Antecedentes

Bangladesh is a country vulnerable to a number of natural and man-made disasters. On a global level Bangladesh ranks, respectively, 1st and 6th globally in terms of vulnerability and human exposure to floods and cyclone. Similarly, the country is highly exposed to the risk of tsunami (3rd out of 76 countries) and earthquakes (17th out of 153 countries), landslides (35th out of 162) and drought (63rd out of 162 countries). The context of Bangladesh also requires management of the complex and multi-dimensional issue of Myanmar refugees as well as focus on the current situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, whose fragile peace accord has not provided constitutional protection of ethnic minority groups. While much progress has been achieved over the last ten years by the GoB in disaster preparedness and response, gaps have been identified that need to be addressed: the coordination of urban and environmental disasters has exposed gaps in roles and responsibilities between different ministries. In addition, the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT), formed in 2012 under the Local Consultative Group for Disasters and Emergency Response (LCG DER), needs to be strengthened to fulfill its role of a coordination platform that leverages the collective capacity of the Government, national and international actors and ensures effective humanitarian preparedness for, response to, and recovery from the impacts of disasters. The deployment of a Humanitarian Affairs Specialist (HAS) in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) in Bangladesh will provide additional support to the UNRC to achieve the following objectives: strengthen the current humanitarian architecture in line with national priority actions, facilitate partnership between humanitarian and development stakeholders and coordinate activities related to disaster response and disaster response preparedness.

This position is located in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh. The Humanitarian Affairs Specialist reports to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) in Bangladesh and oversees the work of a Humanitarian Specialist (national officer).

Deberes y responsabilidades

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Specialist will be responsible for the following duties:

Humanitarian preparedness and response

Facilitate the provision of high quality needs-based impartial humanitarian assistance and support the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and international and domestic actors with their efforts in this regard:

• Support and advise the UN RC, GoB interlocutors and domestic and international agencies in relation to humanitarian preparedness (including for major ‘L3’ type events) and response activities in Bangladesh with the objective of ensuring that such activities are consistent with international norms and standards;
• Provision of regular updates to the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT) regarding humanitarian preparedness and response activities in Bangladesh including information pertaining to protection issues, resource mobilization and response ‘gap’ analysis. As and when required provide ad hoc updates to the HCTT in relation to preparedness and response;
• Draw on the support from the regional office and others on the drafting and dissemination of Situation Reports, if and when needed;
• Ensure appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; and provide information and advice on a range of related issues;
• Serve as the primary focal point on specific topics or humanitarian policy-related issues; keep abreast of latest developments, liaise with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., and support the UN RC in dealing with the Rohingya refugees, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are kept abreast of the humanitarian aspects of the crisis at country and regional level.
• Support the delivery of preparedness and response capacity building activities including Joint Needs Assessments trainings, Civil-Military related activities and disaster simulation exercises;
• Support in-country actors in delivering Joint Needs Assessments including related field-level activities, analysis of data, report writing and when required briefing to in-country actors regarding assessment findings etc.;
• Coordinate international humanitarian/emergency assistance for disaster situations; assist in the production of appeals for international assistance;
• Support the clusters in the development of Joint Response Plans (both operational and financial) including through preparedness activities and undertake advocacy in relation to response resource mobilization;
• Support NGOs in relation to FD-6 applications through interactions with relevant GoB officials and agencies;
• Support efforts to improve accountability to disaster affected populations. Support and facilitate the work of actors in relation to accountability;
• Support Bangladesh’s participation at the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) including through preparatory events and sessions; Ensure the views of a wide range of stakeholders (including disaster affected people and local and international actors) are sought and inform overall GoB engagement at the WHS in 2016;
• Oversee the appointment and subsequent work of a Humanitarian Adviser (national officer) including the development of associated Terms of Reference and annual work-plan.

