Humanitarian Affairs Assistant - Access

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)‘s overall goal in Lebanon is to support the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) in his/her work to ensure a coherent and effective humanitarian response to all people in need in Lebanon, in line with the relevant humanitarian response frameworks in Lebanon.

OCHA Lebanon’s focus is to:
• Enhance coordination mechanisms at the strategic level, in support of the HC and the HCT to improve planning and monitoring of a joined-up response across all sectors;
• Under the purview of the HC and the HCT, coordinate the emergency humanitarian response to the economic crisis, COVID-19 and Cholera as per the Emergency Response Plan.
• Strengthen situational awareness in a fluid context, as well as the analysis of humanitarian needs, gaps and response;
• Mobilize flexible, predictable humanitarian funding; and,
• Advocate for improved protection and humanitarian access.

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains highly volatile, driven by continued hostilities despite the cessation of hostilities agreement announced in April 2026. Recurrent airstrikes, shelling, and displacement orders, particularly in South Lebanon, Nabatieh, and parts of the Bekaa, have resulted in continued civilian casualties, population movements, and widespread destruction of homes and
critical infrastructure. More than one million people have been displaced at various stages of the crisis, while thousands remain in collective shelters or are unable to return due to insecurity and extensive damage. Humanitarian needs remain acute across shelter, food security, health, protection, water, and education sectors, with women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities among the most vulnerable. Funding shortfalls continue to constrain the ability of humanitarian actors to sustain and scale up assistance.

Humanitarian access remains possible in most parts of the country but is increasingly constrained in conflict-affected areas, particularly in the south. Ongoing insecurity, repeated strikes, movement restrictions, damaged roads and bridges, unexploded ordnance, and conflict debris continue to impede the safe and timely delivery of assistance and the restoration of essential services.

Humanitarian actors regularly reassess operational modalities to reach affected populations while balancing security and protection considerations. Access constraints are particularly pronounced in areas close to the Blue Line and other locations subject to evacuation orders or military activity, where humanitarian operations require enhanced coordination and risk mitigation measures.

Given the intensive engagement required to deliver on its mandate for humanitarian access and CMCoord, liaison with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), UNIFIL, and other actors, including parties to the conflict, supporting the office’s access and CMCoord work, including the humanitarian notification system in the coming months, is essential.

These UNV assignments are based in the OCHA Office in Beirut. The UN Volunteers will support the Access and Civil-Military Coordination Unit in delivering on their objective to facilitate access and support humanitarian operations across Lebanon.

The UN Volunteers will be expected to support the unit in a wide range of tasks, particularly providing technical support to the Humanitarian Notification System (HNS) project team.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer – Access
or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteers will:

• Provide support for HNS-related tasks, including the processing of sites, humanitarian movements, tracking of movements and follow-up with humanitarian partners in Lebanon.
• Support and maintain an up-to-date database of stakeholders and relevant actors, analyzing trends and access impediments to planned missions.
• Assist in organizing workshops, events and training sessions on different topics under access and CMCoord.
• Maintain up to date list of contacts, information products, maps and other documents to improve communication and information-sharing within the unit.
• Assist in the development of access and CMCoord reports and products and ensure regular update of relevant reports, presentations, minutes, snapshots, including analysis of HNS-related access trends.
• Perform other duties as requested by the Head of Unit.