Background

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat, which is 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 to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
The Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer (AHAO) in Barbados will help strengthen humanitarian coordination, disaster preparedness, and response at national and local level. Activities include supporting and providing technical advice to the RC and humanitarian partners on humanitarian affairs, increasing capacity on preparedness and emergency response and coordinating emergency response.
This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer position, based in Bridgetown, Barbados. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, OCHA Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, the incumbent reports to the Head of the Coordination Unit.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
 

Coordination:
•Monitor and analyze the dynamic humanitarian situation and its operational challenges.
•Organize, participate, and/or assist in organizing workgroups, meetings, conferences, consultations, etc., with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
•Support the RC on his/her duties in facilitating humanitarian coordination meetings.
•Ensure the predictability of coordination forums, including regular and consistent meeting schedules, effective meeting agendas, and follow-up on the coordination meetings' decisions and action points.
•Establish partnerships with other humanitarian agencies and relevant authorities, including CDEMA, to plan and monitor complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programs; help ensure the latest findings, lessons learned, etc., are incorporated into activities, including gender and accountability to affected people in the provinces under Barbados’s areas of responsibility.
 

Information Management:
•Assist in establishing and maintaining contacts with other humanitarian partners, relevant government counterparts at national and departmental levels.

•Produce information products on the humanitarian situation, needs, gaps, early warning, response, and gaps.
•Support the database of information on who is doing what where (345W) and the mapping of partners and agencies’ presence.
•Assist in establishing appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
•Support uploading, updating, and maintaining work files on shared drives.
 

Advocacy:
•Prepare updates, humanitarian overviews, and context analyses.
•Support advocacy efforts concerning humanitarian issues based on analysis of the humanitarian situation.
•Keep abreast of the latest developments and help liaise with other humanitarian organizations, donors, and government counterparts.
•Provide information and advice on a range of humanitarian issues.
•Contribute to the preparation of various written reports, documents, and communications, e.g., Draft briefing notes, advocacy messages, talking points, presentations (including PowerPoint), etc. as required
 

Humanitarian Financing
•Support the elaboration of flash appeals and other emergency response documents as required
 

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
Staff at all levels within OCHA ROLAC
Resident Coordinator and counterparts in other UN agencies.
National and local authorities in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Competencies

•Professionalism (Integrated throughout): Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian, emergency relief assistance and related human rights 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
 

•Communication (Connect and Collaborate): 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.
 

•Teamwork (Connect and Collaborate): Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
 

•Planning& Organizing (Deliver Results with Positive Impact): Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
 

•Creativity (Adapt and Innovate): Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree preferably in Political or Social Science, Law, International studies, Business Management, Management, Science, or any other relevant area is required OR
• A first-level university degree in the field of humanitarian affairs or any other related field will be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. 
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in coordination, humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or related area, is required.
• Familiarity with existing coordination structures in the Caribbean and among the different humanitarian actors is highly desirable.
• Familiarity and good knowledge of the region's social, political, humanitarian, security, and economic conditions are highly desirable.
• Good analytic skills are required.
• Good oral communication and writing skills are required.
• Good interpersonal skills are required,
• Ability to work in a multiracial and multicultural environment is required.
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively in a challenging environment is required.
• Experience in the Caribbean context and in areas of disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response is an advantage.

Language:
 

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
   

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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