Background

Background on the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS):

The landscape of humanitarian action has changed over the last two decades since the current capacities and structures were established to provide a framework for the coordination of international humanitarian assistance. Growth in the scope and diversity of humanitarian needs, as well as a more complex operating environment, have created new challenges. There are also new opportunities: a wider range of actors have become involved, and innovations improve service delivery in each response. This is why preparations are under way for the first World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. The United Nations Secretary-General has requested that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs organize the summit to set an agenda for a changing community of humanitarian actors to work together better to serve people in need. The summit will be the highlight in a process of change which has already begun, and this process will last well beyond the event itself. The summit will set the agenda for work beyond 2016 to make humanitarian action more effective, inclusive, and global – and overall, fit for the future. For more information on the summit, please visit www.worldhumanitariansummit.org.

WHS Themes and Strategic Project Plan

The summit will focus on several core themes that have emerged from recent policy discussions: 1) humanitarian effectiveness, 2) reducing vulnerability and managing risk, 3) transformation through innovation, and 4) serving the needs of people in conflict. Consultations will take place in the lead-up to the summit to capture thinking from across the world on issues related to each of the four World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) themes. They will generate recommendations for an agenda for action post-summit.

The three-year project plan for the WHS sets ‘engagement to take full advantage of ongoing strategic planning processes in the UN system and humanitarian community for post-2015/16’ as one of the primary expected outputs of the project. The summit will be held in early 2016 to take full advantage of the various events scheduled between now and then. They include the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals summit, the 32nd International Red Cross/Crescent conference, high-level climate talks, the World Urban Forum and other events taking place at the national, regional and global levels. The WHS secretariat will ensure that the preparation and consultation process leading up to the summit is connected with these processes.

Role of the WHS Thematic Coordination Team

The WHS Thematic Coordinaton Team will play a ‘broker’ role to ensure that the thematic team, the regional consultations and online consultations translate to a set of concrete asks and recommendations to shape the Summit agenda by mid-2015. The P-3 Thematic Coordination Officer will primarily support the Thematic Coordinator of the relevant theme to facilitate the work of the Thematic Team and provide substantive support other workstreams of consultation leading up to the summit.

Theme 4: Serving the needs of people in conflict

The Thematic Team working on the theme ‘Serving the needs of people in conflict’ will analyse trends and challenges and identify recommendations regarding the specific needs of people affected by conflicts, principles and standards of humanitarian work, and how humanitarian action should be conducted in such situations (which represent the overwhelming majority of today and tomorrow’s humanitarian action).  This will be done in close coordination with the three other thematic teams, in order to ensure coherence of the consultation process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

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

Thematic team:

• Supports the Thematic Coordinator on Theme Four of the Summit: “Serving the needs of people in conflict” on the conceptualization of the thematic work of the team and plans and facilitates the work of the Thematic Team members;
• Supports the WHS Thematic Coordinator in organizing the WHS Thematic Team meetings, preparing background documentation and agendas, participating in or moderating discussions and taking notes and minutes of these meetings.

Analysis:

• Analyses and synthesizes work taking place across the humanitarian system on the focus theme of the Thematic Team.
• Monitors, analyzes and reports on WHS related developments;
• Supports the WHS Thematic Coordinator in organizing and preparing studies on topics related to the themes of the WHS and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including preparations for meetings to support the conceptual and organizational development work and decision-making on important WHS issues;
• Prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence related to the WHS.

Outreach:

• Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media on the topic of the WHS, and in particular on the themes;
• Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on WHS related matters.

WHS process overall:

• Assists in ensuring that discussions are cross-fertilized with other Thematic Teams and that the knowledge developed across teams is managed and documented appropriately;
• Provides substantive support to regional consultations and online consultations, including moderating online discussions, and might participate in related travel;
• Keeps abreast of latest WHS developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc.; provides information and advice on a range of WHS related issues;
• Performs other duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following

Staff at all levels within OCHA and UNDP both in New York and Geneva, Humanitarian Coordinators and their staff in the field, as well as staff at ISDR, ICRC/IFRC and other organizations leading key strategic processes leading up to 2015/16. In, the work will require contact with Programme Managers, Regional Commissions, UN Resident Coordinators, Representatives of other UN humanitarian agencies 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 and partners in universities and research institutes, etc., private sector partners, communities affected by humanitarian crisis.

Results Expected

Provides sound analytical inputs and advice on how to guarantee a successful, inclusive agenda setting process leading up to the World Humanitarian Summit that will contribute to more create a more inclusive, effective and interoperable humanitarian system.  Takes action to identify WHS-related issues/problems and develops creative approaches to problem resolution. Provides timely delivery of assigned outputs.  Develops partnerships and interacts effectively with colleagues internally and externally.

The WHS Thematic Coordination Officer will play an active role in identifying significant issues to be addressed on the theme of “Transformation through Innovation.” He/she will support the WHS Thematic Coordinator in bringing together existing analyses, reports, discussions and identified challenges, as well as recommendations from the Thematic Team into the format of a Thematic Team report. The Thematic Task Team report will draw conclusions from the process of technical consultations to put forward a set of ‘asks’ or recommendations for post-Summit action. This report will be integrated, along with recommendations from the regional consultations, into the Secretary-General’s report published in the lead-up to the Summit.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Professionalism:

• Specific knowledge of humanitarian assistance in natural, man-made, and complex emergencies;
• Knowledge of issues related to and interlinked with innovation, such as social innovation (models and best practices);
• Eethical concerns and best practices with applying and scaling up new tools and services in non-profit programmes;
• Methodologies and used in the business to promote cultures of innovation;
• Mobile telecoms applications for delivering assistance, understanding needs and communicating with affected people and applications of methodologies to analyse and use ‘big data’ to humanitarian work;
• Knowledge of wide range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and development issues;
• Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, to include ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of complex issues that require a coordinated UN response;
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems;
• Ability to negotiate and to influence others to reach agreement;
• Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs and knowledge of the institutions of the UN system;
• Demonstrated ability to complete in-depth studies and to formulate conclusions/recommendations;
• Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political, economic, social and human rights programmes;
• Shows pride in work and in achievements;
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• Remains calm in stressful situations;
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
• is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning & Organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
• Identifies priority activities and assignments;
• Adjusts priorities as required;
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
• Uses time efficiently.

Accountability:

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments;
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;
• Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments;
• Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Creativity:

• Actively seeks to improve programmes or services;
• Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs;
• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;
• Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas;
• Thinks “outside the box”;
• Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;
• Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
• Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
• Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
• Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Commitment to Continuous Learning:

• Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession;
• Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally;
• Contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates;
• Shows willingness to learn from others;
• Seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Technological Awareness:

• Keeps abreast of available technology;
• Understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office;
• Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks;
• Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, or a related field;
• A first-level university degree in combination with 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, humanitarian assistance in several conflict affected areas and/or conflict-related policy work.

Language:

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

Required:

• Sound knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL);
• Knowledge of human rights law, refugee law and/or international criminal law is an advantage;
• NGO background (neither UN nor Red Cross Movement) is an advantage.