Humanitarian Affairs Officer
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees). Also, the United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts.
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:
This position is located in the Africa II Section of the Coordination and Response Division (CRD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in New York. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Africa II Section.
Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Africa II Section of the Coordination and Response Division (CRD) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in New York, the incumbent acts as Desk Officer for a set of countries in the Africa II region. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
• In close liaison with OCHA Country and Regional Offices, monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in assigned country/area.
• Advises and supports OCHA in the field in the coordination of the common humanitarian programme cycle (needs assessment and analysis, joint planning, fundraising and resource allocation and monitoring and evaluation)
• Facilitates the organization of analyses and advocacy on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including inter agency technical review meetings to support policy development work, advocacy and decision-making on important issues.
• Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
• Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to humanitarian reform.
• Participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster response/response preparedness or other missions; assists in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support; drafts situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries.
• Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• Assists in the production of appeals for international assistance; advises on and monitors the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
• Liaises and assists in partnership-building with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, regional organizations, media, etc.
• Builds and maintains relationships with a wide group of operational humanitarian partners to advance humanitarian action.
• Ensures a broad range of substantive and administrative liaison support to OCHA Field and/or Regional offices on policy issues, strategic planning, work and cost planning, annual reporting, staffing, resource mobilization, advocacy and contingency planning.
• Maintains an overview of country- and/or regional-level coordination structures and advises appropriate OCHA offices and Humanitarian Coordinators on maintaining effective coordination within the humanitarian community in accordance with the standards and frameworks of the Humanitarian Reform.
• Advices the field in the provision of OCHA services and tools, and coordinates with relevant OCHA sections and branches to ensure timely and adequate field support; facilitates OCHA internal working groups focusing on specific countries/regions.
• Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions, e.g. participates in field trips to undertake in-depth reviews of specific country coordination mechanisms.
• Prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc.
• Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; keeps abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., ensures appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provides information and advice on a range of related issues.
• Organizes and participates, on behalf of the Section, in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
• May provide guidance to new/junior staff.
• Performs other duties as required by the Chief of Section.
COMPETENCIES
Professionalism:
-Knowledge of a range of humanitarian coordination issues, emergency relief and related human rights issues to address difficult problems.
-Ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require coordinated UN response.
-Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources in assigned country/area.
-Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment; ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff.
-Demonstrates professional competence; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
-Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
Communication:
-Speaks and writes clearly and effectively
-Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
-Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication
-Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience
-Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed
Planning & Organizing:
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies
-Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required
-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work
-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning
-Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary
-Uses time efficiently
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience:
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area, of which at least two years of humanitarian field experience. Experience in working with inter-agency, inter-departmental and inter-governmental processes is required. Experience of the cluster approach aspect of humanitarian reform and humanitarian financing, including the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP), Flash Appeal, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and Emergency Response Funds (ERFs) is required. Experience of working in the context of both natural disaster response and complex emergencies is required. Previous field experience with OCHA is desirable. Experience of working in protection of civilians as well as in preparedness and contingency planning is desirable.
Education:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage
Copy to: Ms. Ludivine Venturini (venturini@un.org)
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:
This position is located in the Africa II Section of the Coordination and Response Division (CRD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in New York. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Africa II Section.
Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Africa II Section of the Coordination and Response Division (CRD) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in New York, the incumbent acts as Desk Officer for a set of countries in the Africa II region. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
• In close liaison with OCHA Country and Regional Offices, monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in assigned country/area.
• Advises and supports OCHA in the field in the coordination of the common humanitarian programme cycle (needs assessment and analysis, joint planning, fundraising and resource allocation and monitoring and evaluation)
• Facilitates the organization of analyses and advocacy on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including inter agency technical review meetings to support policy development work, advocacy and decision-making on important issues.
• Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
• Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to humanitarian reform.
• Participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster response/response preparedness or other missions; assists in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support; drafts situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries.
• Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• Assists in the production of appeals for international assistance; advises on and monitors the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
• Liaises and assists in partnership-building with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, regional organizations, media, etc.
• Builds and maintains relationships with a wide group of operational humanitarian partners to advance humanitarian action.
• Ensures a broad range of substantive and administrative liaison support to OCHA Field and/or Regional offices on policy issues, strategic planning, work and cost planning, annual reporting, staffing, resource mobilization, advocacy and contingency planning.
• Maintains an overview of country- and/or regional-level coordination structures and advises appropriate OCHA offices and Humanitarian Coordinators on maintaining effective coordination within the humanitarian community in accordance with the standards and frameworks of the Humanitarian Reform.
• Advices the field in the provision of OCHA services and tools, and coordinates with relevant OCHA sections and branches to ensure timely and adequate field support; facilitates OCHA internal working groups focusing on specific countries/regions.
• Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions, e.g. participates in field trips to undertake in-depth reviews of specific country coordination mechanisms.
• Prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc.
• Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; keeps abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., ensures appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provides information and advice on a range of related issues.
• Organizes and participates, on behalf of the Section, in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
• May provide guidance to new/junior staff.
• Performs other duties as required by the Chief of Section.
COMPETENCIES
Professionalism:
-Knowledge of a range of humanitarian coordination issues, emergency relief and related human rights issues to address difficult problems.
-Ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require coordinated UN response.
-Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources in assigned country/area.
-Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment; ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff.
-Demonstrates professional competence; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
-Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
Communication:
-Speaks and writes clearly and effectively
-Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
-Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication
-Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience
-Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed
Planning & Organizing:
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies
-Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required
-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work
-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning
-Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary
-Uses time efficiently
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience:
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area, of which at least two years of humanitarian field experience. Experience in working with inter-agency, inter-departmental and inter-governmental processes is required. Experience of the cluster approach aspect of humanitarian reform and humanitarian financing, including the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP), Flash Appeal, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and Emergency Response Funds (ERFs) is required. Experience of working in the context of both natural disaster response and complex emergencies is required. Previous field experience with OCHA is desirable. Experience of working in protection of civilians as well as in preparedness and contingency planning is desirable.
Education:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage
How to apply
All submissions to be sent with a Cover Letter and PHP/P.11 to Ms. Yasuko Sawada (sawada@un.org)Copy to: Ms. Ludivine Venturini (venturini@un.org)
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