Antecedentes

UNOCHA Statement:

OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to:

• alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies
• advocate for the rights of people in need
• promote preparedness and prevention
• facilitate sustainable solutions.
  

In December 1991, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 46/182 designed to strengthen the United Nation's response to both complex emergencies and natural disasters.  In addition it aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the UN's humanitarian operations in the field.

Organizational Context:

Afghanistan is a very disaster prone country and close to every year drought, flooding, avalanches, landslides, and / or rock falls occur. Insufficient mitigation, preparedness, and response capacity makes responding to these disasters slow and difficult, and cause the disaster affected populations to suffer hardship.
OCHA has recently re-established itself in Afghanistan and has yet to deploy many of its full time National Humanitarian Affairs Officers. Given the potential for natural disaster and the ongoing country conflict, it is of utmost importance that the current staffing gap be filled. Expectations on OCHA’s roll out across the country are very high. OCHA will take on the main humanitarian coordination role and will fill the information gap that currently exists. The NHAOs are expected to help strengthen OCHA’s humanitarian coordination, disaster preparedness, and response in the field offices. Activities include establishing a regional humanitarian and disaster risk management partnership with the international community and with the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), ensuring appropriate capacity to plan for and respond to humanitarian issues and to ensure proper contingency planning and coordination

Deberes y responsabilidades

.

Functions / Key Results Expected:

• Under the supervision of the HoO sub-office the incumbent will be expected to be able to perform the following, but tasks will be assigned according to regional requirements and capacity:
• Summary of key functions:
• Coordination;
• Civil Military Coordination
• Information Management / Advocacy;

Coordination

• Assist the HAO in establishing a regional humanitarian policy;
• Assist in establishing partnerships with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations;
• Assist in the coordination of delivery of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations; complete rapid assessments, prepare situation reports, analyzing the situation and specifying unmet requirements of stricken areas;
• Assist in the coordination of disaster response/preparedness and in the formulation of project proposals; provide technical support to field work;

Civil-Military Coordination:

• Assist in all matters related to civil military coordination including the organization and facilitation of civil–military coordination meetings
• Support the development of strong relations with all provincial and regional civil-military stakeholders, including with ANA, ANP, and ANBP
• Assist in the development of the regional CMCoord training for the dissemination of the Civil Military Guidelines;
• Prepare the training material in local languages;
• Work with the head of section to represent the humanitarian community to the appropriate military actors
• Help develop appropriate civil-military advocacy messages on behalf of the humanitarian community
• Maintain the civil-military database

Information Management/Advocacy

• Assist in the collection, monitoring and analysis of information on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management programmes or emergency situations in the assigned region; help develop and maintain a “watch list” of areas with potential for humanitarian crisis;
• Assist in the establishment and maintenance of contacts with provincial government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc., in the assigned region;
• Assist in the production of analytical reports on the humanitarian situation and assist in strengthening information networks to gather humanitarian data;
• Help establish, consolidate and maintain a database of information on who is doing what where; assist in developing provincial profiles for provinces in the assigned region, as well as hazard maps, contact lists and databases on humanitarian assistance and preparedness;
• Support advocacy efforts concerning humanitarian issues based on analysis of the humanitarian situation, especially on the protection of civilians;
• Contribute to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. draft sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, briefings, case studies, presentations (including PowerPoint), correspondence, etc., as required;
• Assist in organizing work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
• Perform other duties as required.

Impact of Results:
Assist the HAO in identifying significant humanitarian issues and problems to be addressed in the assigned region.  Develop well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to problem resolution in dealing with complex policy/technical issues.  Assist the HAO to manage projects and work teams, ensuring timely delivery of outputs.  Help meet organizational objectives and provide sound analytical inputs and advice with respect to coordination of humanitarian/emergency action.
Provide effective guidance on cultural and political issues intrinsic to the assigned region. Timely deliver assigned outputs, develop partnerships and effectively interact with colleagues internally and externally.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNOCHA
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
Ability apply conceptual models in support of formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources
Strong IT skills
Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/attitudinal change
Management and Leadership
Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education:
Master’s Degree preferably in Political or Social Science, Law, international studies, Public Administration, or other relevant science is required.

Experience:  
2 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management or other related area, preferably with at least two years with a UN organization or an NGO.  Civil-military coordination experience is a plus.  Good drafting and report writing skills are required.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in oral and written English and Pashto or Dari is required.  Candidates will be tested on their linguistic ability and regional cultural knowledge.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.