Humanitarian Affairs Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting
- These positions are located in the Operations and Advocacy Division (OAD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. This position-specific job opening is being advertised for two (2) positions as Humanitarian Affairs Officer in Gonaïves and Les Cayes, Haiti. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, OCHA Haiti, the incumbents will report to the Deputy Head of Office.
- Responsibilities
- Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: - Serves as a Head of Sub-Office. Advises on overall policy direction on specific issues; and, more generally, reviews and provides advice on a diverse range of policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and the linkages with other related areas. - Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in the Sub-office AoR. - Organizes and prepares studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including interagency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues. - Leads and/or participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions; assists in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); drafts situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries. - Leads on coordinated interagency efforts. Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations. - Manages and assists the production of appeals for international assistance; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA. - Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc. - Undertakes access negotiations to enable principled and effective assistance. Facilitates and negotiates delivery of humanitarian assistance in difficult to reach/underserved areas. Facilitates inter-agency assessments and monitoring missions. Advises humanitarian partners and local authorities on humanitarian priorities and principles. - Prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc. - Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; 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. - Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance. - Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters. - Provides leadership and work direction to assigned team, and/or mentors new/junior staff. - Performs other duties as required.
- Competencies
- Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field. 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.
- Job - Specific Qualification
- Not available.
- Work Experience
- A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required. Humanitarian experi