Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Crisis Response Division (CRD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 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. This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Access/Civil-Military Coordination) in Pemba, OCHA Mozambique. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, OCHA Mozambique, the incumbent reports to the Head of Office.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Access/Civil-Military Coordination) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in northern Mozambique, particularly related to access and Civil-Military coordination.
• Organizes and prepares studies and papers on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues in Mozambique; organizes follow-up work, including interagency meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues.
• Supports the development of country-specific guidelines on humanitarian civil-military relations, and ensures that the country specific guidelines are properly disseminated and understood by the humanitarian actors and the military forces present, as well as by local actors, as appropriate.
• Participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions; assists in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); supports drafting of situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date, particularly related to access and Civil-Military coordination.
• Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and conduct access and civil military assessments and evaluations and help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• Assists in the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of humanitarian appeals, including the Mozambique Needs Overview (HNO) and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).
• Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, local security, foreign military forces, other UN agencies, local and international non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.
• Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance, troubleshooting on bureaucratic impediments, and other field missions, e.g. participates in field trips to undertake in-depth reviews of specific country access and humanitarian civil military coordination mechanisms.
• Prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g., drafts sections of studies, Access Snapshots, recording and tracking bureaucratic impediments, background papers, policy guidelines, , CMCoord briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc.
• Serves as the primary focal point on civil-miliatary coordination; keeps abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, UN Security, UNHAS, NGO Forum, and local organizations, etc., ensures appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms including on grave violations; provides information and advice on civil-miliary coordination.
• Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to humanitarian access, safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
• Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters, particularly related to access and Civil-Military coordination.
• Provides guidance to, and may supervise, new/junior staff.
• Performs other duties as required. Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian, emergency relief assistance and related humanitarian issues. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to develop sources for data collection. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, work under pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g., civil strife, natural disasters, and human misery). 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. Education An 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 (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job – Specific Qualification Not available. Work Experience A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible 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 access negotiations, humanitarian and/or Civil-Military Coordination with local security and foreign military forces, is required. Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or in a comparable international organization is desirable. Experience in the Eastern and Southern Africa region is desirable. Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Portuguese is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to…