Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the System-wide Approaches and Practices Section (SWAPS), Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB), Coordination Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in Geneva. OCHA 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 efforts. 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.

The Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Accountability to Affected Populations / Community Engagement) reports to the Chief of the System-wide Approaches and Practices Section (SWAPS) with additional supervision by the Deputy Chief of the IASC secretariat.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Accountability to Affected Populations / Community Engagement) will be responsible for the following duties:

•Serves as a senior policy officer, advising on overall policy direction on accountability to affected populations (AAP)/community engagement (CE) in support of the IASC and concerned subsidiary bodies; and in support of OCHA, particularly in terms of how it relates to the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) and inter-cluster coordination.
•Prepares and/ or contributes to policy position papers, guidelines and tools in support of IASC workstreams on AAP/CE; provides advice to IASC subsidiary bodies’ and their respective Chairs/Co-Chairs on concrete ways to ensure system-wide efforts to strengthen AAP/CE.
•Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management programmes or emergency situations in assigned country/area; develops and maintains a “watch list” of countries with potential for humanitarian crisis, including those of relevance to AAP/CE. Monitors and supports OCHA’s progress against OCHA-specific and system-wide results-based indicators related to AAP/CE.
•Leads and/or participates in large, complex projects, to include assessment or other missions related to AAP/CE; supports and links system-wide AAP efforts that are related to partnerships with the private sector that benefit the humanitarian system and are aligned with the priorities of the IASC principals.
•Initiates and coordinates activities related to AAP/CE, including through support to the HPC and inter-cluster coordination; as required, provides technical support, training and capacity building to OCHA field offices and Humanitarian Country Teams.
•Analyzes and assists in introducing new technologies and tools related to AAP/CE.
•Organizes and prepares studies on AAP/CE and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including inter-agency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues; and ensures the implementation of recommendations emanating from relevant studies.
•Assists or leads, as appropriate, in the preparation of reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence, presentations, background papers, policy guidelines, etc. related to AAP/CE and in support of the IASC and its subsidiary bodies.
•Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate the effectiveness of AAP/CE system-wide efforts and provides advice on concrete way to strengthen AAP/CE efforts; helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
•Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc. with regard to AAP/CE; ensures appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system, including on early warning and contingency planning, etc.
•Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
•Participates in planning and preparation of section budget and work program.
•Provides leadership and work direction to assigned work team, and/or mentors and supervises the work of new/junior officers.
•Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

•Professionalism: Knowledge of wide range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues. Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, to include ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of complex issues that require a coordinated UN response. Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems. Knowledge of region or country of assignment, including the political, economic and social dimensions. Ability to negotiate and to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery). Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs and knowledge of the institutions of the UN system. Demonstrated ability to complete in-depth studies and to formulate conclusions/recommendations. Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political, economic, social and human rights programmes in affected country/region. 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.

•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.

•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.

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 is required. 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.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area, is required.
At least three (3) years of recent experience in humanitarian coordination in UN and inter-agency settings in the field is required.
At least two years of experience of directly supporting or coordinating CE/AAP in humanitarian or development contexts, in the field is required.
Direct experience in developing AAP frameworks at global level is required.
Experience liaising with governments, clusters and donors at field and global level is desirable.
Experience liaising with IASC entities is desirable.
At least one year of experience of partnering with private sector industries relevant to community engagement (mobile network operators, media) is desirable.
Experience in developing or implementing technological tools related to community engagement is desirable.

Languages

French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (written and oral) is required.

Assessment

The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

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 this position.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

United Nations Considerations

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.

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.