UNDP Jobs - 51811- Programme Specialist, Crisis Response and Early Re

Programme Specialist, Crisis Response and Early Recovery Interface 1

Location :

Geneva, SWITZERLAND

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

09-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The recently approved Strategic Plan for UNDP (2014-2017) recognizes the importance of preparedness, response, early recovery and the management of the risk cycle as fundamental for development. The objective of the Crisis Response Unit (CRU) is to ensure that UNDP is well positioned to respond in the most timely and effective manner to crisis. The overall goal of the CRU Crisis Interface Team based in Geneva is to support the strategic engagement of UNDP with Geneva-based crisis response and humanitarian agencies and partners. It supports the fulfilment of UNDP’s responsibilities with respect to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), in particular the IASC Global Cluster on Early Recovery.
In 2005, in the context of the Humanitarian Reform, UNDP was given the lead for ‘Early Recovery’ (ER). Based on recommendations endorsed by the IASC Principals, the IASC Global Cluster on Early Recovery - composed of UN and non-UN members from both humanitarian and developmental communities- was transformed in 2013 into a global early recovery coordination platform. As the designated cluster lead for ER, UNDP assumes ‘managerial accountability’ for ensuring preparedness and response that are both adequate and predictable.

Under the direct supervision of the Crisis Interface Team Leader and in close collaboration with other CRU teams, BPPS teams and regional bureaus, the Programme Specialist for Crisis Response and Early Recovery Interface is responsible for the following:

Ensure liaison and partnership with humanitarian and crisis actors (UN and non-UN) and advocate for financing for early recovery and resilience building in humanitarian contexts;
Support the Global Cluster on Early Recovery, in particular for field operations;
Function as first responder for early recovery in crisis situation;
Contribute to and/or represent UNDP in humanitarian and crisis response interagency processes;
Contribute to building UNDP’s organizational capacity for immediate crisis response focusing on achievement.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure liaison and partnership with humanitarian and crisis actors (UN and non-UN) and advocate for financing for early recovery and resilience building in humanitarian contexts

Continuous liaison and coordination with Geneva-based crisis response and humanitarian agencies and partners, including OCHA and cluster leads;
Strengthen existing and develop new partnerships with humanitarian donors and member states’ missions in Geneva and in Europe;
Contribute to UNDP’s advocacy for financing for early recovery and resilience building in humanitarian contexts and develop or contribute to new initiatives for mobilizing resources;
Continuous liaison and coordination with CRU teams, BPPS and other bureaus to ensure a coherent UNDP positioning in crisis response and early recovery, in particular between early recovery programming and early recovery coordination.

Support the Global Cluster on Early Recovery, in particular for field operations

Support the coordinator of the GCER in his/her coordination functions as required.
Maintain continuously updated information on the roll-out of ER coordination in country as part of the cluster architecture.
Ensure information flow between COs, regional hubs, regional bureaus and BPPS on the roll-out of ER coordination in country.
Support the roll-out of ER coordination in country, including identification of needs, advice on the most appropriate arrangements, identification of required capacity, support in terms of deployment, etc.

Function as first responder for early recovery in crisis situation

In specific crisis situations, be deployed immediately to provide the following support on the ground:

Provide support to HCs/RCs, Country Offices, Early Recovery Advisors and Cluster Coordinators with the integration of ER approaches into humanitarian response in crisis countries;
Be deployed as transitory Early Recovery Advisor or Cluster Coordinator, as a member of the Inter- Agency Rapid Response Mechanism (IARRM);
Be deployed as member of UNDP SURGE planning team as required;
Advise COs, UNCTs and HCTs on the early recovery coordination architecture in line with UNDP IASC mandate, working closely with other CRU Teams and BPPS;
Advise and guide the development of strategic response plans, early recovery plans, etc;.
Ensure that critical issues such as gender, accountability to affected populations, environment and conflict sensitivity are mainstreamed in assessments and plans.

Contribute to and/or represent UNDP in humanitarian and crisis response interagency processes

Coordinate closely with the NY CRU Crisis Interface Team and BPPS to ensure coherence in terms of UNDP positioning and participation in humanitarian, crisis-related and transition mechanisms;
Working in full coordination with the NY-based UNDP focal point on humanitarian financing (CRU Crisis Interface Team), contribute to and participate in inter-agency processes and related discussions on humanitarian financing at the Geneva end;
Represent UNDP as a global cluster lead and integrate early recovery in the work of relevant IASC technical subsidiary bodies, including those related to the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and the Transformative Agenda;
Provide support on issues related to durable solutions for displacement, in coordination with BPPS (e.g. roll-out of the SG’s Decision on Durable Solutions; Solutions Alliance initiative).

Contribute to building UNDP’s organizational capacity for immediate crisis response focusing on achievement

Provide guidance and operational support to Regional Bureaus, Regional Hubs and COs to implement system-wide crisis response and humanitarian tools and policies, in particular those related to inter-agency context;
Support CRU Rapid Response and Preparedness Team in capacity building initiatives to strengthen UNDP’s institutional capacity in immediate crisis response, both at HQ and CO levels, from an early recovery coordination perspective. This includes:
Contribute to the organization of crisis response training workshops, SURGE training workshops and other training events for crisis response;
Collaborate with BPPS technical advisors for the preparation of training materials for the capacity building workshops;
Serve as a trainer or resource person for the crisis response capacity building events.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation

Creates independently.

Leadership

Creates excitement for work through demonstrated excellence.

People Management

Motivates excellence and engagement.

Communication

Builds trust and creates lasting partnerships.

Delivery

Makes new ideas work.

Technical/Functional Competencies:

Primary:

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

Resource Mobilization

Ability to generate resources for identified interagency humanitarian strategic plans, programmes and projects.

Advocacy

Ability to advocate a point of view and influence others.

Early Recovery Coordination Support

Ability to support and implement interagency coordination mechanisms, processes, resources in response to disaster/crisis

Crisis Policy and Tools

Ability to develop and implement interagency methods and tools for crisis situations.

Secondary:

Strategic Planning

Ability to make decisions that align with interagency humanitarian strategy, vision, and mission.

Displaced Communities/Populations

Knowledge of displaced communities/populations issues and solutions and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Gender mainstreaming and analysis

Knowledge of gender mainstreaming systems and processes and the ability to mainstream gender to strategic and/or practical situations, including the application of gender analysis to policies, programmes and projects.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international development, economics, business administration, social sciences or related disciplines.

Experience:

7 years of professional work experience in the area of development, crisis response, crisis prevention and recovery in different development contexts;
Experience working in promoting development approaches in humanitarian contexts is required as well as relevant field experience.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, both written and oral;
Fluency in French (both written and oral) is desirable.