Humanitarian Specialist

The Pacific region is among the most vulnerable in the world to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, with the region frequently hit by tropical cyclones, floods, droughts and earthquakes. Eight of the fourteen countries that the UNFPA Pacific Sub-regional Office (PSRO) covers are among the 20 countries in the world with the highest average annual disaster losses scaled by gross domestic product. Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Fiji have very high exposure to natural hazards and low or very low coping capacities.  It is important to ensure that Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) information and services remain available and accessible during frequent natural disasters, given the disproportionate effect on women, girls and persons living with disabilities (PLWD). 

While strategies and national health disaster plans for emergency preparedness and disaster response exist in some countries, very few reflect integration and prioritization of SRH and GBV needs. Capacities and infrastructure for disaster response are generally weak, and social protection, gender and inclusion of PLWD are typically not prioritized.

Emergency preparedness and humanitarian assistance is integrated in UNFPA’s Sub regional Program and remains an important function of the organization. UNFPA in line with global strategy contributes to strengthening national capacity to provide sexual and reproductive health services, gender based violence prevention and response, and data issues in humanitarian settings, and to advocate for prioritization and incorporation of SRH and GBV needs within national disaster action plans. 

You will be overseeing coordination and implementation of all humanitarian activities in the sub regional office and in the field, while ensuring linkages with ongoing development programs in close coordination with the program team and partners. You will work in close collaboration with national authorities, humanitarian agencies (UN agencies through the Pacific Humanitarian Team and international NGOs), the UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO), and national partners and civil society organizations to strengthen emergency preparedness and provide humanitarian assistance to affected populations during and/or post disasters. 

You would be responsible for: 

Programme Development and Implementation:

• Lead PSRO’s preparedness efforts, including development, finalization and implementation of UNFPA Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPA) and development of contingencies/scenarios for specific humanitarian contexts;
• Lead efforts on implementing, monitoring and evaluating UNFPA’s humanitarian preparedness and response programmes/initiatives in consultation with the program team, and provide technical and policy guidance with regard to UNFPA’s role in humanitarian response;
• Establish programmatic links between existing Gender, SRHR and Humanitarian initiatives to ensure synergies between programs and to mainstream humanitarian preparedness; and
• Provide logistical and administrative assistance in relation to UNFPA’s emergency preparedness and relief efforts including developing a strategy for forecasting, procurement and prepositioning of RH kits, dignity kits and other relevant commodities needed during a disaster.

Humanitarian Coordination:

• Coordinate UNFPA’s emergency response activities in collaboration with relevant UNFPA program officers/advisers and partners (such as the clusters, inter-agency forums, government counterparts, UN agencies, international and local NGOs etc.), ensuring that SRH, GBV and PLWD issues are well integrated;
• Actively participate in and represent UNFPA in cluster/sub cluster/technical working group meetings and other related forums and coordinate UNFPA’s humanitarian response activities with other agencies’ activities;
• Ensure that UNFPA is well positioned in resource mobilization efforts, including humanitarian funding mechanisms, such as CAP/Pooled Funds/Common Humanitarian Funds/Flash Appeal/ CERF/ERF;
• Prepare UNFPA and inter-agency appeals such Flash appeal/CERF/ERF and strategic response plans through working with internal staff, OCHA, regional and national cluster leads and other stakeholders; and
• Coordinate closely with APRO and Procurement Service Branch to ensure reproductive health commodity security and rapid deployment of RH kits and supplies in emergency situations.

Technical Support and Capacity Building:

• Maintain continuous and close communication and provide swift follow-up and operational support to country offices during emergency situations and act as the principal focal point for exchange of information between the CO, PSRO, APRO, HQs and UN agencies; and
• Build capacity of UNFPA staff, partners and other relevant humanitarian actors to implement the MISP (Minimum Initial Service Package) on reproductive health (RH) in emergencies, and ensure that UNFPA staff are prepared to undertake specific roles during disaster response.

Advocacy and Communication:

• Support development of a communication plan for humanitarian response and prepare situational reports in a timely manner;
• In collaboration with UNFPA PSRO and APRO staff, prepare articles, human interest stories, press releases and other print and audio-visual materials on UNFPA’s humanitarian response activities; and
• Prepare advocacy material, donor briefings, concept notes and proposals for relevant partners and donors.
• Perform any other duties as required by the PSRO Deputy Director and/or Director.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Medicine, Humanitarian response, International Relations, Political Science, Social Sciences or other relevant field; or a combination of education and relevant experience in a related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience at the advisory/managerial level in the area of relevant programme management and coordination, with at least three years of managerial experience in humanitarian coordination and/or preparedness activities at the international level;
• Substantive knowledge and practical experience of UN Humanitarian relief operations and procedures and roles/responsibilities of humanitarian actors, and inter-agency humanitarian sector/cluster system is essential;
• Strong analytical, coordination and organizational skills, and an enthusiastic team player who seeks to empower others;
• Experience and knowledge of UNFPA is an advantage and familiarity of the Pacific context is an asset;
• Computer Literacy: Proficiency in the use of standard MS Office packages and the Internet.

Languages: 

• Proficiency in written and oral English. Working knowledge of Pacific languages is an asset.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2003/job/21915