UNDP Jobs - 61817- Humanitarian Coordination

Humanitarian Coordination

Location :

Honiara, SOLOMON ISLANDS

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

04-Jan-2016

Application Deadline :

02-Dec-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 Months

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

The Solomon Islands is an archipelago of 992 islands, a third of which is inhabited. Around 10 per cent of the total population lives in the capital, Honiara. Solomon Islands is ranked as sixth most vulnerable country in the world in the 2014 World Risk Index. The country is vulnerable to tropical cyclones, storms, floods, earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, droughts, pandemics, agricultural pests and diseases. Within the last ten years, 18 natural disasters have occurred, leaving 110 people killed and affecting thousands of people. These disasters also reverse a lot of development gains that the country has achieved. Preparedness and response to disasters is led by the National Disaster Management Offices (NDMO).

In April 2014, Tropical Cyclone Ita triggered some of the worst flooding in the country’s history, resulting in 22 deaths, more than 50,000 affected people and damage of USD 24 billion. Around 10,000 people were displaced, mainly those around the main river systems in Honiara. The Government led the response with the support of donors, Red Cross movement, national and international non-governmental organizations, UN agencies. Following government led lessons learnt exercise for the April floods conducted in October 2014, the Government has started the process of revising its National Disaster Management Plan. This will hopefully improve preparedness and response to future disasters in the country.

Under the overall guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Manager of the Joint Country Presence in Solomon Islands, the Humanitarian Coordination Specialist will support the effective coordination of matters relating to Disaster preparedness and Response and related programmes. The Humanitarian Coordination Specialist works in close collaboration with in country humanitarian and development actors, UNCT members in Suva, programme and operations teams of the Agencies, and especially OCHA Pacific in light of humanitarian activities undertaken by the Pacific Humanitarian Team, in collaboration with the RC’s Office. The Humanitarian Coordination specialist will work with the NDMO to link with and benefit from donor and partner supported activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Developing and imbedding information management practices, tools and templates within the NDMO and clusters;
Training cluster leads and associated staff;
Developing early warning capacity, communication and public alert capacities, including national SMS and online;
Develop the NDMOs public awareness procedures and capacity;
Assist in the development of the National Emergency Response Team, portable needs assessment capacity and resources for the NDMO;
Strengthen the connections between provincial, municipal and national response functions. Deliver training across all three levels;
Foster collaboration between NDMO, Met Services and Geo Hazards divisions and strengthen these work areas ability to deliver on their mandates;
Support the finalization of the National Disaster Management plan revision;
In addition to the above, the specialist will also support effective coordination and communication across the UN Resident Coordinator’s multiple responsibilities and other duties incidental to all the above;
Lead on the establishment of a Solomon Islands Humanitarian Team, involving UN, NGO and Civil Society organizations, to improve coordinated preparedness and response in support of the national authorities;
Perform any other duties required.

Function / Expected Results:

Support effective coordination and communication across the UN Resident Coordinator’s multiple responsibilities. This will imply working closely with the senior management of the UN RC Office, OCHA, DSS, UNDP, other UN Joint presence office colleagues and donors.

Function / Expected Results:

Development of partnerships with IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society.

Function / Expected Results:

Identification of sources of information related to coordination;
Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals.

Function / Expected Results:

Provision of referral services for agencies without field representation to access national institutions and processes and for national partners to access the expertise of agencies without field representation.

Function / Expected Results:

Organization of trainings to UN and other staff on coordination issues, drafting of all relevant reports.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Creates effective advocacy strategies;
Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):

Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation:

Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence,creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field;
A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required;
Working experience in external relations and/or partnerships with Member States and/or Regional Organizations is desirable. Professional field experience in humanitarian affairs, preferably in the context of UN activities, mandates and core policies would be an advantage.

Language:

Strong written and spoken English skills;
Knowledge of other Pacific Island languages an advantage.