Jobs - 55347- OCHA National Disaster Response Advisor

OCHA National Disaster Response Advisor - (Open to Kyrgyzstan Nationals only)

Location :

Bishkek, KYRGYZSTAN

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

NO-B

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with possible extension

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year with possible extension

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

The position of OCHA National Disaster Response Advisor (NDRA) provides the essential interface between the UN system, members of the Disaster Response and Coordination Unit (DRCU) and Government disaster management authorities. The NDRA is an extension of the OCHA Regional Office for Caucasus & Central Asia (ROCCA) and works in support of the Resident Coordinator (RC) in the given office.

The NDRA will work in a common effort to identify, prioritize and help address humanitarian needs arising from both slow and sudden-onset emergencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Provide support to the RC in surge/response and preparedness;
Lead the Disaster Response Coordination Unit (DRCU) Secretariat and provide support to DRCU and the UN in strengthening their disaster response capacity;
Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

Surge and Response:

Monitor the situation in the country, with particular relevance to early warning indicators for any natural or man-made disasters;
Support ROCCA’s coordination and response support through the application of the humanitarian programme cycle including collective response planning (i.e.: MIRA, humanitarian needs overview, strategic response plan, etc.) when required, in close collaboration with national authorities;
Report as required on major events with humanitarian scope and in line with ROCCA reporting needs, incorporating a protection and assistance lens;
Ensure application of the coordination mechanisms, including DRCU, and lines of action defined in the IACP;
Supports the RC/HC in preparation of OCHA emergency cash grant, CERF proposals and CERF reports for the country.

Preparedness:

Support the RC in his role of DRCU Chair by providing secretariat support to DRCU;
Raise awareness amongst DRCU members and partners of the various international and local tools, services and mechanisms available for emergency response and response preparedness, and identify training needs;
Work closely with existing planning processes in place in the country, such as UNDAF, PRP, etc. with the aim of inclusion of DRR and emergency preparedness measures; support implementation of emergency response preparedness components of national strategies on disaster risk management where they exit;
Support the implementation of the humanitarian programme cycle risk analysis and the key OCHA preparedness action at the OCHA, system’s and Member State/Regional Institutions level;
Facilitate inter-agency contingency response planning and testing of the same through simulations;
Advocate and create awareness in the country, with UN agencies, NGOs, government authorities, local media and civil society on broader humanitarian issues;
Advocate for the inclusion of a preparedness and resilience lens in planning;
Maintain regular contact with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and relevant Government institutions and liaise for information-sharing, capacity building and any other support that might be required;
Ensure follow-up and leverage partner's resources towards implementation of the joint inter-agency preparedness plan of action as described in the IACP;
Establish and maintain an inter-agency information management working group for emergency preparedness and response, and support and advocate for the development and usage of common/fundamental operational data and data standards for preparedness and response;
Lead inter-agency dialogue on the development of joint rapid needs assessment, analysis, and reporting;
Facilitate (in close partnership with IFRC and National Red Crescent Society) resolution of any legal impediments for International humanitarian assistance (promotion of international disaster response laws);
Provide support on risk/vulnerability analysis at national and sub-national level.

Partnerships:

Contribute to the dialogue between ROCCA and any regional partner based in-country;
Contribute to communication of ROCCA’s priorities and policies in support of the humanitarian response in specific contexts to the Kyrgyz government and in-country regional organizations;
Support the Kyrgyz government in ensuring principled use of military and civil defense assets in support of humanitarian action.

In addition to the above responsibilities, the NDRA will carry out other related tasks as assigned by ROCCA or the RC, in consultation with ROCCA.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of preparedness and emergency response of the international community in Kyrgyzstan within specific areas of coordination, resource mobilization and information sharing. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of joint inter-agency preparedness and emergency response activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating DRCU's mandate.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Assesses overall performance of preparedness and emergency response mechanism to identify success factors and incorporates best practices;
Researches linkages across preparedness and emergency response activities of DRCU members and partners to identify critical points of integration;
Monitors progress on implementation of agreed activities to enhance the DRCU;
Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for enhancing preparedness and emergency response in Kyrgyzstan;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Resource Mobilization:

Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors;
Maintains a database of project profiles. Identifies opportunities for inter-agency project proposals on preparedness and emergency response for presentation to donors.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge:

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for DRCU's Goals:

Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for DRCU's goals for a variety of audiences;
Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for DRCU's mandate.

Client Orientation:

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political or social science, international relations, public administration or related field;
A combination of relevant academic background (at least a first level University degree i.e. Bachelor's degree or equivalent) and extensive relevant professional experience in a related area may be accepted in lieu of advanced University degree.

Experience:

Minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian affairs, natural disaster response and preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, early recovery and rehabilitation, or related field;
Professional experience in facilitation and preparation of consolidated humanitarian action plans, contingency planning processes, and deliverance of related trainings and workshops;
Experience in resource mobilization desirable;
Proven analytical skills and experience on delivery of written reports, prepared in an accurate and concise manner;
Familiarity with the UN system would be an asset;
Computer literacy (Excel, Internet, Word);
Ability to work with minimum supervision, with efficiency, competence and integrity with people of different national background. Adherence to core competencies of professionalism, planning and organizing and teamwork.

Language:

Fluent written and spoken Russian and English;
Knowledge of Kyrgyz is desirable.

Application:

Applications without UNDP Personal history form will not be considered. Please download P.11 form from http://www.kg.undp.org/content/kyrgyzstan/en/home/operations/jobs/ ;
Please upload P.11 form instead of CV;
Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.