Background

NRC is currently working in Burkina Faso, with staff dedicated to assisting people affected by conflict. Its humanitarian interventions are based on its programming expertise in the Core Competencies of Shelter, Site Management, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH), Livelihoods and Food Security, Protection from Violence, along with Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) to vulnerable displaced people.

According to the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan, Burkina Faso continues to face an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Despite substantial response efforts by the Government and partners, the humanitarian situation has not improved enough to enable the reduction of vulnerability and needs of affected populations. In 2023, new displacements were reported throughout the year, and the number of civilians affected by security incidents increased. Urgent support is needed to address needs in food security, nutrition, health, and other sectors, as well as to protect civilians. At the same time, more efforts are needed to promote solutions to help people emerge from crisis altogether and avoid aid dependence.

The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) aims to meet these objectives and was developed in consultation with the Government, targeting 3.8 million people from an estimated 6.3 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Roughly two million people (10% of the population) remain internally displaced as of 31 March 2023 (of which 53% are women and 52% are boys and girls under 18). The scale and severity of humanitarian needs have increased during 2023: according to the Government’s national humanitarian response plan 2023, all 13 regions in Burkina Faso host Internally Displaced People (IDPs), with a high concentration in the Sahel (25.7%), Centre-North (25.1%), North (13%), East (10.8%) and Boucle du Mouhoun (6.5%) regions. In addition, 39 localities are under blockade by non-state armed actors, making it difficult to deliver humanitarian assistance to affected populations. Humanitarian space to deliver assistance has drastically reduced in the past two years.

In 2025 NRC expects further deterioration of the humanitarian space, an increase in bureaucratic and administrative impediments and a growing need for humanitarian and access advocacy, both public and private.

Faced with such a situation, strengthening humanitarian coordination to promote access has been a priority for the humanitarian community. This is, among other things, what motivated the establishment of the Working Group on Humanitarian Access (GT/Access) in Burkina Faso, of which NRC has maintained the role of Co-lead since March 2023.

Click here to learn more about NRC operations in Burkina Faso
About the position
The Access Working Group (AWG) Co-Lead is responsible for co-chairing Burkina Faso’s Access Working Group alongside OCHA, contributing to inform and brief humanitarian organizations and forum (notably the NGO coordination groups) on humanitarian access issues and barriers, and collecting information from humanitarian actors to inform the AWG. While the position is hosted by NRC, it is expected that the AWG Co-Lead will spend significant amounts of time in the offices of working group members in a spirit of improved collaboration and aiming at collective outcomes.

The Access Working Group Co-Lead is expected to drive collective action to overcome humanitarian access barriers impeding the delivery of principled and quality assistance to populations in hard-to-reach areas, and in response to new emergencies. In addition, s/he will capitalize on existing initiatives, research results and available tools by making them accessible to member organizations of the working group.
What you will do: 

In this position, you will work on:

Strategy Development & Implementation

• Provide leadership on periodic strategy development processes, ensuring members’ perspectives and aspirations are represented in the strategy and work plan.
• Collect information from humanitarian actors, notably NNGOs, to inform the AWG-Lead and guide the implementation of the work plan which could include activities related to:
  • Access severity mapping
  • Incident reporting and monitoring
  • Stakeholder mapping and analysis
  • Bureaucratic constraints and counter-terrorism measures
  • Negotiations and operational dilemmas
  • Policy development
  • Humanitarian advocacy
  • Training

Management & capacity building

• Support the preparation and facilitation of monthly and ad-hoc AWG-Burkina Faso meetings, including preparation of the agenda, chairing and follow-up.
• Support the establishment of temporary sub-working groups/task forces to work on specific activities.
• Potentially support the establishment of regional AWGs (AWG-R).
• Organize and deliver access training and workshops, within the humanitarian community or with external stakeholders, according to the availability of resources.
• Support and build the capacity of NNGOs on access through specific activities/initiatives

Access analyses and humanitarian advocacy

• Support the rollout of the NRC access monitoring tool, internally but also with NGO partners (INGOs and national NGOs), to inform programmes decision-making as well as advocacy at the country (AWG, Advocacy Working Group, HCT among others) and regional level (Access Task Force, regional IASC among others).
• Regularly produce analyses/briefing notes, based on quantitative and qualitative data collected and additional analyses:
  • Draft the bi-monthly access reports produced based on NRC access monitoring tool
  • Produce thematic briefing notes
  • Contribute to regional analyses and advocacy notes in collaboration with NRC regional access adviser and regional head of advocacy, or as part of an initiative planned by the regional task force on access
  • If relevant, contribute to NRC global research or analysis efforts and initiatives

Networking & Coordination

• Reach out and build synergies with the existing actors and fora – if possible – within the humanitarian environment (FONGIH, ICCG, INSO, REACH, clusters but not only) to ensure the AWG-Burkina Faso is a relevant body within the broader humanitarian response and its analyses are nourished by programmatic perspectives and operational priorities. This coordination would aim to ensure the AWG’s priorities are addressing the most relevant gaps and issues for the humanitarian community, that work is not being duplicated, and that the work of other mechanisms is informed and shaped by humanitarian access priorities identified by the AWG.
• Network actively with members of the AWG, both working-level representatives and country director/head of mission level officials to help ensure the working group is attuned to members’ needs and in turn, that it has willing and active member organisations.
• Actively network with key stakeholders (including donors, Country Directors of INGOs and UN agencies, authorities if validated by the CD, etc.) within and outside the humanitarian sector to ensure that the contribution of the AWG is known and relevant.
• Represent Burkina Faso AWG in the meetings of the regional Task Force on Access.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the role

What you will bring:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in humanitarian work in conflict or post-conflict environments.
• Master’s degree in a related field (or bachelor’s with equivalent work experience)
• Demonstrated experience in humanitarian programming
• Demonstrated experience in the domain of humanitarian access
• Demonstrated experience in and/or knowledge of the central Sahel region
• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles and how to operationalize them within a humanitarian response, including humanitarian access dilemmas
• Fluency in French, both written and spoken. Knowledge of English would be an asset.
• Demonstrated excellent writing and analytical skills
• Experience in leading or contributing to coordination forums would be a strong asset
• Experience with NGOs and the UN system would be an asset

  Behavioral Competencies

• Strong interpersonal skills, including capability to network with stakeholders within and outside the humanitarian environment
• Empowering and building trust
• Dynamism and capacity to quickly react to work-related challenges and proactively propose solutions
• Flexibility and creativity to adapt to a complex and evolving working environment.
• Positive attitude towards working with several stakeholders in a coordination environment, collaborative leadership
• Managing resources to optimize results
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills
• Ability and willingness to work and live under pressure in insecure environments

What we offer:

• Duty station: Ouagadougou
• Contract: 12-month contract
• Travel: up to 30%
• Salary/benefits: grade 8 on NRC’s scale with accompanying terms and conditions
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability. Women are highly encouraged to apply.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process:

• To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email, or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English or French, ensuring to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position, and as a result only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• We invite applications from all qualified and interested candidates. Send in your application before 30th November 2024.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email [email protected] with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.