United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
Notes: This is a temporary Job Opening open to both internal and external candidates.
Duration of Need: nine months with possibility of extension
Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible
• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further “stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…” Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.
• Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.
• The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.
• Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.
• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at:http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in Strategic Planning, Evaluation and Guidance Section (SPEGS) of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will report to the head of the Evaluation and Oversight unit in SPEGS.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Participates in the organization, management and preparation of evaluations and studies on humanitarian emergency relief, humanitarian financing and related issues, and ensures that evaluations adhere to professional norms and standards; plans and organizes follow-up work, including interagency meetings to support policy development work and its use in decision-making and organizational learning.
Participates in large and complex humanitarian evaluations and other evaluative projects to review the coordination of international humanitarian assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and ensures the necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); drafts summary and lessons learned reports.
Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in assigned country/area.
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.
Support planning, including fund raising for evaluations and other evaluative studies; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
Establishes and maintains contacts with partners, including other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.
Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance, evaluation 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. evaluation reports, background papers, policy guidelines, , briefings, lessons learned documents, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc.
Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics or evaluation and policy-related issues; keeps abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., ensures appropriate evaluation, monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provides information and advice on a range of related issues.
Organizes and participates in working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
Contributes to the development of management response plans and related documentation, providing advice on the prioritization of oversight and evaluation findings and recommendations to support decision-making processes.
Provides follow up to the implementation of oversight and evaluation recommendations, ensuring maintenance and updating of the recommendations database and drafting periodic reports on their implementation in order to contribute to organizational learning and development.
Provides guidance to, and may supervise, new/junior staff.
Performs other duties as required.
Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
Staff at all levels within OCHA both in New York and Geneva.
Humanitarian Coordinators and their staff in the field, as well as Programme Managers, Regional Commissions
Representatives of other UN humanitarian agencies and other member organizations in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee.
UN Resident Coordinators in disaster-prone developing countries
UN Mission and Member State personnel with responsibility for humanitarian issues, and non-governmental organization representatives and the academic community.
Results Expected: Contributes to the effective management of evaluations and related processes, ensuring adequate planning, implementation and follow up of activities. Produces well-written analytical outputs for a variety of audiences to present findings and lessons learned, targeting contents to audience. On the basis of evaluation findings, recommendations and lessons learned, provides sound analytical inputs and advice that contribute to improving institutional capacity and articulates policy on a growing number of humanitarian and relief assistance issues. Provides timely delivery of assigned outputs. Develops partnerships and interacts effectively with colleagues internally and externally.
Competencies
• Professionalism: Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related human rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems. Knowledge and experience in evaluation, including UNEG norms and standards as applied to humanitarian evaluations. 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.
• 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.
• 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 degree) 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. Background and experience in evaluation, as well as good knowledge of professional evaluation standards and methods is highly desirable for this post.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English 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.
United Nations Considerations
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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.
HOW TO APPLY:
https://inspira.un.org/psc/UNCAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.U...
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.
Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
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