UNDP Jobs - 69560- Humanitarian Affairs Officer Intern

Humanitarian Affairs Officer Intern

Location :

Lilongwe, MALAWI

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

03-Jan-2017

Application Deadline :

12-Dec-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 Months

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

Malawians, particularly the poor, are vulnerable to shocks and hazards, such as droughts (1 in every 3 to 5 years), floods, storms, disease epidemics manmade hazards such as air and water pollution and economic shocks. The current effects of El Nino in Malawi are the second strongest since 1990. The onset of rains has been delayed throughout most of Malawi, leading to 6.5 million people in need of food assistance during the 2016/2017 lean season.

Nearly 60 percent of the Malawian population who live under the poverty line derive their livelihoods from activities related to agricultural production. The agriculture sector in the country is characterized by low productivity, lack of predictability and high risk to climate and external shocks. With more than 90 percent of national food production relying on a single rain-fed cropping season, Malawian agriculture is highly susceptible to weather shocks. Population growth is increasing pressure on the farming and the food supply system, leading to smaller land holdings, less sustainable livelihoods, deforestation and over-farmed depleted soils. In addition to negative implications for soil health and water management, the low crop productivity, the limited technical assistance/extension services and the widespread small-holder maize monoculture system has further negative implications for human nutrition and development.

Food insecurity remains alarmingly high, with 25% of the population food insecure irrespective of shocks, and cyclical lean season responses that have grown to over a million people on average per year since 2012 to 2.86 million in 2016, 18% of the population, and 6.7 million in 2017, 40% of the population. Meanwhile malnutrition remains at 42%, with 53% stunting of children under 5, the 5th highest in the world.

The department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and districts authorities lead Government efforts to manage disaster risk and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UN RCO) leads humanitarian coordination for the UN in Malawi in support of the government.

The role entails coordinating joint resource mobilization efforts, facilitating communication between Government and the UN and other partners involved in preparedness, response and mitigation of disasters. The Resident Coordinator is also responsible for ensuring this development and maintenance of contingency plans for humanitarian emergencies and active involvement of all actors in the process.

To efficiently to perform this task, the UN RCO wishes to recruit a Humanitarian Affairs Intern to manage UN coordination in disaster management and recovery and strengthen the coordination of humanitarian affairs among the Government of Malawi and the UN system in Malawi.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN Humanitarian Adviser, the Humanitarian Affairs Intern will:

Support coordination and emergency response mechanisms within the UN and Government;
Support the development of inter-agency coordination response and recovery plans in line with the inter-agency Standing Committee
Provide coordination support to the DoDMA in the production of relevant and timely humanitarian updates;
Coordinate and facilitate the assessment, collection and dissemination of information on UN, Government, Donor and NGO emergency relief assessment, missions and circulation of reports;
In close collaboration with stakeholders, prepare appeals for resource mobilization and coordinate the reporting on appeals and funding;
Support the management of the Humanitarian Window under the One Fund, including supports to drafting proposals, disbursements and reporting.

Competencies

Knowledge of humanitarian affairs and the current challenges of the SADC region;
Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving stakeholder needs;
Ability to manage competing priorities and work in a high paced environment;
Ability to research and prepare reports and talking points on humanitarian issues.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Enrolled in, or recently completed, Master’s degree in physical, social or political science related to energy, environment, climate change, disaster risk reduction and agriculture; multidisciplinary educational background required.

Experience:

Experience from humanitarian affairs would be an asset;
Computer skills including Microsoft Suite and database and tracking software.

Language:

Good command of spoken and written English.

Important to note:

Remuneration

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of:

The nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or
The intern, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence through private sources.

Medical Insurance

Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.

Applicants for internships must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station in which they will intern. For applicants who are neither nationals or residents of the duty station, the insurance must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which:

Requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment;
Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.

Interns’ expenses

Costs incurred by interns, including undertaking official travel at the request of UNDP, in the discharge of the activities related to the internship shall be reimbursed by UNDP on the same basis as costs incurred by staff members or costs reimbursed to staff members, including payment of daily subsistence allowance, as applicable.

UNDP accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects that may occur during the internship.