OCHA: Humanitarian Affairs Associate – Panama City

Organization Mission

OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA’s mission is to coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crisis advocating for effective and principled humanitarian action by all and for all. OCHA core functions are: Coordination, Advocacy, humanitarian assistance, Policy, Humanitarian Financing, Information Management.

Context

The role of the OCHA Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) is to support and assist the governments, national and regional disaster management entities, UN Resident Coordinators, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to improve overall preparedness and response mechanisms for natural and human-induced disasters or protracted crises. The regional office is the first line for response to emergencies in the region. Additionally, OCHA ROLAC manages the Regional Pooled Humanitarian Fund with funding envelopes for Haiti and Colombia; supports the allocation, monitoring and reporting on CERF funds; strengthens humanitarian access and civil-military coordination tools; and develops coordinated anticipatory action frameworks to address predictable climatic shocks. In particular, the UNV would support ROLAC´s work in the Caribbean including support for disaster preparedness, forecasting, anticipatory action and response in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados and eastern Caribbean.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Coordination Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Contribute to strengthening the efforts of the OCHA´s mandate by supporting the work with the different units (coordination, analysis/communications, and information management).
• Provide logistical and substantive support in the development of workshops and seminars at country and regional levels.
• Support convening coordination meetings, prepare documents, hold premeetings, taking notes and follow up on agreements.
• Support the elaboration of PPTs and help on presentations, when required.
• Support the development, review, and editing of key messages, talking points, donor reports, weekly humanitarian situation reports, humanitarian situation, and response presentations, as well as other documents required within the framework of OCHA Colombia’s programmatic activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of various unit products specially during the preparedness, seasons and response including analysis notes, reports and inputs for information products, establishing necessary links with field coordination colleagues and other relevant key actors.
• Other activities as required.

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance

Required Skills and Experience

Demonstrated interest or experience (up to three years) in:

• Humanitarian affairs in a complex emergency environment

Core Competencies

☒ Accountability
☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
☒ Client Orientation
☒ Commitment and Motivation
☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning
☒ Communication
☒ Creativity
☒ Ethics and Values
☒ Integrity
☒ Planning and Organizing
☒ Professionalism
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Technological Awareness
☒ Working in Teams

Living Conditions

Living in Panama City offers a mix of modern amenities and a relatively low cost of living. The city boasts reliable communications systems, including high-speed internet, drinkable tap water and good road conditions. The country is a logistics hub in the region with direct air travel from Panama City throughout Latin America and Caribbean, as well as to several cities in the US and Europe. Healthcare is top-notch in the region with modern hospitals and clinics. There is a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere with a large expat community from the region and beyond. The currency, Panamanian balboa, is pegged to the US dollar at 1:1 and while Panama issues its own coins, the country uses US dollar banknotes as legal tender.