Background

UNOCHA 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.

UNOCHA 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.

Organizational setting

The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the UN Secretariat department responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. OCHA also ensures that there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.  

OCHA Sudan addresses and facilitates issues relating to coordination, communications, and humanitarian financing, and serves the entire humanitarian community. In doing this, OCHA works with the Sudanese Government's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and other government counterparts. OCHA provides support to the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in Sudan. Working with the entire humanitarian community, OCHA looks to foster a conducive operating environment that facilitates the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance (both material assistance and protection assistance). Crucially, OCHA promotes compliance with humanitarian principles in the humanitarian response. This is an essential element of effective humanitarian coordination and is central to establishing and maintaining access to affected populations, particularly in conflict-affected areas of Sudan.

Impact of Results:

Assist the HAO in identifying significant humanitarian issues and problems to be addressed in the assigned region/state.  Develop well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to problem resolution.  Assist the HAO to manage projects and work teams, ensuring timely delivery of outputs.  Help meet organizational objectives and provide sound inputs and advice with respect to coordination of humanitarian/emergency action.

Provide effective guidance on cultural and political issues intrinsic to the assigned state/region. Timely deliver assigned outputs, develop partnerships and effectively interact with colleagues internally and externally.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Field Coordinator is a core position in the Full-fledged National Area Coordination in OCHA supervised by the Team Leader (Head of Sub-Office).  The incumbent will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the project activities in the region. The position is opened to only Sudanese nationals.

Under the immediate supervision of the International Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) and under the overall supervision & direction of Head of Field Coordination Section Khartoum, the incumbent is expected to perform the following tasks:

Summary of key functions:

• Coordination.
• Information Management / Advocacy.

1. Coordination

• Ensure establishment of partnerships with other humanitarian actors to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• Coordinate delivery of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations; complete rapid assessments, prepare situation reports, analyzing the situation and specifying unmet requirements of stricken areas.
• Coordinate the disaster response/preparedness and the formulation of project proposals; provide technical support to field work.
• Ensure establishment of humanitarian coordination mechanisms in Geneina State.
• Represent OCHA in sectoral coordination meetings in Geneina.
• Ensure monitoring of CHF funded projects in the region.

   2-  Information Management / Advocacy

• Ensure collection, monitoring and collecting information on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management programmes or emergency situations in the assigned state/region.
• Establish and maintain contacts with other UN agencies and non-governmental organizations and relevant government counterparts in the assigned region/state,
• Participate in the production of weekly/monthly sitreps on the humanitarian situation and assist in strengthening information networks to gather humanitarian data from the field.
• Consolidate and maintain a database of information on who is doing what where; assist in developing state/provincial profiles for provinces in the assigned area, as well as hazard maps, contact lists and databases on humanitarian assistance and preparedness.
• Support advocacy efforts concerning humanitarian issues based on analysis of the humanitarian situation, especially on the protection of civilians.
• Organize work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on the ground on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
• Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow.

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others.

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

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.

Technical/Functional

Professionalism

• Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Very good knowledge of State/Region of assignment, including the cultural, political and economic dimensions.  Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political and socio-economic.
• 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. 
• Very good knowledge 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. 

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master's degree in social political or social science, Law, International studies, Public Administration, or other relevant science is required.

• Bachelor’s degree with two additional qualifying years in above fields may be accepted in lieu of the Masters.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management or other related area.

• Preferably with at least two years with a UN organization or an NGO.

• Good drafting and report writing skills are required.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in oral and written English and Arabic is required.  Candidates will be tested on their linguistic ability and regional and cultural knowledge.