Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Civil-Military Coordination and Access will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Adviser on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination and humanitarian access: a) The Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) will establish the necessary links with Senior Military Officers in International military Forces and National Military Forces, Military Liaison Officers (MLO), and personnel in UN agencies, including any relevant civilian mission staff, and civil-military coordination personnel of appropriate NGOs. b) Monitor, analyze and report on any major accomplishments and progress as well as identify and follow up any potential or actual friction points in relations between the humanitarian and military communities. c) Serve as the primary focal point for all matters including policy related to civil-military coordination and humanitarian access in close consultation with the Head of OCHA Chad or Humanitarian Coordinator. d) Prepare, or provide substantive input in the preparation of, policy, position papers and reports on civil-military coordination issues for presentation to various agencies throughout the UN system and IASC members. Contribute to the Office regular reporting on civil-military coordination and humanitarian access issues. 2. Policy and Advocacy: a) Lead, if applicable, the development of country-specific guidelines on civil-military relations, based on the current “Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief” and “Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets to Support UN Humanitarian Activities in Complex Emergencies”, as well as the “IASC Reference Paper on Civil-Military Relationship in Complex Emergencies”, the IASC Discussion Paper and Non-Binding Guidelines on the “Use of Military or Armed Escorts for Humanitarian Convoys”, applicable Security Council resolutions and other relevant instruments. Lead the development of the HCT access strategy. b) Ensure that the country-specific guidelines, and the generic guidelines mentioned above are properly disseminated and understood by both the humanitarian actors and the military forces present, as well as by local actors, as appropriate. Promote and ensure adherence to the above Guidelines within the entire humanitarian community and advise on potential consequences if these principles are compromised. c) Organise, with relevant and balanced Humanitarian and Military representation, Workshops on Civil-Military relations, by advocating adherence to applicable guidelines and principles and focusing on positive examples, contribute to a positive working relationship between relevant international military and IASC members. d) Additionally, act as an advocate for the promulgation of UN-CMCoord concepts, principles and activities, the promotion and protection of humanitarian principles and the dissemination of UN-CMCoord related guidelines. 3. Establish and maintain UN-CMCoord and access Network: b) Develop a country wide access and CMCoord stakeholder mapping and ensure regular update depending to country dynamic. a) Establish and maintain dialogue and coordination with the military and security forces in the area of responsibility. Identify, establish and maintain contact with the appropriate military counterparts, especially international military force deployed, and ensure mutual exchange of information about ongoing humanitarian activities and issues. Advise the military forces in the area of responsibility on international humanitarian coordination mechanisms. These mechanisms may include the UN Country Team, UN Security or Disaster Management Teams, Humanitarian Clusters, etc. c) In parallel, establish and maintain contact with humanitarian actors in the area of responsibility and serve as an information channel and advocate for their issues with relevant military/paramilitary organizations as well as community leaders and administrative authorities regarding access negotiation. d) Lead or participate in working groups, meetings and consultations with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners; organize meetings on UN-CMCoord matters with Heads of Agencies and/or other appropriate entities, lead the access working group. e) Establish and maintain, if appropriate, an information exchange forum for stakeholders and interested parties in civil-military relations and participate in relevant meetings. 4. Humanitarian Affairs: a) Leads and/or participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions; coordinates international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations; ensures necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); prepares situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries. b) Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations. c) Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.; ensures appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system, including on early warning and contingency planning. 5. Other duties: a) Acts as Security Focal Point for the OCHA Country Office for humanitarian access related issues, establishing and maintaining engagement with the Country Security Management System as appropriate. b) 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. Solid understanding of Civil Military Coordination issues. Knowledge and understanding of the UN Security Management System. Analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyse 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. CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Managerial Competencies: MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or other field related to civil-military coordination 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 seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required. A minimum three (3) years of field experience (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in aid operations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required. Experience in civil-military coordination, humanitarian access coordination or experience in the military forces dealing with humanitarian operations is desirable. Experience in a humanitarian context with governments , in the UN Common System or other comparable international organizations such as International NGOs is desirable. Experience in the Western and Central Africa region is desirable.