Humanitarian Affairs Officers at UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Abuja

OCHA is the 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 effort.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Humanitarian Affairs Officer

Location: Abuja
Job ID: #949456
Theme: Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships

• This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Abuja, Nigeria.
• The Humanitarian Affairs Officer reports to the Deputy Head of Office in Nigeria.

Responsibilities

• Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Monitors, research, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in Nigeria.
• 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.
• Participates in large, complex projects, to include humanitarian assessments or other field missions, e.g. to undertake in-depth reviews of specific country coordination mechanisms; assists 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 Nigeria.
• 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; 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, 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, including, but not restricted to, humanitarian needs assessments; 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.
• 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.
• Experience with humanitarian needs assessments, including inter-agency assessments, and ability to analyze assessment results.
• 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.

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.

Qualifications
Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required.
• Experience in conducting research and producing analytical reports is desirable.
• Experience working on legal frameworks pertaining to protection of civilians and/or internal displacement is desirable.
• Field experience related to protection of civilians in contexts of armed conflict and/or natural disasters is desirable.

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 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 the position advertised fluency in English is required.

Application Closing Date
29th April, 2015

Method of Application
All applicants are requested to submit a completed personal history profile (PHP) to: [email protected] with a copy to: [email protected] Please indicate just this code OCHA/G/61/2015 in the subject of your e-mail.

Click here to Register and Complete a personal history profile (PHP)

Or
Click here for Application Process

NOTE

• Documents should be saved as pdf file, with the title formatted as follows: Doc-t type _Given Name FAMILY NAME.pdf. For example: PHP_Joe GREY.pdf.
• Note that applications to United Nations Secretariat positions can be generated in the new Inspira recruitment system. We encourage you to create an electronic personal history profile and to apply to these and other positions for which you are interested and qualified at: http://inspira.un.org
• Note that applicants eligibility cannot be fully assessed if the personal history profile is not properly completed. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Potential candidates under serious consideration will be contacted by the hiring manager directly. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
• 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.
• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her; in this context, all staff members are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers In accordance with established rules and procedures.
• "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."