(RE-ADVERTISEMENT) – Humanitarian Specialist (Open to Fijian Nationals ONLY)

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The UN Women Pacific Multi-Country Office is based in Suva, Fiji and works alongside over 20 other UN agencies in the region and in 14 countries across the Pacific: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Under its Strategic Note (SN) 2023 – 2027, UN Women Fiji MCO focuses on delivering on four interlinked programme areas underpinned by support for intergovernmental and normative processes:

• Women’s Governance, Political Participation and Leadership
• Women’s Economic Empowerment
• Ending Violence against Women and Girls
• Climate Action/Humanitarian Action and Resilience

In 2022, over 300 million people needed humanitarian assistance and protection in places struck by conflict, climate change, disasters. For women and girls, crisis and related displacements results in loss of property, assets and livelihoods, reduction in access to health care, education, and other services. At the same time, it raises the risks of violence, abuse, and exploitation. Yet, gender responsive humanitarian action remains affected by limited coordination, understanding of risks and funding at the country and regional level. However, the critical importance of building resilience and safeguarding the long-term prospects of crisis affected women and girls are emphasized by development actors requiring a collective and coordinated approach. Through its IASC membership and ongoing programmes in humanitarian crisis, UN Women takes an approach to tackle the root causes of inequality while pushing for changes in the global humanitarian system.

The Pacific is considered one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world and faces unique challenges. It is highly exposed to hydro-meteorological hazards as well as geophysical and human-made hazards. The small size, remoteness, socio-economic status, and fragile biodiversity of the Pacific Islands makes them extremely vulnerable to these hazards. As a result, Pacific Island States, including Vanuatu, Fiji, and Kiribati – the WRD programme countries, occupy the top categories in the 2019 World Risk Index.

A principal regional constraint to gender-responsive humanitarian preparedness, response and disaster risk reduction remains the capacity to plan and implement gender-inclusive strategies, and to deliver pre-and post-disaster services to those hit hardest by emergencies.  All steps to reduce gender inequalities across the region are likely also to reduce gender disparities in the impact of disaster.  The UN Women MCO covers 14 of the PICTs in the region. Widespread discriminatory attitudes towards women and girls in all their diversity create deep-rooted obstacles to sustainable development in the Pacific.  Some Pacific societies are matrilineal, with women in some cases holding positions of authority within the family/community. However, this does not usually translate into equal socio-economic indicators, with the exception of secondary school enrolment, where girls typically outstrip boys, with an average net enrolment ratio of 69.7 percent for girls and 62.3 percent for boys.   The majority of societies are deeply patriarchal, with entrenched norms that lead to gender inequality in almost all spheres. Women and girls of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, women, and girls with disabilities and in rural/maritime areas experience intersectional discrimination.

Through the recent Humanitarian Strategy (2022-2025) of UN Women, the agency focuses on: 

• Strengthening accountability towards gender commitments in coordination and implementation of UN-led humanitarian and refugee responses.
• Strengthening Comprehensive Protection and Livelihood support to Crisis Affected Women and Girls.
• Amplifying women’s voices and leadership during the crisis.

The UN Women MCO is in an advantageous position in the region with regard to its coordination role as lead of the Pacific Humanitarian and Protection Cluster (PHPC) which provides ample opportunity for consolidating its envisaged role of triple mandate (normative, operation and coordination) as per the Strategic Note (2023-2027).

Reporting to the Climate Action and Humanitarian Specialist, the Humanitarian Specialist will manage the development of Humanitarian programmes, provide capacity building to Country Offices (CO) and Multi Country Offices (MCO), establish, and strengthen partnerships, and develop relevant knowledge products on gender, protection, and humanitarian response.

 United Nations. (2021). Pacific Common Multi-Country Assessment.

