Humanitarian Affairs Officer-NOA

BACKGROUND

Following the resignation of the current post holder in May 2022, UN OCHA’s Office of the Pacific Islands (OoP) needs to fill this vacancy as soon as possible. The Pacific, and with it the countries covered by the Multi-Country Office Samoa (Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau) are located in one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world, regularly hit by tropical cyclones, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, and droughts. Since its inception, OoP provides technical and coordination support to UN Resident Coordinators, the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) and National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) in disaster preparedness and disaster response.

Position Purpose

The position of Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) - NOA will support the efforts of OoP and also the UN Resident Coordinator in Apia. He/she will be directly supervised by the Deputy HoO/OoP. A specific focus for the HAO will be to render support in strengthening the cluster approach and in improving the coordination of the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) at the Samoa level in order to ensure an adequate capacity and coordination level when there is a need to respond to disasters. In addition, the incumbent will work on continuing constructive relationships with relevant NDMOs in the area and establish and develop networks with agencies based in Samoa (UN, NGO, CROPs).

Key Duties and Accountabilities

Knowledge Management:

Under the supervision of the Dpty. HoO, the incumbent will have the following main responsibilities:

• Ensures effective support to coordination of emergency preparedness and relief/recovery response through adequate liaison with partners in the field.
• Monitor and consolidate information on the humanitarian situation, draft regular updates/ reports and support translation tasks.
• Performs other duties that may be required.

UN coordination

• Ensures effective support to coordination of emergency preparedness, relief/recovery response
• Participate in emergency preparedness and response coordination activities, including elaboration/updating contingency plans, assessment tools elaboration and administration and simulation exercises.
• Ensures/supports the planning, implementation and strengthening of inclusive coordination in his/her area of responsibilities, identifies gaps and suggests corrective actions and ensures inclusion of cross-cutting issues, such as gender mainstreaming and inclusion of people with disabilities in humanitarian responses.
• Establishes/maintains effective communication on a regular basis with stakeholders, including UN agencies and international and national NGOs to foster coordination in preparedness and response efforts; and advises on solutions to operational challenges.
• Depending on situation, supports inter-agency coordination forums as well as other internal and government-led meetings, as required; and
• Work in coordination with Pacific-based organizations to complement regional action on preparedness and response.

Other tasks that may be required

• Monitor and consolidate information on the humanitarian situation, draft regular updates/ reports and support engagement with counterparts.

• Monitor the humanitarian situation in the Pacific region; gather and consolidate humanitarian information from different stakeholders (including governments) and analyzes it to identify trends, challenges and solutions.
• Prepares internal/external reports of the situation and support drafting of updates for senior management.
• Participate in relevant meetings and workshops and ensure consolidation of information, data and analyses are provided.
• Ensure note-taking and drafting minutes at inter-agency meetings, such as the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) or Inter-Cluster Coordination (ICC) meetings, as well as inter-agency workshops and other similar events.
• Support to data collection which is of relevance to the work of OCHA as needed.
• Undertake regular field trips as necessary to follow up on humanitarian needs and assistance to affected populations and to provide operational support to the Resident Coordinator’s Office and humanitarian partners on the ground.
• Support the SO on implementing activities related to communications with affected communities.

Performs other duties that may be required by the supervisor or by the Head of Office

REQUIREMENTS:

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Political Science, Sociology, Law, International Relations, or related field or
• A first-level University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the related fields with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Advanced University degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum of two (2) years with a University degree of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation and development, or other related areas.
• Relevant (field) international experience in natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies would be an asset.

Language:

• Proficiency in English. Working knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.
• The UN is a Non-Smoking environment.
• Fluent in English and Samoan both written and verbal.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies 

• Business Direction & Strategy: Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome
• Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Business Direction & Strategy: Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
• Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
• Business Development: Human- centered Design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem- solving process
• Business Management: Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Business Management: Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Note: This position is only for National Candidates.

• The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. Qualified women are encouraged to apply. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts.
• The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Scam warning

• The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web
• The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

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.