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Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Humanitarian Access - UNOCHA

Aden

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Aden
  • Grade: Junior level - NO-B, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Crisis Prevention and Recovery
    • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
    • Crisis Response
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen facilitates humanitarian action across the country. OCHA mobilizes and coordinates principled humanitarian response in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies, advocates the rights of people in need, supports emergency preparedness and response and facilitates sustainable solutions for vulnerable people adversely affected by conflict and natural disaster. OCHA supports the work of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), the Inter-Cluster Coordination Mechanism (ICCM) national authorities and other humanitarian partners including NGOs in Yemen.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Unit, the national Humanitarian Affairs Officer  will be based in Aden and a member of the OCHA Yemen, Aden Humanitarian Access and Civil Military Coordination Unit.  The Unit comprises of a national CMCoord Officer, national Government of Yemen Liaison Officer and Head of Unit.  Whilst they will be expected to work across the team’s core functions (humanitarian access, CMCoord, Government of Yemen liaison and analysis), their main portfolio will be to act as the primary humanitarian access focal point for the  Aden Area of Responsibility.  Deputizing for the Head of Unit, (s)he will support the humanitarian community to identify and resolve humanitarian access impediments associated with bureaucracy and administration, logistics and physical access as per the OCHA Minimum Package of Services on Access.  Building evidence bases of access related issues, s(he) will analyze access related data, identify trends and recommend solutions.  S(he) will draft daily and weekly inputs to OCHA Yemen access reporting, analysis and briefings. S(he) will also lead frequent field missions to areas of concern such as ‘hard to reach’ geographies.  S(he) will be expected to provide support across the wider workstreams of the OCHA Yemen, Aden team, especially to the Field Coordination Unit.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Deputizing for the Head of Unit, the National Humanitarian Affairs Officer (humanitarian access) will be responsible for the following duties:

  • Monitor and analyze humanitarian access developments in the area of responsibility (AOR);
  • Working with humanitarian partners, establish evidence bases to identify trends associated with humanitarian access impediments, and make recommendations to remedy them;
  • Coordinate development of policy positions for humanitarian partners (UN and non-UN) and assist organisations to adhere to the common policy;
  • Conduct routine daily and weekly reporting, and additional reporting when requested, including visual supporting information;
  • Support development of political, economic and security analysis and reporting;
  • Chair, co-chair and support humanitarian coordination forums, such as the Humanitarian Access Working Group;
  • Participate in the UNDSS Security Risk Management umbrella forums, including the Aden Security Cell;
  • Develop and maintain liaison activities with government officials, armed groups/military, interlocuters, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and partners active in the AOR;
  • Assists in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of workplans, strategies and contingency plans for the area;
  • Support advocacy initiatives on issues impacting humanitarian needs and response efforts through the collection of information, liaison with humanitarian partners and government officials;
  • Organize and participate in working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters;
  • Initiate, coordinate and lead, where appropriate, humanitarian assessment missions;
  • Track information required for early warning of potential humanitarian emergencies; promote preparedness measures, including inter-agency contingency planning;
  • Contribute to the preparation of written reports, documents and official communication, including concept papers and various reports;
  • Prepare briefing materials and presentations with analysis on trends and developments on the humanitarian situation in the country or in specific governorates;
  • Support the sub-office in monitoring the respect and safeguarding of humanitarian principles;
  • Conduct relevant training and capacity building for humanitarian organizations, and other relevant non-humanitarian actors;
  • Perform other duties as required.

The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that 

  • Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
  • Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”;
  • Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;
  • Differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
  • Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
  • Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.

Competencies

Professionalism:

  • Proven analytical skills: ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, and recommend appropriate solutions;
  • Very good knowledge of region of assignment, including the social, cultural, political and economic dimensions;
  • Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political economic, social and human rights programs;
  • Strong negotiation skills: ability to lead and gain assistance of others in a team endeavor, and to articulate coherent arguments to reach agreement;
  • Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. armed conflict, civil strife, natural disasters and human Suffering);
  • Understanding of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system.

Judgment and Decision-making:

  • Apply sound judgment to resolve a range of issues/ problems. Will abide by security guidelines.

Planning and Organizing:

  • Proven ability to plan and organize, establish priorities, manage and monitor work plans, coordinate competing demands, and work to tight deadlines.

Technological Awareness:

  • Solid computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet applications, and relevant software packages, including e-mail;
  • Excellent command of Microsoft Office suite applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).

Communication:

  • Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations, articulating options concisely, conveying maximum information, making and defending recommendations;
  • Proven abilities in data collection, compilation, analysis and reporting with ability to write in a clear and concise manner and effective oral communication;
  • Proven skills in conducting meetings.

Teamwork:

  • Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries;
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi- ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Client orientation:

  • Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
  • Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
  • Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
  • Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
  • Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
  • Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s Degree preferably in Political or Social Science, Law, international studies, Public Administration, or other relevant science is required;
  • A first-level university degree in combination with additonal 2 years of relevant professional and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in the area of emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, humanitarian response, development or field coordination in a complex humanitarian emergency is required;
  • Relevant experience in working with an UN agency or other humanitarian agency is highly desirable;
  • Experience of the full range of humanitarian access issues and best practices to resolve them is highly desirable;
  • Experience of UN Civil Military Coordination is highly desirable.

Language:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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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This vacancy is now closed.
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