This position is located in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) secretariat, hosted within the Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB), Coordination Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York. OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts.
The Humanitarian Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of the IASC secretariat in Geneva.
Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
•Undertakes and provides support to assigned IASC bodies and assists Chairs/co-Chairs including in terms of highlighting and fostering synergies and connectivity between the various IASC structures and critical non-IASC entities/stakeholders; supports Chairs/co-Chairs in monitoring the implementation of decisions, delivering on assigned tasks, and reporting bi-annually; undertakes substantive research as may be required in preparation of IASC and/or IASC subsidiary bodies’ meetings.
•Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners and coordinates the preparations for IASC/IASC-related meetings in New York; drafts summary records and action points from IASC meetings; follows up with IASC organizations on the implementation of decisions; liaises with key Stakeholders in New York on issues that can affect the work of the IASC.
•Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations and provides the required support to the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Chair of the Deputy Forum, EDG, etc.-
•Organizes and prepares studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including inter-agency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues.
•Partners with IASC member organizations and other key stakeholders to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
•Establishes and maintains contacts with IASC member organizations and other key stakeholders including Member States, UN secretariat entities among others.
•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, 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.
•Provides guidance to, and may supervise, new/junior staff.
•Performs other duties as required.
• 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. 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.
• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
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 is required.
A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area, is required
At least two years of recent field experience in complex emergency or natural disaster context is required
Experience in humanitarian coordination in the UN and inter-agency settings is required
Experience in emergency response and preparedness work is required.
At least two years of experience supporting senior leads is required
Experience liaising with governments and donors is required
Experience in the programme and resource management, including budget, grant reporting, proposal development and human resources, is desirable
French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-general and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions.
An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
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.