Humanitarian Affairs Officer

Project Description

The Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT) provides the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with humanitarian services and the UK Government’s Stabilisation Unit with stabilisation support. HSOT works with FCDO to lead the UK Government’s response to humanitarian disasters in co-operation with the United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, non-governmental organisations and governments of disaster-affected countries.
The Early Warning, Analysis and Reporting team is at the forefront of humanitarian information and analysis, working at the heart of government to inform humanitarian decision-making. The team monitors global events to provide early warning, alerts, and shape humanitarian responses by delivering insights through clear and targeted analytic products. This involves overcoming a challenging information landscape through mixed method approaches as well as developing and improving methodologies that ensures decision-making is grounded in the best available evidence.
EWAR is an ambitious team, seeking to be a thought leader in humanitarian analysis. The team works closely with stakeholders across FCDO, in other government departments and with humanitarian information and analysis partners to leverage capabilities and to contribute to quality of humanitarian analysis. HSOT is looking for a committed, flexible, and positive team player to join us.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Monitoring and horizon scanning
Responsible for alerting FCDO to sudden onset events and to maintain a high level of humanitarian situational awareness, conduct continuous surveillance through monitoring, researching and analysing humanitarian crises
Produce updates and situation reports on sudden onset and emerging crises
Contribute to monthly risk identification processes.
Support in the production and delivery of the Humanitarian Early Warning Note and associated products.
Generate ad hoc analytical products, as per information needs of FCDO.
Manage, structure and store relevant humanitarian data for analysis
Maintain strong working relationships with key HMG and external stakeholders, including scientific or economic experts to inform early warning analysis.
On rotation, fulfil role Duty Officer, providing out of hours monitoring and surveillance function on behalf of FCDO.

Duty Officer System
HSOT provided a 24/7 Alerting function to FCDO. The post holder will be expected to fulfil the role of Duty Officer. This is usually required three weeks of the year.
Maintain the Duty Officer roster and Rapid Response roster
Maintain the Duty Officer protocols and training materials.
Train HSOT and HRG Duty Officers as needed.

Response Information and Reporting
During a humanitarian response launched by FCDO the HAO may be deployed in support of a rapid response team or surged into an on-going humanitarian programme during a spike in a crisis. The post holder may be asked to deploy at very short notice to support an FCDO response. Deployments may last up to six weeks
Generate key information on situation, needs and impact monitoring and forecasting through regular humanitarian updates.
Input to briefings to politicians including at Cabinet and Prime Ministerial level.
Develop response-specific IM strategy at the outset of rapid onset responses and maintain readiness to deploy in support of FCDO’’s work in a humanitarian emergency. Related responsibilities include:
Deliver the information function in response, sourcing and presenting information (including briefing packets, response briefs, timelines and infographics).
Establish relevant information management systems and tools to support better informed response decisions.
Support with comprehensive analysis of HRPs, funding proposals and other evidence to inform HSOT recommendations and CHASE response decisions
Contribute input to communications products, regular reporting highlighting response and support review/learning processes.
Contribute actively to Humanitarian Information Management and Analysis (HIMA) Community of Practice and the development of the HIMA toolbox.

Other Duties
HSOT are entering the final year of the HEROS contract. There will be a requirement for the post-holder to support transition activities and support in delivering the transition and exit plan.
Supporting on contract reporting and contribution to meeting HEROS contract KPIs.
Undertake any other duties as appropriate to the position, as requested.

Required Qualifications:

Research and field operational experience with INGO, UN or similar organisation.
Practical knowledge of humanitarian response information tools and operations.
Experience in reporting, delivering briefings, public speaking, and facilitating meetings;
Information management skills including proficiency in Excel, Power Bi.
Demonstrable knowledge and experience of humanitarian theory, practice and architecture, humanitarian risk assessment and planning and managing humanitarian responses.
Proven research and analytical skills and proven experience of providing humanitarian information management and reporting during rapid onset humanitarian crises.
Exceptional organisational and prioritisation, and ability to deal with a varied, demanding, often conflicting and rapidly changing workload, while conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
Team player who also works well independently.
Excellent networking and coordination skills at all levels.

Willingness to deploy in support of FCDO’s work in a humanitarian emergency.

Candidates must hold the right to work in the UK and should be based in the UK for the last 2 years for compliance purposes.