Jobs - 90676- Humanitarian Affairs and Community Engagement Offi

Humanitarian Affairs and Community Engagement Officer

Location :

Nairobi, KENYA

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-May-2020

Application Deadline :

26-Mar-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

NO-B

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Extendable subject to Funding & Performance

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

OCHA mobilizes and coordinates principled humanitarian response in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies, advocates the rights of people in need, supports emergency preparedness and response, and facilitates sustainable solutions for vulnerable people adversely affected by conflict and natural disaster.

OCHA has a unique coordination role to play in promoting Community Engagement and Accountability to Affected People, which is being taken forward at country, regional and global levels. OCHA’s 2018-2021 strategic objectives call for more tailored, effective humanitarian responses, better meeting needs of affected communities in line with its mandate to ensure that humanitarian action ‘is accountable to affected people, and facilitates coordination approaches that integrate gender, age, disability and other vulnerability considerations into all aspects of humanitarian response’. In line with its Strategic Plan, OCHA has committed to support ‘reform proposals aimed at enhancing accountability and building trust with Member States and affected people’.

Duties and Responsibilities

Assist in the production of appeals for international assistance - including Humanitarian Needs Overviews, Humanitarian Response Plans and Flash Appeals - in the region;
Support the preparation of relevant Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) applications and reports in countries under ROSEA’s coverage without OCHA country offices;
Track information required for early warning of potential humanitarian emergencies in assigned areas and as appropriate promote preparedness measures, including inter-agency contingency planning;
Prepare briefing materials and presentations providing up-to-date analysis on trends and developments on the humanitarian situation in assigned areas;
Organize and/or participate in coordinated assessment missions to build consensus on humanitarian needs and priorities in assigned areas;
Provide expert advice on the implementation of collective community engagement mechanisms, to a standard that meets OCHA and donor requirements, and incorporating the community engagement elements of PSEA. This may include: deployment or facilitation of expert capacity on mission to undertake relevant discussions and actions; and/or remote support to colleagues working on these issues in-country;
Support the development of HCT Community Engagement/Accountability to Affected People (AAP) Strategies in the region, either through in-country missions and/or remote support to focal points in-country;
Facilitate in-country trainings (incl. ToT), webinars (incl. remotely), and local workshops to increase collective community engagement awareness among humanitarian responders – including governments, the RCRC Movement, national NGOs, international NGOs and UN agencies – and increase understanding of the importance of involving, listening to and communicating with disaster affected communities in a coordinated manner during all stages of the Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC), to achieve Accountability to Affected People (AAP);
Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Delivery

Ability to get things done Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Technical/Functional

Primary

Emergency Response and Coordination

Ability to provide operational support for organizational response to emergency situations. This includes consultant, roster management, deployments, fast track, operational aspects of SURGE RESPONSE

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Collaboration and Partnership

Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside (Programmes/projects) or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support. Sets overall direction for the formation and management of strategic relationships contributing to the overall positioning of OCHA ROSEA

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Management and Coordination

Ability to manage and coordinate campaigns and people with inspiration. Believe in and promote diversity in the workplace and reshaping the workforce to meet need.

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Media Monitoring

Ability to scan, watch out for risks that may affect the organisational brand and suggest mitigating actions

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree preferably in Political or Social Science, Law, International studies or other relevant science is required; a bachelor’s degree in combination with 2 additional years of relevant and qualifying experience in the field of humanitarian affairs may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Minimum of 2 years with advanced Degree and 4 years with bachelor’s degree of relevant progressively professional responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management or other related areas is required;
First-hand experience carrying out humanitarian coordination in disaster response or complex emergency settings is required, including knowledge of humanitarian principles and delivery of assistance using a principled approach is required;
Relevant experience working on Community Engagement and/or Accountability to Affected People is highly desirable;
Relevant experience working within a humanitarian organization in the UN system in Southern and/or Eastern Africa is highly desirable;
Good knowledge of OCHA’s institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to humanitarian affairs and humanitarian reform would be an asset;
Familiarity and good knowledge of social, political and economic conditions in Eastern and/or Southern Africa is desirable;
Proven abilities in data collection, compilation, analysis and reporting with ability to write in a clear and concise manner and effective oral communication;
Proven skills in facilitating meetings and reporting.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English and Swahili is required.
Knowledge of another UN language spoken in the region (e.g. French or Portuguese) is desirable.

Other:

This position will involve extensive travel on mission to countries in the region, often at short-notice and sometimes for lengthy periods (up to three months).
Willingness to rapidly deploy to areas/countries where populations are affected by humanitarian crisis is required.