Humanitarian Coordination Support Assistant

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 effort.

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 IUNV Humanitarian Affairs Officer in Port Sudan, OCHA Sudan. This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of IUNV Humanitarian Affairs Officer in Port Sudan, OCHA Sudan. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, OCHA Sudan, the incumbent reports to the Head of Coordination, Strategic Coordination and Support Unit.

The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the UN Secretariat department responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. OCHA also ensures that there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.

OCHA Sudan addresses and facilitates issues relating to coordination, policy, advocacy, information management, and humanitarian financing, and serves the entire humanitarian community. In doing this, OCHA works with Government counterparts and the Sudanese Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). OCHA provides support to the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in Sudan. Working with the entire humanitarian community, OCHA looks to foster a conducive operating environment that facilitates the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance (both material assistance and protection assistance). Crucially, OCHA promotes compliance with humanitarian principles in the humanitarian response. This is an essential element of effective humanitarian coordination and is central to establishing and maintaining access to affected populations, particularly in conflict-affected areas of Sudan.

This UN Volunteer assignment offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the volunteer’s wellbeing and enable effective service delivery. The selected UN Volunteer will receive a monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) sufficient to cover basic living expenses at the duty station, in line with UN Volunteers Conditions of Service. In addition, the assignment includes full medical insurance coverage, with eligibility for dependent insurance, as well as danger and hardship differentials applicable to the duty station. Other entitlements include entry and exit lump-sum allowances, learning and development support, and coverage of assignment-related travel and relocation costs. These benefits ensure adequate financial security and professional support throughout the assignment, making this opportunity both impactful and attractive for qualified candidates.

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Coordination Support Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
• Support the preparation, organization and follow-up for key coordination meetings and activities, including drafting presentations, organizing preparatory and debrief meetings, note-taking and action point tracking.
• Provide logistical support for relevant missions, workshops and consultations.
• Attend relevant meetings, including cluster and thematic working group meetings, ensuring accurate notetaking and follow-up.
• Monitor and ensure follow-up on relevant developments, gaps and support needs related to the Strategic Coordination Unit, including liaison with clusters and sub-offices.
• Support the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and drafting of the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, including conducting research and information-gathering, drafting and proofreading documents and organizing meetings with stakeholders.
• Serve as a back-up on key thematic issues, including gender, PSEA, AAP, inclusion and localization.
• Help promote volunteerism by supporting community engagement activities and sharing information about UNV’s work
• Perform other duties as required, including updating and maintaining contact lists, supporting the electronic filing system for the unit and other tasks.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.