Coordination fora and humanitarian architecture:

Support and strengthen in-country humanitarian fora and architecture through the provision of high quality humanitarian advice:

• In close consultation and with the support of in-country humanitarian actors including HCTT and Local Consultative Group Disaster Emergency Response (LCG-DER) members undertake a review of existing coordination fora and the humanitarian coordination system with a view to making recommendations to enhance the overall system’s performance. In this regard, develop a ‘road-map’ for system strengthening based on the outcome of the review;     
• Co-Chair the HCTT with the Government appointed HCTT Co-chair as per the HCTT terms of reference;
• Support and advise the RC in his role as UN Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) in emergency preparedness and response management in close coordination with LCG-DER Co-chair and ensure a coordinated support for international humanitarian actions;
• Facilitate coordination between humanitarian and development stakeholders to ensure that the LCG-DER is duly briefed on humanitarian coordination work and progress;
• Participate in protection related meetings and fora and support the delivery of humanitarian support to affected populations;
• Support Government and humanitarian agencies to step up the response capacity for likely mega disasters / ‘L3’ events. Extend cooperation to the Government of Bangladesh for the implementation of the Disaster Management Act;
• Monitor trends and key humanitarian indicators, as well as the impact of emerging security and political situations of Bangladesh in coordination with other UN partners such as United Nations Department of Support Services (UNDSS) and Peace and Development Advisor (PDA).

Strengthen partnership among humanitarian actors:

• Work closely with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) to strengthen coordination among the UN agencies;
• Act as inter-cluster coordinator to ensure the work of individual clusters compliment one-another and work to strengthen overall cluster performance;
• Mobilize national actors to contribute and participate in the global humanitarian initiatives, and ensure that global lessons and issues inform national policy and practices;
• Organize and participate in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters;
• Advise cluster members for effective partnership and coordination with the national non-government organizations to support coordinated humanitarian actions;
• Establish and maintain contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, donors, diplomatic missions, media, etc.;
• Ensure appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system, including on early warning and contingency planning, etc.;
• Performs other duties as required.

Impact of Results

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

• Humanitarian Specialist (national officer), UNRC and UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, in partnership with PDA and Head of RCO
• Desk Officer in the OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific;
• Representatives of other UN humanitarian agencies, humanitarian clusters, and other member organizations in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee;
• UN Mission and Member State personnel with responsibility for humanitarian issues and non-governmental organization representatives;
• Delegations, government officials, donors and partners in universities and research institutes, etc.

Results Expected

Plays a lead role in identifying significant issues and problems to be addressed. Develops well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to deal with complex policy/technical issues. Effectively leads and manages major projects and work teams and delivers in a timely manner outputs, in accordance with overall objectives and policies.  Serves as an effective spokesperson internally and externally and forms strong partnerships with relevant parties to help meet organization’s objectives with respect to overall policy initiatives and coordination of humanitarian and emergency assistance.

Competencias

Corporate 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;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparent  decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Functional Competencies:
 
Building strategic partnerships:

• Identifying and building partnerships;
• Effectively networks and works collaboratively with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UN‘s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments.

Global leadership and advocacy for UN goals:

• Analysis and creation of messages and strategies;
• High level of awareness about the national humanitarian context in relation to international assistance, where government remains the key humanitarian assistance provider;
• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses that require coordinated UN response;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level

Client orientation:

• Contributing to positive outcomes for the client;
• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services;
• Uses discretion and flexibility in interpreting rules in order to meet client needs and achieve organizational goals more effectively.

Innovation and marketing new approaches:

• Developing new approaches;
• Generates for regional and innovative ideas and effective solutions to problems;
• Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking.

Job knowledge / technical expertise:

• In-depth knowledge on Humanitarian issues;
• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political, economic, social and human rights programmes in affected country/region;
• Demonstrates problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems;
• Work closely with a range of national and international humanitarian actors to strengthen international humanitarian assistance and support the government and others actors to utilize international humanitarian standards and principles;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

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 9 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area.

Language:

• Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.