Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Access -UNOCHA

This position is open to Ukrainian Nationals ONLY

BACKGROUND

This position is located in the Operations and Advocacy Division (OAD), in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat 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 in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.

The position of Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Access is based in Dnipro (the duty station may be subject to change, as the operational situation in the country evolves), Ukraine. Under the overall supervision of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Head of Sub Office in Dnipro, the incumbent reports to the Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Civil-Military Coordination.

Position Purpose:

Under the overall guidance of the HAO/CMCoord, the Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Access will provide support to the HCT Access Working Group, will facilitate the work of the sub-national humanitarian working group in Dnipro, and provide technical advice and analytical support to OCHA’s Access Focal point for Ukraine. The incumbent will ensure a high quality of work, through accurate, timely and properly recorded/documented service delivery. The incumbent will be required to perform his/her duties without minimal supervision and promote a client, quality and results-oriented approach.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate HAO/Access will be responsible for the following duties:

Adviser on Access:

• Ensures coordination and information exchange with OCHA’s CMCoord officers to guarantee access issues are mainstreamed and addressed in relevant CMCoord forums.
• Monitors, analyzes and reports on access constraints, trends and initiatives.
• Prepares, or provides substantive input in the preparation of, policy, position papers and reports on humanitarian access issues for presentation – including scenario planning, contingency planning, thematic analysis, etc. - to various agencies throughout the UN system and IASC members. Contributes to the Office regular reporting on humanitarian access’ issues.

Access Policy and Advocacy:

• Ensures that the country-specific guidelines, and the generic guidelines are properly disseminated and understood by the humanitarian actors, as well as by local actors, as appropriate. Promotes and ensures adherence to the guidelines within the entire humanitarian community and advises on potential consequences if these principles are compromised.
• Facilitates the development of awareness-raising and training materials and conducts training on access including on negotiations with humanitarian organizations on the ground and other relevant non‑humanitarian actors.
• Maintains Humanitarian Access Working Group ensuring frameworks, guidelines, and information analysis products are regularly updated and shared:
• In this context, supports engagement with relevant actors on humanitarian access issues, including advocacy and negotiations with all relevant actors (e.g. government, armed groups, communities, etc.).
• Leads or participates in working groups, meetings and consultations with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners; partakes in meetings on access matters with Heads of Agencies and/or other appropriate entities.
• Establishes and maintains, if appropriate, an information exchange forum for stakeholders and interested parties in access relations and participate in relevant meetings. Facilitates the development of frameworks of engagement of humanitarian actors with relevant actors on access issues (e.g. ‘ground rules for humanitarian action, of interaction with armed groups, etc.’).

Access analysis:

• Supports the development of an Access and Monitoring and Reporting Framework (AMRF) and ensures identification, monitoring and analysis of key access constraints in collaboration with humanitarian partners in the field.
• Supports the development of OCHA access products (e.g. snapshot, maps, reports, etc.) and ensures coherence and consistency in the development and implementation of internal access initiatives, products and key messages.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.; ensures appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system, including on early warning and contingency planning.

Performs other duties as required.

COMPETENCIES

Functional Competencies: 

Professionalism

• Shows pride in work and in achievements
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Motivated by professional rather than personal concerns
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges
• Remains calm in stressful situations

Accountability

• Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honours commitments
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules.
• Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments.
• Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Teamwork

• 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.

Client Orientation

• Research potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct, and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds, and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
• Actively supports the interests of the client by making choices and setting priorities to meet their needs
• Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly

Functional Competencies: 

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or other related fields.

OR

• Bachelor`s degree with 2 additional years of relevant experience can be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience:  

• A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or other related area is required.
• Experience in humanitarian access/negotiations, or relevant experience in major humanitarian support operations is desirable.
• Experience in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is desirable.
• Good knowledge of social, political, and economic conditions in the region is desirable.
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN Common System or other comparable international organization is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian (written and spoken) is required.
• Fluency in Russian is desirable.

Applicant information about UNOCHA rosters

Note: UNOCHA 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 UNOCHA at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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