Position Title: Safety and Security Training Consultant

Duty Station: Monsterrado

Position Status/Duration: 5 Days

Reports to: medica Liberia’s Program Coordinator

Background

medica Liberia (mL) formerly medica mondiale Liberia is a non-governmental women’s rights organization working in Liberia. Our organization offers support to women and girls affected by sexual gender-based violence (SGBV).

Election violence has unfortunately cast a shadow over Liberia’s political landscape for several electoral cycles. The nation has struggled to escape the grips of conflict-related tensions and hostilities that often flare up during the campaign periods leading up to general elections. Historically, these tensions have manifested as clashes between opposing political factions, with confrontations sometimes escalating to violence. This phenomenon is fueled by a range of factors, including deeply rooted historical grievances, power struggles between ruling and opposition parties, and the legacy of civil unrest that the nation has gradually been emerging from. The presence of drugs and other harmful substance further exacerbate the potential for violence, creating an environment where election campaigns can easily descend into chaos.

The election violence is often accompanied by incidents of voter intimidation, harassment of campaign workers, and damage to property. The historical pattern of election violence has not only hindered the democratic progress of Liberia but also affected public trust in the electoral process and the broader stability of the country. As Liberia seeks to strengthen its democratic institutions and build a more peaceful society, addressing the underlying causes of election violence and implementing effective conflict prevention measures are paramount to ensuring a more stable and inclusive electoral environment.

As such mL is seeking the expertise of a qualified Safety and Security Training Consultant to provide safety and security training services to it staffs and key members of Community Protection network in the framework of human rights defenders. The goal of this engagement is to enhance our organization’s overall security posture by educating our employees about best practices, threat awareness, and incident response protocols.

mL is committed to maintaining a safe environment and ensuring the well-being of all mL staff members and community volunteers. The consultant will bear the responsibility of providing a comprehensive training initiative centered on security and risk management, tailored for the election period and extending its relevance beyond to address the security risks inherent in human rights advocacy and activism.

Overview of the Security training Consultancy

Security risk and wellbeing training for medica Liberia staff and members of protection networks

• The training will be delivered to all medica Liberia staff and selected members of SGBV community protection networks.
• The selected members of the PNs will serve as security focal points for the community and liaise with mL for joint decision making and security planning.
• The training will cover risk assessment, threat analysis, mitigation measures, response to security incidents, digital security, developing simple security plans and the importance of having security focal points within the organization or planning teams as the need arises.
• Tentatively, the training will be delivered by organizations/individuals with experience in delivering safety and security trainings for human rights defenders as well as a track record of implementing effective security plans for their organizations.

The scope of services is as follows:

• Conduct interactive security and risk management training for mL staffs and community activists.
• Offering guidance on the establishment of communication channels for reporting and responding to security incidents.
• Providing practical guidance on security protocols, emergency procedures, and best practices for safeguarding personnel, data, and campaign assets.
• Recommending strategies to ensure the safety of campaign events, rallies, and public engagements.

Expertise and Experience

• Proven experience in providing security training and consulting services, especially in the context of elections, campaigns, or similar sensitive contexts.
• Expertise in security risk assessment, crisis management, and conflict resolution.
• Knowledge of digital security best practices and familiarity with securing online communication and data.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Start Date: IMMEDIATE:

Closing date of this posting: August 19, 2023

How to Apply: email your application (CV, cover letter and references) as well as your remuneration expectations to: recruit@medicaliberia.org and copy mbalujusu@outlook.com and yah.parwon@medicaliberia.org. Please mark your application with the reference: ‘’Security Consultant’’ in the subject of your email or on the envelope /top of your application. For applicants based in Greenville, you may submit hard copies to medica Liberia office in the county.

Female applicants are encouraged to apply.