Humanitarian Affairs Officer

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 for the rights of people in need
• Promote preparedness and prevention
• Facilitate sustainable solutions.

In December 1991, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 46/182 designed to strengthen the United Nation's response to both complex emergencies and natural disasters. In addition, it aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the UN's humanitarian operations in the field.

Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous and most violent, crisis-ridden countries in the world with a continued deepening and geographic spread of the conflict. Violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Human Rights Law (HRL) occur regularly - including targeted killings, forced recruitment, and attacks on health and education facilities.

At the same time, Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes, flooding, drought, landslides, and avalanches. Over three decades of conflict, coupled with climate change, environmental degradation, and insufficient investment in disaster risk reduction strategies, have contributed to the increasing vulnerability of the Afghan people to cope with the sudden shock of natural disasters and increased risks posed to livelihoods. On average, each year, around 230,000 people are affected by natural disasters. Destruction of shelters, crops, food stocks and damage to household and community assets such as water and sanitation infrastructure result in the need for emergency support to protect people from the elements.

Given the context in which it is operating, the National HAO to help strengthen OCHA’s humanitarian coordination, disaster preparedness, and response in the field offices. Activities include establishing a regional humanitarian and disaster risk management partnership with the humanitarian community and with the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), ensuring appropriate capacity to plan for and respond to humanitarian issues and ensuring proper contingency planning and coordination.

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Sub Office, working closely with the rest of the OCHA team to facilitate effective Humanitarian Coordination.

1.Coordination

• Monitors analyzes, and reports on the dynamic humanitarian situation and its operational challenges in the Western Region. 
• 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 and facilitate OCHA-led humanitarian coordination meetings in the Western Region.  
• Manage the predictability of the coordination forums including the regular and consistent meeting schedules, effective meeting agenda, thorough follow-up of the coordination meetings' decisions and action points using the action point tracker.
• Establish partnerships with other humanitarian agencies in order 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 the Western Region areas of responsibility.

2.Information Management

• Assist in the establishment and maintenance of contacts with other humanitarian partners, relevant government counterparts, etc. in the assigned region.
• Produce provincial and regional humanitarian overview on the humanitarian situation, needs, gaps, early warning, response, and gaps.
• Establish, consolidate, and maintain a database of information on who is doing what where (3W), Support in the mapping of partners and agencies’ presence.
• Assist in establishing appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms
• Support in uploading, updating, and maintenance of work files on shared drives.

3.Advocacy

• Prepare daily and weekly updates, humanitarian overviews, and context analyses in the provinces of Western Region areas of responsibility.
• Support advocacy efforts concerning humanitarian issues based on analysis of the humanitarian situation. Keep abreast of the latest developments, help liaise with other humanitarian organizations, donors, 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

4.Humanitarian Financing

• Contribute to the AHF prioritization exercise based on the humanitarian situation and gaps in the Western Region.
• Monitor the implementation of the humanitarian projects in the Western Region
• Perform other duties as required.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Core:

• 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

• Engagement & Effectiveness-Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement-Humanitarian-Development Peace (HDP) Nexus
• Engagement & Effectiveness-Crisis management / Country Management Support-Humanitarian assessment capacity
• Business Management-Project Management-Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Business Direction & Strategy-Strategic Thinking -Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with OCHA’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions 
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for OCHA
• Business Management-Mutual Accountability Framework-Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Engagement & Effectiveness-Crisis management / Country Management Support
• Humanitarian inter-agency coordination

• Master’s degree in Project Management, International Studies, and other subjects related to humanitarian relief operations or related fields or
• A Bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

• Master's degree or two years’ experience with a bachelor’s degree in humanitarian relief operations, or other related areas is required   
• Experience in humanitarian Coordination or International Humanitarian Law with reputed national or international organizations is desired.
• Two years of work experience in a complex emergency in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
• Experience with United Nations or a Non-Government Organization, preferably with at least two years with a UN organization or an International NGO is desirable.
• Fluency in oral and written English, Pashto, or Dari is required