The Position:

The Humanitarian Specialist plays a leadership role in humanitarian preparedness and response for the UNFPA Pacific Sub regional office (PSRO), which is based in Fiji and provides programmatic support to 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs).

You will be responsible for overseeing, planning and supporting overall implementation of humanitarian-related program activities in the Pacific region, carrying out timely and effective results-based management of disaster preparedness and response plans.

You will report directly to the PSRO Deputy Director.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Pacific region is among the most vulnerable in the world to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, with the region frequently hit by tropical cyclones, floods, droughts and earthquakes. Eight of the fourteen countries that the UNFPA Pacific Sub-regional Office (PSRO) covers are among the 20 countries in the world with the highest average annual disaster losses scaled by gross domestic product. Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Fiji have very high exposure to natural hazards and low or very low coping capacities.  It is important to ensure that Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) information and services remain available and accessible during frequent natural disasters, given the disproportionate effect on women, girls and persons living with disabilities (PLWD).

While strategies and national health disaster plans for emergency preparedness and disaster response exist in some countries, very few reflect integration and prioritization of SRH and GBV needs. Capacities and infrastructure for disaster response are generally weak, and social protection, gender and inclusion of PLWD are typically not prioritized.

Emergency preparedness and humanitarian assistance is integrated in UNFPA’s Sub regional Program and remains an important function of the organization. UNFPA in line with global strategy contributes to strengthening national capacity to provide sexual and reproductive health services, gender based violence prevention and response, and data issues in humanitarian settings, and to advocate for prioritization and incorporation of SRH and GBV needs within national disaster action plans.

You will be overseeing coordination and implementation of all humanitarian activities in the sub regional office and in the field, while ensuring linkages with ongoing development programs in close coordination with the program team and partners. You will work in close collaboration with national authorities, humanitarian agencies (UN agencies through the Pacific Humanitarian Team and international NGOs), the UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO), and national partners and civil society organizations to strengthen emergency preparedness and provide humanitarian assistance to affected populations during and/or post disasters.

You would be responsible for:

Programme Development and Implementation:

• Lead PSRO’s preparedness efforts, including development, finalization and implementation of UNFPA Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPA) and development of contingencies/scenarios for specific humanitarian contexts;
• Lead efforts on implementing, monitoring and evaluating UNFPA’s humanitarian preparedness and response programmes/initiatives in consultation with the program team, and provide technical and policy guidance with regard to UNFPA’s role in humanitarian response;
• Establish programmatic links between existing Gender, SRHR and Humanitarian initiatives to ensure synergies between programs and to mainstream humanitarian preparedness; and
• Provide logistical and administrative assistance in relation to UNFPA’s emergency preparedness and relief efforts including developing a strategy for forecasting, procurement and prepositioning of RH kits, dignity kits and other relevant commodities needed during a disaster.

Humanitarian Coordination:

• Coordinate UNFPA’s emergency response activities in collaboration with relevant UNFPA program officers/advisers and partners (such as the clusters, inter-agency forums, government counterparts, UN agencies, international and local NGOs etc.), ensuring that SRH, GBV and PLWD issues are well integrated;
• Actively participate in and represent UNFPA in cluster/sub cluster/technical working group meetings and other related forums and coordinate UNFPA’s humanitarian response activities with other agencies’ activities;
• Ensure that UNFPA is well positioned in resource mobilization efforts, including humanitarian funding mechanisms, such as CAP/Pooled Funds/Common Humanitarian Funds/Flash Appeal/ CERF/ERF;
• Prepare UNFPA and inter-agency appeals such Flash appeal/CERF/ERF and strategic response plans through working with internal staff, OCHA, regional and national cluster leads and other stakeholders; and
• Coordinate closely with APRO and Procurement Service Branch to ensure reproductive health commodity security and rapid deployment of RH kits and supplies in emergency situations.

Technical Support and Capacity Building:

• Maintain continuous and close communication and provide swift follow-up and operational support to country offices during emergency situations and act as the principal focal point for exchange of information between the CO, PSRO, APRO, HQs and UN agencies; and
• Build capacity of UNFPA staff, partners and other relevant humanitarian actors to implement the MISP (Minimum Initial Service Package) on reproductive health (RH) in emergencies, and ensure that UNFPA staff are prepared to undertake specific roles during disaster response.

Advocacy and Communication:

• Support development of a communication plan for humanitarian response and prepare situational reports in a timely manner;
• In collaboration with UNFPA PSRO and APRO staff, prepare articles, human interest stories, press releases and other print and audio-visual materials on UNFPA’s humanitarian response activities; and
• Prepare advocacy material, donor briefings, concept notes and proposals for relevant partners and donors.

Perform any other duties as required by the PSRO Deputy Director and/or Director.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced university degree in Public Health, Medicine, Humanitarian response, International Relations, Political Science, Social Sciences or other relevant field; or a combination of education and relevant experience in a related field.
Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience at the advisory/managerial level in the area of relevant programme management and coordination, with at least three years of managerial experience in humanitarian coordination and/or preparedness activities at the international level;
• Substantive knowledge and practical experience of UN Humanitarian relief operations and procedures and roles/responsibilities of humanitarian actors, and inter-agency humanitarian sector/cluster system is essential;
• Strong analytical, coordination and organizational skills, and an enthusiastic team player who seeks to empower others;
• Experience and knowledge of UNFPA is an advantage and familiarity of the Pacific context is an asset;
• Computer Literacy: Proficiency in the use of standard MS Office packages and the Internet.

Languages: 

Proficiency in written and oral English. Working knowledge of Pacific languages is an asset.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact.

Functional Competencies:

• Promoting accountability and results-based management,
• Implementing management systems,
• Organizational awareness,
• Promoting organizational learning and knowledge sharing,
• Building strategic alliances and partnerships,
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.