Humanitarian Affairs Officer, P3
Org. Setting and Reporting
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Eastern Africa (OCHA EA). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer reports to the Head of Communications Unit.
Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Monitors,
analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster
relief/management or emergency situations in assigned country/area.
- Organizes
and prepares studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues;
organizes follow-up work, including interagency technical review meetings
to support policy development work and decision-making on important
issues.
- Produces
or oversees production of communications products (e.g. situation reports,
studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents,
briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, talking points,
press kits, press releases, feature articles, speeches, booklets,
brochures, backgrounders, etc.). 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.
- Manages/assists
in the production of appeals for international assistance; 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, media, etc.
- Undertakes
and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions.
- Undertakes
activities to promote media coverage (e.g. press conferences, interviews,
press seminars and other special activities) of priority issues and/or
major events, to include development of a media strategy and action plan,
initiating pro-active media outreach efforts, proposing and arranging
press conferences/media coverage, disseminating materials and consulting
with press on approach/story angle and other information requests,
undertaking appropriate follow-up action and analyzing and reporting on
the impact of coverage. Contributes content to and maintains appropriate
and timely web and social media outreach.
- 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.
- Reviews
and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian
principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
- Organizes
and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with
other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related
matters.
- Provides
guidance to, and may supervise, new/junior staff.
- Performs
other duties as required.
Competencies
• Professionalism:
- Knowledge
of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related human
rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult
problems.
- 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 problems.
- Ability
to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate
information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian
rights situation in assigned country/area.
- Ability
to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful
environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery);
- ability
to provide guidance to new/junior staff.
- 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.
• 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 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.
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 additional years of
qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university
degree.
Work 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.
International humanitarian experience is required.
- Experience
reporting the humanitarian situation in a complex emergency or natural
disaster is required.
- Experience
in the UN Common System is desirable.
- Field
experience working in the region (Eastern Africa) is desirable.
- Experience
working in the context of natural disaster response and/or complex
emergencies is desirable.
- Qualifying
years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the
first-level university degree recognised by the United Nations.
Languages
- English
and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat.
- For
this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.
- Knowledge
of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her.
In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to
new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and
procedures.
United Nations Considerations
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs.
(Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The
United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
No Fee
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training).
The United Nations does not concern itself with information on
applicants’ bank accounts.
Closing date: 06 Mar 2013
To Apply:
https://inspira.un.org/psc/UNCAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.UN_JOB_DETAIL.GBL?Page=UN_JOB_DETAIL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=26827