Background

The overall mandate of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is to provide leadership, operational support and oversight of the security management system to enable the safest and most efficient conduct of the programmes and activities of the United Nations System.

UNDSS Somalia is supporting the UN Agencies through security advice and guidance so to enable the UN Agencies to conduct their operations in the safest way possible. UNDSS has it’s headquarter in New York and have operations in more than one hundred countries.

The LSA will report to the Field Security Coordination Officer (FSCO) of the region for functional security matters. The LSA assists in the implementation of security operations and all matters relating to the management of safety and security for UN personnel in the country or in the region of assignment.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assists CSA/FSCO in collecting, updating and communicating information regarding the security situation in the country;
2. Assists in maintaining the Security Plan, including updating staff lists;
3. Supports the CSA/FSCO with the assessment of Minimum Operational Security Standards (MOSS) for the duty station;
4. Assists in reporting security incidents affecting UN staff, offices and assets;
5. Organizes and delivers training courses on security awareness and preparedness;
6. Assists in ensuring residential (Minimum Operating Residential Security Standards – MORSS)and office safety, and security preparedness;
7. Provides general administrative assistance to the CSA/FSCO

The Local Security Assistant (LSA) works under the direct supervision of the FSCO and the overall supervision of the Chief Security Adviser or the Deputy Security Adviser with the following general responsibilities:

• Liaising and coordinating with the local government security organizations and with other organizations, groups in Somalia by establishing and maintaining formal and informal contacts with focal points on operational level and facilitating the information exchange necessary for the safe conduct of UN operations;
• Assist and advise the FSCO on attaining proper networking with local groups who may be relevant for the security and safety of UN staff, assets and operations in Somalia;

Updating of Security Documents:

• Maintaining the Security Plan, including updating staff lists, security surveys and other security related planning documents;
• Information gathering for the purpose of updating security related documents;

Maintaining Minimum Operational Security Standards (MOSS) for equipment:

• Observe the country specific MOSS and identify shortfalls on DSS side:
• Suggest and implement measures to address these shortfalls in close cooperation with other DSS staff;
• Advise and assist FSCO in Somalia on the implementation of MOSS;

Assessing the security situation in Somalia:

• Over arching assistance to the FSCO in Somalia in their assessments and analysis of the security situation in Somalia;
• Provide written input for the Security Risk Assessments conducted on Area- and Country level in Somalia to the concerned FSCO;

Conducting security surveys and providing advice on security measures for the residences of UN staff and UN offices in Somalia;

• Assisting the UNDSS Training Officer and the FSCOs in identifying specific needs of security training for local Somali staff in Somalia;

Other security tasks assigned by the Supervising Officer

Competencies

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

• Shares knowledge and experience
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

• Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions
• Ability to extract, interpret, analyze data and resolve operational problems
• Ability to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work 
• Good knowledge of administrative rules and regulations
• Strong IT skills,

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure

Required Skills and Experience

Education:          

• Completion of Secondary School and a diploma (complemented with 5 years experience) in business administration, public administration, journalism, languages, security or related field. 
• A university bachelors degree or higher is desirable but not a requirement.
• A military staff college or police college combined with experience in a senior command post may be accepted in lieu.

Experience:      

• A minimum of 3 years experience in the field of security/safety, journalism, community services, humanitarian assistance or related field; experience with an international organization, NGO or IGO is desirable.
• Excellent knowledge of the political and security situation in Somalia and good networking within Somalia;

Language requirements:             

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Somali is essential, including the ability to draft, edit and finalize documents in English. Knowledge Arabic is desirable

Other requirements:

• UNDP reserves the right to conduct background checks on applicants.
• UN employees are NOT allowed to carry firearms while on duty.
• The use of any drugs, including but not limited to “khat” during working hours is not tolerated.
• Candidates considered for the post may be required to undergo a drug test.

This is a non-staff contract under the Service Contract modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under a Service Contract serve in their individual capacity and not as representative of a government institutions, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP. The incumbent shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN common system or the government and are therefore not entitled to any diplomatic privileges or any other special status or conditions.