Emergency Specialist, (P-3), Nairobi, UNICEF ESARO #94574

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

Purpose of the Position

Under the general guidance of the Regional Emergency Advisor, provide support to UNICEF Country Offices (CO) engaged in humanitarian action encompassing preparedness, response and post-crisis recovery.  The Emergency Specialist will work as part of the Humanitarian Action Resilience and Peace Building (HARP) Section as well as with sectoral emergency focal points within the Regional Office (RO), inter-agency partners and Country Office staff. 

Key Expected Results

• Undertake analysis of key risks and monitor emerging humanitarian trends and potential socio-political instability in the region. Support triggering of early action in response to early warning information and support Country Offices in undertaking enhanced preparedness actions.
• Effective and strategic coordination of support to Country Offices undertaking humanitarian action.
• Resource mobilization for humanitarian action is supported through consolidation of information on various humanitarian contexts, priority humanitarian needs, UNICEF and partners' ongoing response and priority resource needs and develop clear communication products for internal and external dissemination.
• Management engagement with high-level mechanisms is supportec by ensuring appropriate analysis and documentation is available.
• Country specific, regional and inter-agency preparedness processes are supported through effective tracking of progress and identification of gaps and priority actions
• Quality assurance and monitoring of preparedness and humanitarian response planning is effectively supported and implementation including analysis of humanitarian performance monitoring data and situation reports.
• Regional reports, donor proposals, budget reviews, regional analyses, and regional office work planning exercises and effectively supported and documented.
• Effective systems for information management within the Regional Office are maintained and high quality materials for external distribution are produced on the status of UNICEF's emergency preparedness and response.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

• Support and contribute to effective and strategic coordination of support to Country Offices undertaking humanitarian action.  Provide dedicated support to the preparation, documentation and follow-up of emergency management mechanism within the RO including Emergency Management Team, Humanitarian Action Team and other mechanism as required.  Focus will be placed on supporting coordination  for South Sudan and neighboring countries, Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes.
•  Support resource mobilization for humanitarian action by consolidating information on various humanitarian contexts, priority humanitarian needs, UNICEF and partners' ongoing response and priority resource needs and develop clear communication products for internal and external dissemination.  Focus will be placed on supporting coordination for South Sudan and neighboring countries, Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes.
• Undertake analysis of key risks and monitor emerging humanitarian trends and potential socio-political instability in the region. Support triggering of early action in response to early warning information and support Country Offices in undertaking enhanced preparedness actions.
• Ensure UNICEF representation in key technical-level inter-agency fora related to emergency preparedness and  response. Support management engagement with high-level mechanisms by ensuring appropriate analysis is available.
• Support country specific, regional and inter-agency preparedness processes by tracking progress, providing support to implementation of key actions and engagement with inter-agency processes at the regional level.
• Support quality assurance and monitoring of preparedness and humanitarian response planning and implementation including analysis of humanitarian performance monitoring data and situation reports.
• Develop and maintain effective systems for information management within the Regional Office and develop high quality materials for external distribution are produced on the status of UNICEF's emergency preparedness and response.
• Participate in the preparation of all regional reports, budget reviews, regional analyses, and regional office work planning exercises.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.

Work Experience 

• Five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in humanitarian and development programme development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration.
• Developing country work experience
• Specialized training/experience in emergency preparedness and response management is required

Language Proficiency 

• Fluency in English and a second UN language; Local working language of the duty station an asset

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results

Functional Competencies

• Leading and Supervising
• Analyzing
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Persuading and Influencing
• Applying Technical Expertise
• Planning and Organizing
• Adapting and Responding Change
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks

Technical Knowledge 

Specific Technical Knowledge Required

UNICEF policies and strategy to address on national and international emergency issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery.
Knowledge of global humanitarian issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches. 
Knowledge of UN humanitarian reform principles, international humanitarian laws.
Knowledge of the principle of gender parity and equality.

Common Technical Knowledge Required

• The UNICEF mission statement; UNICEF Board policy papers and decisions.
• The Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies. 
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child; Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women.
• EMOPS Technical Notes, EMOPS Emergency Field Book. 
• UNICEF Program Manuals, policy guidelines, ExDirs, PROs; Country Programme documentation. 
• UNICEF personnel, financial, supply and administrative rules, regulations and manuals. 
• National development plans and policies; Guidelines and manuals from NGO/donor partners.
• Annual work plan. 
• UNDAF; The UN Humanitarian Reform; IASC documents, guidelines and materials on UN Humanitarian Reform and the cluster approach.
• Information & Communications Technology literacy, including skills and knowledge of office system applications, LAN, internet navigation, telecommunications, and data analysis.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness

Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced

• UN security operations and guidelines.
• Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes.
• Knowledge of the latest developments and trends in emergency preparedness and response management related fields.
• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian/emergency issues and response.
• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions in international developing cooperation. 
• Current knowledge of development issues and social programming in international development cooperation context. 

 

Remarks

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

 

Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service