Job Identification : 13106

Locations : Jordan

Posting Date : 08/17/2023, 11:39 AM

Apply Before : 09/01/2023, 03:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNOCHA

Grade : NOB

Vacancy Type : Fixed Term

Practice Area : Effectiveness

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Arab States

Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree – 2 year(s) experience

Other Criteria : A first-level university degree in combination with four (4) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted e advanced university degree

Required Languages : Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Mobility required/no mobility

no mobility required

Job Description

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.

This post forms part of the Coordination team in Amman, Jordan which is part of the OCHA’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will report to Head of Coordination Unit and/or Head of Office, ROMENA.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities: Under the general supervision of the Head of Coordination Unit, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Effective, timely and efficient coordination

•  Organizes and actively participates in inter-agency coordination forums, working groups, internal and external meetings, conferences, workshops and training events, as well as consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
•  Provides secretariat and logistical support to OCHA-organized meetings, events and workshops, including preparing agenda, presentations, drafting meeting minutes, writing summary reports, and ensuring action points are followed up and completed.
•  In line with regional office priorities, undertakes travel to other country missions (or provide remote support when appropriate) to provide strategic or operational coordination support (e.g., surge to fill in staffing gaps in high-profile emergencies, contribute to strengthening coordination efforts at field or country level; support coordinate country-level processes or development of strategic documents, etc).
•  Establishes and maintains contacts with humanitarian clusters, government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions in country or at regional level as required.
•  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 captured and incorporated into future response activities, including cash-, gender-, disability- and accountability related considerations.

Humanitarian Programme Cycle

•  Supports with the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian Response Plan in assigned countries.
•  In line with regional office priorities, undertakes travel to other country missions to provide HPC coordination support, including to coordinate country-level cluster contributions or processes; HPC drafting capacity; and other technical assistance (e.g., gender, cash, assessments)
•  In collaboration with other units, including the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit, contributes to the preparation of the inter-agency contingency plans, emergency response preparedness plans, simulation exercises, and capacity building.
•  Provides substantial support to sectors / clusters and working groups as required in country or at regional level and facilitate exchange on cross cutting issues, including consideration for diversity (i.e., gender, age, disability) and accountability to affected populations.
•  Stay up to date with relevant Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC) and other global guidance and actively seek to gain new skills by attending or supporting training events, webinars, briefings and seminars on humanitarian structure, tools and services.
•  Keep abreast of new developments in headquarters and in the field, including on HPC and related thematic domains (e.g., cash, gender, disability, accountability to affected people) and facilitate information exchange and learning across OCHA.

Cash Coordination

•  Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes notably vis-à-vis cash programming; helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities,including gender-related considerations.
•  Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations, diplomatic missions, etc. on issues related to humanitarian cash, including through the Cash Working Group, amongst other forums; ensures appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information on humanitarian cashrelated matters both in and outside the UN system, including on early warning and contingency planning, etc.
•  Serves as the primary focal point on cash-related issues, including in relation to safeguarding humanitarian principles, humanitarian access, and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance; 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

Monitoring, reporting and evaluation of humanitarian response

•  Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in the assigned countries.
•  Drafts and prepares regular situation reports highlighting relevant operational factors affecting the humanitarian situation and response efforts.
•  Organizes, prepares or contributes to studies, written reports, documents and other communications on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues (e.g., Drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, training materials etc.)
•  Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance
•  Supports advocacy initiatives on issues impacting humanitarian needs and response efforts through the collection of information, liaison with humanitarian partners, government officials, the media, etc.
•  Supports the preparation and follow up of donor and Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) reporting for countries under ROMENA responsibility as needed.
•  Partners up with other humanitarian agencies and OCHA offices to plan and evaluate humanitarian emergency and assistance programmes, and ensures that the findings, lessons learned, and recommendations are incorporated in policy guidelines and future responses.

Surge Support:

•  In line with regional office priorities, provides physical and remote surge support to OCHA Offices in MENA Region on Coordination, Emergency response and other related areas.

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. Solid understanding of and experience with the Civil Military Coordination issues.

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.

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

Teamwork

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies or a related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with four (4) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

•  A minimum of two (2) years with Master’s and/or four years with Bachelor’s of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, 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.
•  Prior experience in implementing or coordinating cash assistance / social safety net programming in humanitarian or development contexts is desirable.
•  Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or in a comparable international organization is desirable.
•  Experience in the MENA region is desirable.

Language Requirements:

•  Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Other

•  Availability for travel.
•  Ability to work with moderate supervision, with efficiency, competency, and integrity in a multi-cultural environment.
•  Demonstrates critical ability and sound judgment in the pursuit of requests to full completion.

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNOCHA rosters

Note: UNOCHA reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNOCHA at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNOCHA has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNOCHA is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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