Humanitarian Affairs Officer at United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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 humanitarian access, civil-military coordination, protection and gender considerations;
• 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 range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian 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.  

ACCOUNTABILITY:  

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards, including under extreme pressure; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates and/or team members, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, development, humanitarian action, public administration, economics, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or other related area, is required.    
• At least two (2) years 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.    
• Recent experience in emergency response in the Eastern and/or Southern Africa region is required.    
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or in a comparable international organization is desirable.