Overview
Serves as a senior programme officer advising on humanitarian financing and OCHA's humanitarian Country and Regional Funds. Provides strategic and operational support for assigned Funds and contributes to Fund-related policy development.
Key Responsibilities
- Serves as a senior programme officer; advises on overall policy direction on specific issues related to humanitarian financing at large and in particular to OCHA's humanitarian Country and Regional Funds; and, more generally, reviews and provides advice on a diverse range of issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and the linkages with other related areas (e.g. human rights).
- Provides strategic and operational support, as well as performance oversight, for assigned Country and Regional Funds, coordinating with relevant internal and external stakeholders at country, regional and global levels.
- Contributes to the development of Fund-related policy, including programming areas and Fund management approaches, in collaboration with stakeholders at country, regional and global levels, including the Pooled Fund Working Group and OCHA-NGO Dialogue Platform.
- Supports engagement with UN oversight bodies, including UN Board of Auditors and OIOS, in their review of Fund management.
- Contributes to overall administration of donor contributions to Country and Regional Funds focusing on the US Award to Country and Regional Funds.
- Lead preparation of reports and communication materials on the impact and strategic use of donor contributions focusing on the US Award.
- Prepares position papers on humanitarian financing issues for review.
- Monitors, analyzes and reports on developments in the field of humanitarian financing including complementarity with other Funding sources including the US Award to Country and Regional Funds.
- Organizes and prepares studies on humanitarian financing related issues for Country and Regional Funds; organizes follow-up, including development of guidance and support to decision-making on important issues; and ensures the implementation of recommendations emanating from relevant studies.
- Leads and/or participates in large, complex projects related to humanitarian financing and Country and Regional Funds; 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.); supports the preparation of situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries.
- Assists or leads, as appropriate, in the preparation of in the production of appeals for international assistance; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA focusing on the US Award to Country and Regional Funds.
- Assists or leads, as appropriate, in the preparation of OCHA reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, talking points, correspondence, presentations, parliamentary documents, etc.; with respect to the latter, takes the lead in providing support and information to relevant councils or other entities on specific issues to ensure effective engagement in UN inter-governmental policy and related for a: ECOSOC, General Assembly, Member State briefings.
- Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
- 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 when required preparation for engagement with key stakeholder platforms. Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics on humanitarian financing and issues related to Country and Regional Funds; 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 and supports engagement with stakeholders forums.
- Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
- May participate in planning and preparation of Unit budgets and work programmes.
- Provides leadership and work direction as assigned, and/or mentors and supervises the work of new/junior officers.
- Performs other duties as required.
Required Experience
- A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required.
- Experience with coordinating multi-stakeholder policy development is required.
- Previous experience managing Pooled Funds or similar funding mechanisms, including allocations, project and partner engagement, and grant administration at the country level, is required.
- Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or other comparable international organization is desirable.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
