ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING AND REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kinshasa. The Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) reports to the Head of the Coordination Section (P-4).
The post supports OCHA’s work in coordinating the planning, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian response in DRC. The HAO has lead responsibility for planning, monitoring and evaluating the Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP), contingency planning, and for producing specific action plans in response to sudden crises.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Planning and Coordination
Manage the production of appeals for international assistance, notably the country-wide Humanitarian Appeal Plan (HAP) needs analysis and prioritizing process in conjunction with relevant stakeholders (national and provincial Clusters and inter-agency provincial committees, Humanitarian Country Team, Humanitarian Coordinator);
Organize and prepare studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organize follow up work, including inter-agency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision making;
Participate in large, complex projects to include disaster assessment or other missions; assist in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support; draft situation reports to the international community apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements; co-ordinate processes to develop contingency plans and develop specific emergency response plans to sudden crises and work with partners on promoting multi-sectoral assessments including MIRA;
Establish and maintain contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and liaise with OCHA global teams to ensure that DRC planning and preparedness activities feed into global planning requirements;
Monitor humanitarian risks to ensure that plans remain relevant and are sufficiently well resourced and consistent, drafting situation reports as and when required.
Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation of the HAP
Partner with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations
Ensure efficient and effective results-based monitoring and reporting systems are in place to track projects and programmes aligned to HAP priorities, in conjunction with the Clusters and other relevant stakeholders in DRC, e.g. key implementing partners;
Ensure the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA
Liaise with OCHA global teams to ensure that Terms of Reference, evaluation teams, evaluation processes and findings from evaluations commissioned for DRC produce accurate, reliable and useful evidence for reporting on the HAP and for key audiences in DRC such as the HC and donors;
Commission any OCHA DRC HAP evaluations in line with UNEG guidance and requirements and OCHA’s evaluation policy;
Prepare or contribute to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. the annual HAP Report, case studies, evaluations, presentations, correspondence.
Leadership of the Unit
Provide guidance to and supervises a team of 4 staff, inducting and managing the performance of team members individually and collectively to achieve team objectives to a high standard, and to meet deadlines under pressure;
Ensure information systems and data on humanitarian action is kept up to date and is accurate and reliable;
Organize and participate in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief related matters
Comply with OCHA organizational system requirements and ensure OCHA policies and procedures are implemented, providing feedback to assist in the development of policies and procedures;
Perform other duties commensurate with the nature and responsibilities of the post, as may be required from time to time by OCHA DRC senior management.
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.
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.
JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
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. 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. Experience in the UN Common System is desirable. Experience in the region is desirable.
Education:Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Language:French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and French is required.
How to apply:
The position is intended to fill functions of short-term duration This temporary position is for an initial period of eleven (11) months with possibility of extension. All posts are subject to availability of funds.
Please state your full name and the temporary job opening notice number OCHA/G/74/2014 as the subject in your e-mail application and send one email application for every temporary job opening announcement. Documents should be saved as pdf file, with the title formatted as follows: FAMILY NAMEgiven name Doc-t type.pdf. For example: GREY_Joe _PHP.pdf.
All applicants are requested to submit a completed personal history profile (PHP) to Adrien Duthuitduthuit@un.org CRD staffing ochacrdstaffing@un.org with a copy to ochavacancies@un.org .Please indicate the temporary job opening number OCHA/G/74/2014 in the Subject of your e-mail.
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.
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