of the time), including travel to conflict areas and extended field missions
• You endorse the goals and values of the Netherlands Refugee Foundation
• Having an EU nationality is strongly preferred

What do we offer you?

• A position based in SV’s Eastern Europe’s field office (Poland) with frequent travel to neighbouring countries
• A dynamic position in an enthusiastic organization of about 40 employees
• A function with room for own initiative and new ideas
• An employment contract for initially one year with the prospect of renewal
• Salary and working conditions appropriate for a non-profit organization, depending on education, experience and age

Stichting Vluchteling has a Code of Conduct, containing the values and principles of the Refugee Foundation, including with regard to integrity & reliability and the prevention of any form of discrimination and / or abuse of power. Every employee must endorse these and act accordingly at all times. Taking references and requesting a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) are part of the application procedure. Stichting Vluchteling participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.**