Emergency Specialist (Risk Monitoring and Analysis), P-3 - New York, USA #103032

The Emergency Specialist (Risk Monitoring and Analysis) will facilitate UNICEF’s global risk monitoring and analysis, including research and analysis of issues potentially affecting UNICEF’s humanitarian response, including natural and human-induced threats and the related vulnerability of children and those who care for them.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a Champion

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

As emergencies become more frequent, the expectations of UNICEF to deliver on the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) in a timely and effective manner will continue to increase.  Emergency preparedness significantly enhances UNICEF’s ability to meet these expectations and save time and resources in the response. In 2018 EMOPS created the Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section to bring together organizational elements focused on ensuring that UNICEF is prepared and ready to respond to all forms of hazard and threats that could create humanitarian needs for children and those who care for them. This includes developing UNICEF’s ability to anticipate hazards and their outcomes to trigger preparedness and readiness actions. This position contributes to this goal.

Job organizational context

The Emergency Specialist (Risk Monitoring and Analysis) is based in UNICEF Headquarters, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section (RAPS) and reports to the Emergency Specialist (Risk Analysis)

How can you make a difference?

The Emergency Specialist (Risk Monitoring and Analysis) will facilitate UNICEF’s global risk monitoring and analysis, including research and analysis of issues potentially affecting UNICEF’s humanitarian response, including natural and human-induced threats and the related vulnerability of children and those who care for them. The Emergency Specialist will research and draft analytical reports, liaise with key partners and allies, and support the development UNICEF’s analytical systems and related analytical capacity, policies and technologies.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Carries out global risk scanning and analysis at regular intervals, in coordination with HQs, ROs and COs and HQ, to inform and help trigger emergency preparedness and response.
2. Researches and analyses natural or human-induced threats and the related vulnerability of children and those who care for them in countries of interest to UNICEF around the world, to support emergency preparedness actions or programmatic adjustments.
3. Provides technical advice and training on risk monitoring and analysis processes and policy to relevant staff at HQ/RO/CO
4. Supports development of technological innovations in UNICEF’s analytical processes
5. Continuous, effective and strategic cooperation with key actors.

Duties/Tasks:

1. Carries out global risk scanning and analysis at regular intervals, in coordination with HQs, ROs and COs and HQ, to inform and help trigger emergency preparedness and response.
   • Liaise and coordinate information sharing with HQ, RO, and CO focal points for risk analysis and monitoring.
   • Participate and/or initiate meetings on risk analysis/monitoring with EMOPS, other HQ Divisions, ROs and COs as appropriate.
   • Review COs and ROs risk analyses (in the EPP) and provide feedback (or support ROs in providing timely feedback).
   • Produce risk analysis/monitoring briefs.
   •  
2. Researches and analyses natural or human-induced threats and the related vulnerability of children and those who care for them in countries of interest to UNICEF around the world, to support emergency preparedness actions or programmatic adjustments.
   • Coordinate with UNICEF HQ, RO and CO to identify key risk-related issues requiring further study/analysis.
   • Identify appropriate data sources including UNICEF data platforms, UN Departments, Agencies, Funds and Programmes and external entities - open sources, subscription services, NGOs, academia, think tanks etc.
   • Research and draft analytical papers of varying length on identified topics/dynamics, to include, inter alia, socio-political, security, conflict, humanitarian, population movement, access etc.
3. Provides technical advice and training on risk monitoring and analysis processes and policy to relevant staff at HQ/RO/CO.
   • Provide technical assistance on risk analysis/monitoring issues to HQ/RO/CO.
   • Support coherence with ERM, BCM and SRM procedures, concepts and tools as regards risk analysis. 
   • Support development of online and in person trainings to build risk analysis capacity
   • Support implementation of trainings as above.
4. Supports development of technological innovations in UNICEF’s analytical processes
   • Maintain a wide professional network, keeping abreast of ideas and innovations in humanitarian research and analysis.
   • Keep abreast of the development and implementation of UNICEF and other humanitarian data platforms, including E-Tools, Innovation Department, DRP, DEEP etc. in conjunction with EMOPs, GCCU and IT.
   • Keep abreast of external software developments, around social media monitoring, analysis software, data analysis/mining/fusion platforms, media monitoring/aggregation etc. 
5. Continuous, effective and strategic collaboration with key actors.
   • Establishes and maintains relationships with key actors/allies, including UN AFP and Departments (especially OPSCEN equivalents, e.g. UNOCC), NGOs, academia, private sector, think tanks etc

Impact of Results

The efficient and effective analytical support provided by the Analyst Specialist impacts on the timeliness and effectiveness of the humanitarian action for children in emergencies.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

• An advanced university degree  in political science, economics, international relations or another relevant science/social science field.

Experience

• At least five years of experience in humanitarian risk analysis
• Experience analysing the risk to vulnerable populations posed by both natural and human-induced threats, using methods of estimating likelihood/probability and impact, and drafting related reports
• Demonstrated skills in using data for analytical purposes
• Experience using ArcGIS or Q-GIS, especially for analytical functions, is an asset
• Experience using data analysis software such as SPSS or R is an asset, as is experience with data visualisation tools such as Power BI or Tableau

Language Requirements

Fluency in English required; proficiency in another UN language highly desirable

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's core values Diversity & Inclusion, Integrity, Commitment and Core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are Analyzing, Planning and Organizing, Persuading and Influencing, Adapting and Responding to change, Coping with Pressure and Setbacks.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.