Background

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Coordination and HAOs for Access/Civ Mil, the Access Support Associate works in close collaboration with the Humanitarian Coordination and Access Units in support of UN OCHA’s operations in Syria. The Access Support Associate supports OCHA Turkey in analyzing and addressing humanitarian access issues, with a particular focus on issues inside Syria.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the OCHA Turkey Head of Office and under the day-to-day guidance of the Head of Coordination Unit and HAOs for Access/Civ Mil, the Access Support Associate is expected to perform the following tasks:

1. Analysis of humanitarian access issues and context changes in Syria

• Submission of regular and on demand analysis on political and military developments in Syria, and how they impact on the humanitarian response and affected population
• Regularly update OCHA access maps and present to key stakeholders as well as senior leadership the humanitarian access environment in Syria.
• Support to creating access strategy.
• Support management and maintenance of the humanitarian access incidents tracking sheet and prepare analysis reports on humanitarian access challenges and constraints. 
• Through the access working group meetings and bilateral meetings with partners support with advice and problem solving for partners operations inside Syria.
• Present recent context developments and humanitarian access updates regularly in different forums and with colleagues, donors and visitors about recent developments of the political and humanitarian situation.
• Work with the Regional Access and Analysis Team of OCHA of the Syria crisis to maintain updated the Quality of Access product and provide advocacy in this regard.

2. Liaise with local authorities, armed groups, and other stakeholders to ensure humanitarian access

• Support relevant colleagues in humanitarian negotiation with NSAGs (Non State Armed Groups) in Syria to ensure that humanitarian access is maintained or expanded without compromising humanitarian principles, which may include translation, preparations support, or other support.
• Support relevant colleagues in engagement with local councils and other civil administration entities to ensure that humanitarian access is granted and/or maintained.
• Assist in advocacy, updating and application on Joint Operating Principles and Declaration of Commitment with armed groups
• Organize meetings as required for relevant colleagues with relevant stakeholders in regards to humanitarian access.
• Assist in briefing and training to local administration representatives and/or armed groups on the humanitarian principles and humanitarian access to ensure humanitarian response without compromising humanitarian principles

3. Technical Support to other Coordination forums

• Work closely with partners on the ground and respective cluster coordinators to ensure humanitarian access issues addressed.
• Help develop scenarios to describe the potential humanitarian impact of likely political, military and humanitarian developments in Syria for inter-cluster response plans and similar endeavours. 
• Help support HF unit in risk analysis and training for partners on IHL, humanitarian principles, humanitarian access and humanitarian negotiations.
• Help support coordination unit with broader trainings for partners on IHL, humanitarian principles, humanitarian access, and similar topics 
• Help coordinate with other offices providing aid to Syria on relevant access issues, such as OCHA Damascus, OCHA Jordan, and the NES Forum.
• Support on technical/policy issues with regard to humanitarian access, such as compilation of “best practices” in mitigating access constraints, relevant risk management issues, and so on.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Results-Based Response Development and Management

Level 1.2: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

1. Assesses performance of the humanitarian response to identify success factors. Incorporates best practices 
2. Monitor and evaluate humanitarian response in order to bridge the gaps in coordination and information management

Building Strategic Partnerships

Level 1.2: Maintaining a network of contacts

1. Maintains an established network of contacts and builds effective partnerships with wider humanitarian counterparts, for well-coordinated humanitarian response and sound information management
2. Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Level 1.2: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

1. Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
2. Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
3. Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
4. Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments Client Orientation

Level 1.2: Establishing effective client relationships

1. Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
2. Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines

Core Competencies:

1. Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
2. Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
3. Self-development, initiative-taking
4. Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork
5. Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively

Required Skills and Experience

“ A letter of interest, a UN Personal History Form (P11) filled in English, and a CV must be attached as one document to the application.”

Qualified women candidates are encouraged to apply.

The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that;

• human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
• activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”;
• any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;
• differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
• inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is create;
• necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.