Overview
Serve as senior policy advisor to the UN RC/HC, UNCT and humanitarian country team on humanitarian principles and initiatives. Discharge and be responsible for humanitarian policy, programming, coordination, and office management.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as senior policy advisor to the UN RC/HC, the UN Country Team (UNCT) and the humanitarian country team on humanitarian principles and initiatives.
- Develop and maintain contacts with the international community in order to raise awareness and advocate for issues of humanitarian concerns.
- Act to strengthen cooperation among the humanitarian community on policy issues of inter-agency concern and serve as a key interlocutor with relevant Government partners.
- Advise, promote and provide guidance to the UN RC/HC, the UNCT and the humanitarian county team on humanitarian reform initiatives including implementation of the reset, cluster coordination, humanitarian financing, etc.
- Provide strategic support to the UN RC/HC in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the work plan of the humanitarian community, soliciting and negotiating inputs with relevant authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, etc.
- Consult on a regular basis with the RC/HC, Heads of UN Agencies and Programmes, NGOs heads of mission, the government and the donor community on all appropriate aspects of the implementation and delivery of humanitarian activities, to ensure that coordination structures at local, provincial and national levels operate in a coherent and cost-effective manner.
- Support the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of humanitarian programs, facilitating incorporation of lessons learned, policy guidelines etc. into humanitarian response activities.
- Promote best practices in humanitarian planning, response and evaluation.
- Facilitate inter-agency resource mobilization efforts, including the provision of specialized international assistance to respond to ongoing as well as new and /or emerging emergencies.
- Develop, reinforce and maintain effective coordination mechanisms with the humanitarian county team and other key humanitarian stakeholders.
- Establish / manage information management systems to effectively map areas of humanitarian needs and response activities in support of coordination efforts.
- Foster and reinforce linkages between field monitoring, information management and coordination efforts.
- Ensure timely and appropriate assistance to the UN RC/HC and (if applicable) the United Nations Disaster Management Teams (UNDMT) in response to disasters and emergencies.
- Support inter-agency efforts to build in-country UN capacity to manage natural disaster response.
- Provide substantive support and leadership to government institutions and local humanitarian entities to build national capacity for emergency and/or disaster management.
- Promote dialogue, regional alliances, sharing of knowledge and resources, among national and, as appropriate, regional humanitarian actors in disaster risk reduction, disaster/emergency preparedness and response.
- Promote and lead contingency planning processes in close cooperation with UNCT and HCT and Regional Disaster Reduction Advisers (RDRA) as applicable.
- Develop joint initiatives on disaster management with other UN and (if applicable) regional actors; including early warning mechanisms.
- Under the overall guidance of the Director of the CRD and in partnership with other branches of OCHA, work to reinforce regional networks and mechanisms for swift, effective response to emerging humanitarian situations.
- Serve as the OCHA Head of Office in designated duty station, providing oversight of all programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the efficient functioning of the OCHA office and any sub-offices, and being accountable for the use of resources and for the results obtained.
- Lead work planning and budgeting process, support resource mobilization and ensure sound financial management.
- Ensure regular and effective supervision of OCHA staff, particularly by leading, managing, developing, and training staff; foster teamwork and communication amongst staff; and strengthen linkages between the staff in field, regional and headquarters offices.
- Promote OCHA's mandate, objectives and tools in the designated area through contacts with the government, diplomatic missions, UN entities, non-governmental organizations and the media.
- Ensure the Office produces timely, high-quality outputs including comprehensive workplans, concise and factual situation reports, analytical papers, comprehensive and fact-based information products, etc.
- Perform other duties as requested by the UN RC/HC and / or Director of CRD.
Required Experience
- A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in disaster relief coordination, humanitarian assistance, protection, human resources management, administration, logistics, financial management, budget or related field is required.
- At least five (5) years of humanitarian experience at the international level in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in aid operations (complex emergency or natural disaster) in a humanitarian context within the UN Common system other comparable international organization is required.
- Experience leading and coordinating humanitarian relief operations at management level in complex emergency or natural disaster situation is required.
- Experience in the MENA region (Arab States) is required.
Qualifications
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration or management, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field 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.