 UN Women. (2021). Gender Equality Brief for 14 Pacific Countries and Territories and UNICEF (2017) Situation Analysis of Children in the Pacific Island Countries

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage the development of programmes on humanitarian action:

• Manage the development of regional programme documents on humanitarian action;
• Provide technical inputs to programme proposals from country offices/ Fiji Multi Country office.
• Provide advice on contextualizing/ localizing programme documents, country strategies, and knowledge products;
• Coordinate proper monitoring and reporting for humanitarian action in collaboration with programme teams.

Provide capacity building support to the Country Office Programme Presence teams and partners:

• Provide technical and policy support to the multi-country office in Fiji and country office programme presence teams in developing and strengthening projects/ programmes;
• Implement and monitor capacity building initiatives;
• Provide technical support to partners on implementation of gender-responsive humanitarian action.

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with stakeholders, regional/ international actors and development partners:

• Build and maintain alliances and strategic partnerships for the advancement, disaster preparedness and humanitarian action;
• Build and maintain close liaisons with relevant donors and other actors supporting efforts towards humanitarian action, as delegated;
• Contribute inputs to updates and briefs on regional/country development situation to be used by stakeholders, CO and HQ;
• Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UN Women HQ.

Manage the resource mobilization strategy for humanitarian action in the region

• Participate in the implementation, monitoring and periodic updating of the resource mobilization strategy on humanitarian action in the region;
• Provide technical support to field-based presences in the region in mobilizing resources for the implementation of humanitarian action;
• Research and analyze information on donors.

Manage the design of humanitarian action in the region and the development of relevant knowledge products

• Provide inputs to policy recommendations and guidance to strategic planning and positioning on humanitarian action;
• Research and develop analytical reports, research papers, briefing notes, background papers, summaries, correspondence, and knowledge products on humanitarian action;
• Identify promising practices, technical expertise in humanitarian action.

Manage the advocacy of humanitarian action through inter-agency coordination

• Work closely with PHPC partners and provide advice to regional/ national bodies and interagency groups that influence national policies related to humanitarian action;
• Participate and contribute inputs to the regional Humanitarian Protection Cluster and Pacific Humanitarian Team meetings when required;
• Coordinate specific efforts in mainstreaming gender and protection in disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts of other clusters and relevant working groups;
• Advocate for the engagement and participation of local organizations and civil society networks in humanitarian coordination mechanisms.

Manage advocacy and communication efforts of humanitarian action

• During emergency response, develop and implement communication and advocacy messages and contribute inputs to strategies on key gender and protection concerns;
• Develop information, education and communication (IEC) materials, press releases, situation reports, alerts and contribute gender and protection-related inputs to documents prepared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Manage knowledge building and sharing for humanitarian action

• Identify and disseminate lessons learnt and good practices in collaboration with country offices;
• Ensure technical skills and knowledge are shared within and among the staff at the Fiji MCO and programme presence in the Country Offices.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: 

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Strong knowledge and experience related to current policies and practices in the fields of gender equality, protection and humanitarian action, including humanitarian coordination;
• Strong knowledge of the region
• Strong networking skills
• Ability to interact with donors, identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising
• Ability to perform qualitative and quantitative policy research
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
• Strong analytical skills;
• Ability to write policy papers, speeches, briefings;
• Strong knowledge of programme development, implementation, results-based management and reporting.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Human Rights, Gender, International Relations, International Development, International Law or other Social Science fields is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 5 years (with Master’s degree), or minimum of 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible work experience in in designing and managing humanitarian programmes, with a particular focus on gender and protection in emergencies.
• Technical experience in inter-agency coordination, preferably protection cluster coordination, and/or ProCap/GenCap in a natural disaster setting.
• Experience in policy analysis and strategic planning.
• Experience working with, and building partnerships with governments, donors and civil society organizations internationally and in the field.
• Experience working with the UN is an asset.
• Experience working in the region is an asset.
• Knowledge of the Pacific is an asset.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Additional Information:

UN Women Statement on Diversity Inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.  If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.  UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.  All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history.  Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check).

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from: