Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Damaturu) at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) 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: Damaturu, Yobe
Employment Type: Service Contract (SC)
Job ID: 41255
Practice Area - Job Family: Crisis Prevention And Recovery - Humanitarian
Grade: SB4
Contract Duration: 1 year with possibility of extension

Duties and Responsibilities

• The HAO is expected to have comprehensive knowledge of North East of Nigeria, UNOCHA operations, humanitarian partners, operations of the government and NGOs.
• As such the HAO provides the elements of institutional memory and local networking essential to the credibility and authority of the statements and documents provided by OCHA and the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator.
• They work with little supervision in the field, and are expected to prepare concise reports and analysis and are an integral part of the OCHA Team in Nigeria. 

Summary of key functions: 

• Ensure accurate Information Collection in support of Humanitarian Analysis and
• Response, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
• Review incoming field reports, prepare summaries of field activities and flag important issues to senior management
• Actively participate in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and Humanitarian Needs Overview process, and HRP/HNO Mid-Year Review and End-year Review processes.
• Gather and verify information on issues affecting the humanitarian situation, emphasizing opportunities for response.
• Supports field analysis and interface with the AIM working group to extract key action points that need follow-up from assessments undertaken and the humanitarian Dashboard.

Ensure facilitation of information sharing among partners focusing on achievement of the following:

• Pro-actively share information with OCHA and relevant stakeholders on pertinent issues. 
• Identify key pieces of information that will assist with organizational decision-making with a particular focus on improving humanitarian response.

Ensure the development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Support existing coordination mechanisms and assist in the establishment of new field coordination wherever required.
• Establish relationships with key stakeholders, including non-traditional humanitarian actors, in areas of operation to ensure humanitarian information flow from OCHA to partners and vice versa and ensure their participation in operations

Ensure proper monitoring and reporting focusing on achievement of the following: 

• Field visits to the Local Government Areas (LGAs) and support the collection of field information to monitor and improve ongoing response, coordination activities and information products. 
• Prepare succinct reports on the key humanitarian issues in the districts and workings with state-level partners provide analysis on response gaps and advocacy issues

Impact of Results:

• The key results have an impact on the overall coordination of humanitarian and emergency assistance.
• The root causes of the humanitarian/emergency situations are appreciated, ensuring that strong and effective responses are mounted.
• This facilitates operational agencies in succeeding in their core objectives, building of strong partnerships with relevant parties and the achievement of OCHA’s objectives. 

Competencies

Global Leadership and Advocacy for OCHA’s Goals:

• Preparing information for global advocacy
• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for OCHA’s goals for a variety of audiences
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of OCHA’s priorities and to support advocacy efforts

Building Strategic Partnerships:

• Maintaining a network of contacts
• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Planning and organizing:

• Planning & Organization: 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.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Basic research and analysis
• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches

Job Knowledge / Technical Expertise:

• Fundamental knowledge of own discipline
• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Client Orientation:

• Establishing effective client relationships
• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients

Core Competencies: 

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment 
• Self-development, initiative-taking 
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork 
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively 
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing are the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision-making.

Requirements
Education: 

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Political Science, Sociology, Law, International Relations or other related fields with up to 2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level.
• A relevant first-level university degree with additional 2 years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Up to 2 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in complex emergency and inter-agency contexts particularly the North East of Nigeria, dealing with relief and transitional issues.
• Familiarity with UN policies, rules and procedures, particularly in relation to humanitarian response and coordination, and knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance, especially the humanitarian reform agenda. 
• Ability to research, analyze, evaluate and synthesize information. 
• Ability to express clearly and concisely, ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements:

• Professional fluency in oral and written English, Hausa and Kanori is required.  Candidates will be tested on their linguistic ability. 

Application Closing Date
2nd March, 2022 (Midnight New York, USA).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• UNDP 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 UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.