Humanitarian Affairs Officer
UN - United Nations
Expiration Date 08-05-2010
Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Americas and the Caribbean, Central Asia, Europe and Middle East Section (ACAEME) of the Coordination and Response Division (CRD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)in New York the incumbent acts as Desk Officer for a set of countries in the Latin American region, particularly Haiti and is expected to perform as back up when required for countries in the Middle East.
The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
* In close liaison with OCHA Country and Regional Offices, monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in assigned country/area. * Facilitates the organization of analyses and advocacy on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including interagency technical review meetings to support policy development work, advocacy and decision-making on important issues. * Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance. * Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to humanitarian reform. * Participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster response/response preparedness or other missions; assists in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support; drafts situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries. * Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and helps to 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; advises on and monitors the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA. * Liaises with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc. * Ensures a broad range of substantive and administrative liaison support to OCHA Field and/or Regional offices on policy issues, strategic planning, work and cost planning, annual reporting, staffing, resource mobilization, advocacy and contingency planning. * Maintains an overview of country- and/or regional-level coordination structures and advises appropriate OCHA offices and Humanitarian Coordinators on maintaining effective coordination within the humanitarian community in accordance with the standards and frameworks of the Humanitarian Reform. * 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; 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. * Organizes and participates, on behalf of the Section, in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters. * May provide guidance to new/junior staff. * Performs other duties as required by the Chief of Section.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of a range of humanitarian coordination issues, emergency relief and related human rights issues to address difficult problems. Ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response. Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources in assigned country/area. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment; ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff. Demonstrates professional competence; 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. In depth knowledge of the context of the Latin America and Caribbean region, particularly Haiti. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clea
top page