Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, December 30, 2021 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
This position will require regular surge deployments within and potentially outside the region. Candidates are expected to be available and willing to surge for up to three months at a time.

Responsibilities
• Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Deploys on humanitarian surge and support missions in Southern and Eastern Africa as requested, including to facilitate: humanitarian operational coordination (e.g. chairing inter-cluster meetings); humanitarian financing proposals (e.g. CERF applications); implementation of preparedness actions (e.g. contingency plans); development of humanitarian needs overviews and appeals; and humanitarian needs assessments.
• Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in assigned areas of Southern and Eastern Africa .
• Organizes and prepares updates and reports on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues in assigned countries/areas of coverage; organizes follow-up work, including interagency meetings to support information-sharing and decision-making on important issues.
• Participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions to countries in the region; deploys on surge to assist in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); 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 coordinate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes - including through deployment on surge if required - and helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender and protection-related considerations.
• Assists in the production of appeals for international assistance - including Humanitarian Needs Overviews, Humanitarian Response Plans and Flash Appeals - in the region; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, etc.
• Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions, e.g. participates in field trips to review and/or support specific country coordination mechanisms.
• Prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. drafts sections of background papers, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc.
• Serves as the primary focal point on specific humanitarian 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.
• Reviews and provides advice on issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance; provides technical advice to humanitarian leadership and country teams on cross-cutting issues, such as protection and gender considerations and may act as ROSEA Focal Point on one or more of these issues;
• Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters in the region.
• Provides guidance to, and may supervise, new/junior staff.
• Performs other duties, and surge assignments, as required.

Competencies
• Professionalism: Knowledge of a wide range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief, and related humanitarian issues, including humanitarian principles and humanitarian coordination architecture and processes . Analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response. Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of humanitarian problems, including under difficult conditions and/or when deployed to remote locations. Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian situation in assigned country/area. Ability to work under extreme pressure, including in highly stressful environments (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery). Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; 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.
• Planning and 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.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or other related area is required.
• Humanitarian experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required.
• Three (3) years of relevant experience at the international level is desirable.
• Recent experience in emergency response in Africa is desirable.
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or other comparable international organization is desirable.
• Languages
• French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is highly desirable. Knowledge of other languages used in the region (e.g. Portuguese, Swahili etc) is an advantage.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
To apply follow this link https://inspira.un.org/psp/PUNA1J/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.UN_JOB_DETAIL.GBL?Action=A&UNAction=Apply&JobOpeningId=171490&languageCd=ENG 

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