UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the Operations and Advocacy Division (OAD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. 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 the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Pooled Fund Manager based in Damascus, Syria. Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Head of Office, OCHA Syria, the incumbent reports to the Head of Humanitarian Financing Unit.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Pooled Fund Manager will be responsible for the following duties:
I. Fund Management and Coordination:
• Under the overall guidance of the HoO and the supervision of the senior Humanitarian Affairs Officers/Pooled Fund Manager, advise the HC on the management of the Country-based Pooled Fund (CBPF) vis-à-vis the humanitarian context (i.e. priorities and needs);
• Ensure the overall administration of the Fund and liaise as necessary with relevant OCHA HQ sections (i.e. OCHA CBPF Section, OCHA Operations and Advocacy, OCHA Donor Relations Section);
• Support and implement standardized policy in line with HQ guidance and decisions.
• Manage and supervise Fund-related support staff;
• Manage fund allocation processes, ensuring necessary coordination with relevant counterparts in line with the Terms of Reference and/or allocation guidelines (i.e. Review and/or Advisory Boards, cluster or sector leads, humanitarian organizations, and OCHA);
• Liaise with NGOs, UN partners as well as clusters and OCHA field offices to follow-up on project progress and overall Fund progress;
• Conduct periodic field visits to promote knowledge and support the appropriate use of the Fund in line with its Terms of Reference. Field visits should focus on key actors (i.e. OCHA field colleagues, recipient organizations, local governments, communities);
• Ensure proper communication and support during the allocation process vis-à-vis all stakeholders;
• Liaise with and provide necessary support to recipient organizations of the Fund throughout the life-cycle of the projects, promoting coherence between humanitarian needs and response;
• Advise the HC, recipient organizations and stakeholders on measures to mitigate and manage foreseeable operational risks;
• Ensure recipient organizations’ compliance with financial rules applicable to the Fund.
• Ensure coordination and information exchange with humanitarian donors, aiming to promote coordinated and complementary use of funds;
• In case of absence of the senior Humanitarian Affairs Officers/Pooled Fund Manager, represent the Fund management unit before stakeholders (NGO, UN Agencies, donors) and external actors as required;
II. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation:
• Ensure compliance with monitoring and reporting requirements in place for the Fund;
• Oversee and ensure timely project reporting cycle, including the annual report of the Fund;
• Systematically provide information on project status to the HC, the HoO, donors and relevant governing bodies of the Fund;
• Support the preparation of evaluations, reviews and studies as requested by the HC and governing bodies, ensuring due consultation with relevant HQ sections.
III. Analysis, communications and public information:
• Research, analyze and present humanitarian financing information, in particular funding trends and requirements, gathered from diverse sources;
• Assist in policy development, including the review and analysis of humanitarian issues and funding trends at the country level, ensuring proper coordination with Funding Coordination Section at HQ;
• In collaboration with other OCHA units and field offices, as well as with support from relevant OCHA HQ sections, document and disseminate results, best practices and results of the Fund across internal and broader audiences through information and communication products/pieces (i.e. bulletins, feature stories, photographs/videos, websites, etc.);
• Liaise with OCHA field offices and recipient organizations in order to disseminate full information on Fund activities;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Humanitarian Affairs Officers/Pooled Fund Manager and the OCHA Head of Office;
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues, to include approaches and techniques to address difficult problems; conceptual and strategic analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyse and articulate the humanitarian and protection dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response; ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems; ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian rights and protection situation in assigned country/area; ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery); ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff; take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Proven drafting skills. Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining humanitarian assistance. Knowledge of the UN common system and NGOs, and commonly used computer applications including MS Word and Excel. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
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 and 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.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, project management, budget management, or related area is required.
Humanitarian experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required.
Previous work experience in areas of project management and supervision, monitoring and evaluation, or administration is required.
Previous experience of working in humanitarian financing, (e.g. grant management, fundraising, or donor relations for humanitarian programmes), is desirable.
Experience in the design of policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance is desirable.
Experience in the Middle East is desirable.
Languages
French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment
The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and/or a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-general and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
External candidates (including OCHA temporary appointees and OCHA national field staff) who are selected for a position in field duty stations may be strategically placed on a fixed term appointment limited to a specific position or to a specific country office in accordance with paragraph 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on the administration of fixed-term appointment which provides that an FTA may be granted to individuals who are “(b ) Selected but not reviewed by a Secretariat review body for appointments limited to specific entities”.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.