Background

This position is in the humanitarian coordination section of OCHA’s Office of the Pacific Islands (OoP) in Suva. The Humanitarian Affairs Officer (NOB) reports to the HAO Head of Coordination (NOC). The position will be based at the NDMO office in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The main task of the incumbent will be to assist – as a member of the coordination unit – in the execution of OCHA’s mandate in the Pacific region which entails the following priorities: a) supporting government-led humanitarian response efforts; b) supporting operational readiness (preparedness) of Pacific Island countries and territories covered by OoP to rapidly respond to emergencies; and c) assist in capitalizing on the complementarity response capabilities of key partners.

Expected Outcomes: –

• Support the coordination of the Pacific Humanitarian Team or area-based coordination of humanitarian preparedness and responses.
• Contribute to an efficient humanitarian response in times of crisis.
• Draft and contribute to reporting needs of the office.
• Ensure efficient liaison and cooperation between all humanitarian actors (National / International; UN / NGOs / RC Movement) and other interlocutors.

Position Purpose

The position of Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) – NOB is to contribute to the coordination of humanitarian affairs in Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and additional delegated Area of Responsibility of OCHA’s Office of the Pacific Islands as the need arises. This support can take various aspects from coordination to information, data collection, production of reports, liaison with interlocutors, drafting mission reports and meeting summaries and deploying to areas affected by disaster to support a government-led humanitarian response.

Duties and Responsibilities

In this section list up to five primary functions/accountabilities of the position (Typically one sentence each) and examples of duties that must be performed to successfully accomplish key responsibilities.

1- Knwoledge Management

Under the supervision of the Head of Coordination Team, 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.

2- 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 the situation, support 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.

3- 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 analyze it to identify trends, challenges and solutions.
• Prepare 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 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

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplify processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement – Effectiveness : Humanitarian inter-agency coordination.- Humanitarian assessment capacity
General (across the functions) – Public Relations : Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organization, its mandate, and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public.
Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement – Effectiveness : Crisis coordination
General (across the functions) – Event planning and execution : Ability to plan, manage and execute public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP”s overall brand and mandate.
External Relations and Advocacy – Partnership Managemen: Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs
Help Create an Enabling Workplace – Motivational: Create a working environment where people are engaged and want to do their best
External Relations and Advocacy – Communications: ability to apply terms and concepts from digital communications in daily work

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advance university degree (masters degree or equivalent) in humanitarian affairs or disaster management, international development, international relations, political science, sociology, law, or related field. Or;
• A first-level university degree (i.e. bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in one of the above-mentioned academic disciplines in combination with qualifying 4 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A master’s degree with a minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation and development, or other related areas. Or,
• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of four (4) years 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 or experience in international scale emergencies would be an asset.
• Familiarity with Pacific Region is desirable.
• Foster relationship with Partners in the Region.
• Strong analytic skills
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Experience drafting regular updates, preparing internal/external reports, and supporting translations tasks
• Experience in emergency preparedness and relief/recovery response.
• Experience in conducting regular field visits to assess humanitarian needs, assist affected populations, and provide operational support.
• Experience supporting relevant data collection.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Bislama is an added advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNOCHA values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNOCHA is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNOCHA does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNOCHA fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNOCHA under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

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 UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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