Humanitarian Affairs Officer [Anticipatory Action Lead]

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) secretariat, Pooled Fund Management Branch (PFMB), Financing and Partnerships Division (FPD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York. The main objectives are to support CERF’s programmatic work and the scale-up and mainstreaming of the anticipatory approach. OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. CERF is one of the fastest and most effective ways to ensure that urgently needed humanitarian assistance reaches people caught up in crises. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 as the United Nations global emergency response fund, CERF enables humanitarian responders to deliver life-saving assistance whenever and wherever crises strike. As an essential enabler of global humanitarian action, CERF’s Rapid Response window allows country teams to kick-start relief efforts immediately in a coordinated and prioritized response when a new crisis emerges. Under this window, CERF also supports anticipatory and early action, getting ahead of humanitarian crises. CERF’s window for Underfunded Emergencies helps scale-up and sustain protracted relief operations to avoid critical gaps when no other funding is available. The CERF Programme Unit, where the position is located, has developed the following value statement: “The CERF secretariat is the steward of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for life-saving humanitarian action each year and we recognize the magnitude of this task. We take pride in our work and strive for professionalism, speed and efficiency, always putting people affected by humanitarian emergencies first and supporting country teams. Within the programme unit and beyond, we value diversity and show empathy, respect and kindness. We assume positive intent (API) and care about others’ well-being. We value teamwork and collaboration, looking left and right to help each other and flexibly back each other up. We share information in full transparency, and we share our diverse knowledge and expertise. Each team member is responsible for their own area of work, which they are empowered to lead and coordinate. Each team member is encouraged to voice their views and opinions and to provide inputs for decision-making, especially when this contradicts the majority view. It is ok to disagree, but we do so thoughtfully, listening to each other’s arguments and trying to find the best solution. We always look for ways to learn, innovate and improve the way we work. Everybody who wants comes together in a weekly huddle to talk about what goes well and what doesn’t and to talk about things other than work.” This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Anticipatory Action lead) in New York, at UNHQ. The incumbent will report to the Head of Programme, working closely with colleagues on the anticipatory approach in OCHA’s Financing and Partnerships Division (FPD), the Information Management Branch (IMB), the Operations and Advocacy Division (OAD), country and regional offices, and other relevant units in OCHA.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer/ Anticipatory Action Lead will be responsible for the following duties: • Ensures the strategic use of CERF funding by providing advice to the Emergency Relief Coordinator on CERF allocations and by managing the entire funding grant cycle within assigned thematic and geographic areas. This includes reviewing, providing feedback on, and making recommendations on requests for funding (through both the Rapid Response and Underfunded Emergencies windows); processing project revision requests; assessing interim updates and final allocation reports. • Oversees and coordinates CERF’s support to anticipatory and early action, from the strategic and policy level to operational and personnel issues. • Supports the regional scale-up and mainstreaming of anticipatory action, including through facilitating the revision of existing and the development of new anticipatory action (AA) frameworks. • Supports OCHA, Resident Coordinator Offices and humanitarian/development partners on the development of key components of collective and coordinated AA frameworks (action plan, crisis timeline, trigger mechanism, etc.). • Monitors, analyzes and reports on the anticipatory approach, disaster risk finance, humanitarian finance, humanitarian developments, disaster relief and management, or socioeconomic analysis. • Organizes and prepares studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including interagency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues. • Participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions; assists in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support (e.g., staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); drafts situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries. • Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes, including anticipatory approaches, and helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc., are aggregated, disseminated and incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations. • Assists in the production of appeals for international assistance; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA and CERF. • Provides capacity building support on anticipatory approaches and establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc. • Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions, e.g., participates in field trips to undertake in-depth reviews of specific country coordination mechanisms. • Prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g., drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc. • Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; keeps abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., ensures appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provides information and advice on a range of related issues. • Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance. • Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters. • Leads the CERF anticipatory action team; provides guidance to, and may supervise, new/junior staff. • Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related human rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems. Analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response. Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems. Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian rights 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. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. 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 & 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.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required. Experience in developing or implementing anticipatory humanitarian action is required. Relevant experience in climate change and climate finance is desirable. A minimum of two (2) years in the last five (5) years of international field experience in aid operations is desirable.

Languages

French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in French or Spanish is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by 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 this position. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.