Jobs - 53568- Humanitarian Affairs Specialist

Humanitarian Affairs Specialist - UNOCHA

Location :

Nairobi, KENYA

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

17-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

NO-C

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One Year (with possibility of extension)

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 situation in Somalia remains fragile with continued political instability, climatic variability, and lack of basic social services. OCHA’s role is to coordinate effective and principled inter-agency humanitarian response and ensure that relief assistance reaches the people who need it in a timely manner. In line with OCHA’s global mission, OCHA Somalia continues to:

Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, education and health for vulnerable communities, including the collection, analysis and dissemination of information to humanitarian partners, and negotiation of access;
Support the government efforts and humanitarian organizations in relocation of internally displaced and return;
Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Somalia with UN agencies and programmes, national and international NGOs and local authorities/communities as appropriate, with focus on strengthening the cluster approach;
Enhance a protective environment that respects the human rights of all, including IDPs, returnees and minority clans.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Office (HoO) of OCHA Somalia and the direct supervision of the Senior Humanitarian Affairs (Head of the Humanitarian Financing Unit), the Humanitarian Affairs Specialist is expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of funds management and humanitarian coordination and is expected to travel to Somalia as necessary to monitor Humanitarian Response Funds (HRF)-supported projects and liaise with partners in the field.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Provides secretariat support to the Humanitarian Coordinator including the CHF Advisory Board (includes donors) and the HCT, in managing both pooled funds including the CHF and the CERF;
Coordinates the CHF/CERF allocations and provision of support and guidance to clusters in accessing the CHF;
Oversees internal CHF / CERF allocations processes, and manages across functional areas in the HFU to ensure coherence with CHF's financial management, accountability framework requirements;
Manages communications, donor relations and resource mobilization;
Performs oversight role of staff under her/his unit.

Provides secretariat support to the Humanitarian Coordinator and including the CHF Advisory Board (includes donors) and the HCT, in managing both pooled funds including the CHF and the CERF:

In collaboration with the Head of Section, provides secretariat services to the CHF Advisory Group and advice/guide the CHF working group in the ongoing development of CHF policies, guidelines and procedures;
Ensures liaison and coordination between pooled fund processes, in particular those relating to the CHF, and key elements of the humanitarian programme cycle, including support to policy development and document drafting;
Prepares relevant documentation for the CHF Advisory Board and the Humanitarian Coordinator including talking points, strategies, updates etc;
Provides advice in policy development, including the review and analysis of humanitarian issues and funding trends;
Coordinates, compiles, reviews and comments on project submissions for CERF and recipient’s inputs on the CERF Annual Report.

Coordinates the CHF/CERF allocations and provision of support and guidance to clusters in accessing the CHF:

Identifies humanitarian priorities and gaps for CHF/CERF allocation in liaison with clusters, partners and OCHA colleagues and drafts CHF / CERF strategy documents and proposals to guide allocation prioritization;
Collects and analyzes data from various sources to present relevant evidence base for recommended strategic priorities for CHF / CERF allocations;
Supports the Head of Unit, on matters relating to OCHA’s support to UN Agencies in accessing the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF);
Facilitates consultation on CHF / CERF allocations processes with partners, and provides advice and support to clusters and partners;
Coordinates workshops and orientation for partners on CHF / CERF guidelines and processes;
Engages with clusters and partners in proposal screening, project administration, monitoring and reporting of projects funded by the CHF / CERF;
Contributes to the development of the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) allocation guidance in accordance with situational/cluster priorities.

Oversees internal CHF / CERF allocations processes, and manages across functional areas in the HFU to ensure coherence with CHF's financial management, accountability framework requirements:

Provides oversight and guidance to allocations team in the processing of CHF and CERF allocations, to ensure quality, timeliness and adherence to guidelines, and to ensure accountability to partners and affected people in the management of pooled funds by OCHA Somalia;
Coordinates internal processes to ensure coherence, and timely turnaround, across the HFU team related to finance and administration of the Fund (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) through liaising with OCHA-HQ and MPTF-UNDP;
Coordinates internal processes across the HFU team to ensure coherence in the application of the CHF Accountability Framework, including in the analysis/monitoring of project performance, with responsible M&R staff within the HFU team;
Collaborates with field offices and OCHA headquarters on development of best practices and lessons learnt in relation to pooled funds at country level under the supervision of head of section;
Advises on CHF /CERF information management, communications and web based communications to ensure the effective management of CHF / CERF data and records related to allocation proposals as well as accessible comprehensive information on the CHF allocation process and activities;
Supervises the online database of projects which takes into account the whole grant cycle (grant solicitation, proposal development, proposal review and approval, and progress reporting).

Manages communications, donor relations and resource mobilization, as required:

In collaboration with the Head of Unit, provides oversight and guidance to the junior HFU team focal points for CHF and humanitarian financing communications and donor relations, especially for resource mobilization purposes;
Provides guidance in preparation of donor profiles for CHF and bilateral donors including as relates to their humanitarian funding policies and funding history in Somalia;
Undertakes, or supervises research and analysis to present humanitarian financing information, in particular funding trends and requirements, gathered from diverse sources;
Coordinates the preparation of donor briefings, funding requests and reporting, including for OCHA resource mobilization purposes;
Liaises with donors when and as required.

Performs management functions including oversight of staff under her/his supervision, unit work:

Provides guidance to the junior staff responsible for implementation of CHF / CERF allocation processes;
In collaboration with the Head of Unit, contributes to the recruitment, performance and career management of staff in her/his unit;
Provides input to the office strategic plan by identifying key outcomes, indicators and targets of the unit, preparation of work plan and cost plan for the unit.

Functions / Key Results Expected

The key results expected will have an impact on the management of pooled funds (CHF and CERF), formulation of strategies for CHF allocations, ensuring smooth allocation processes, implementation of accountability framework and partnerships building.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Building Strategic Partnerships

Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to OCHAs mandate and strategic agenda;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Promotes UNOCHA 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

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.

Client Orientation

Anticipates client needs;
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 UNOCHA & setting standards
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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in political or social science, international studies, public administration, international studies, economics, or other relevant field is required.

Experience:

Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, project management, budget management, or other related areas is required;
Experience in humanitarian emergencies in the field and direct project management or project supervision experience is desirable;
Experience in drafting project documentation and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance is desirable. Experience with the UN common system is desirable;
Ability to research, analyzes, evaluate and synthesize information;
Relevant professional field experience in Somalia is desirable;
Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of e-mail and MS Office products (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Language requirements:

Fluency in English ( both oral and written) is required;
Knowledge of Somali is desirable.