Date of issue: 06 September 2011
Post title and level: Humanitarian Affairs Officer / Common Humanitarian Fund Manager P-4
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya (with frequent travel to Somalia)
Duration: Three Months (possibility of extension)
Deadline for applications: 13 September 2011
Vacancy Notice number: OCHA/G/37/2011
Expected Entry on Duty: As soon as possible
United Nations Core Values: INTEGRITY / PROFESSIONALISM / RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
Background: The Somalia Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) was established in 2010 and has two main objectives: I. Strategically fund assessed humanitarian action in Somalia to improve the timeliness and coherence of the humanitarian response; and II. Support priority clusters and regional priorities in accordance with identified needs. In July / August 2010 the Fund allocated close to $20 million to a total of 34 projects. The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), supported by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Somalia, manages the CHF. An Advisory Board advises on strategic and policy decisions and regularly reviews the functioning of the CHF. Cluster review committees review and prioritize projects for CHF funding. Cluster coordinators and cluster review committees play a crucial role in the allocation process and need to have the capacity to do so. The United Nations Development Programme's Multi Donor Trust fund (UNDP/MDTF) office serves as the Fund’s Administrative Agent (AA) and OCHA serves as the CHF Secretariat and as Managing Agent (MA). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer / CHF Manager will lead the CHF Secretariat (8 staff) and report directly to the HC and the OCHA Head of Office (HoO). The incumbent will at the same time head the Funding Coordination Unit which further facilitates the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocation process and reporting, overall Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) funding tracking and donor relations.
Organizational Setting and Reporting line: Within the delegated limits of authority, under the supervision of the Head of Office, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Provide analysis and advice to the HoO and the HC on fund management policies, strategic priorities, and key humanitarian challenges in relation with the Pooled Fund and the greater humanitarian aid system; Manage the CHF Secretariat team ensuring adequate integration between the UNDP and OCHA roles and responsibilities; Coordinate the CHF Secretariat team ensuring all necessary support to the HoO, the HC, and the Advisory Board and partners; Ensure necessary coordination with other sources of funding in particular with CERF, bilateral funding and other key humanitarian donors; Conceptualize and coordinate development of CHF allocation priorities and procedures in accordance with and in support of the CAP; Ensure stakeholders participation and common understanding of guidelines and procedures; Ensure adequate training and orientation to all stakeholders of the CHF process aiming at a client oriented service delivery; Coordinate and support development of the Funding Coordination/CHF Secretariat work plan in accordance with OCHA strategic planning; Ensure the involvement of OCHA field offices in the CHF allocation process and support field offices as required; Represent the CHF in the Humanitarian Country team or other internal and external meetings, including specific meetings with donor; Liaise and represent the CHF with contributing donors in country and outside the country; Supervise planning and implementation of the allocations ensuring adherence to the HC decisions in coordination with OCHA HoO; Oversee the organisation of the allocation process in strict coordination with national cluster leads, ensuring appropriate support to field cluster focal points and partner; Monitor the implementation of CHF procedures and guidelines; Conceptualize and oversee the development of appropriate project monitoring and evaluation tools in accordance with relevant rules and regulations; Facilitate the coordination with all stakeholders (HC, Donors, UN Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) partners, clusters) with regards to the progressive improvement of monitoring and evaluation activities; Ensure regular and effective reporting systems for the funds managed within the Funding Unit (CHF, CERF and bilateral funding); Analyze monitoring results in order to identify problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions; Liaise / coordinate with UNDP/MDTF office in New York regarding the CHF; Develop and ensure implementation of project cycle management tools aimed at ensuring the most appropriate follow up on projects; Provide regular update and report to the HC, the OCHA HoO, the CHF Advisory Board, local authorities and the humanitarian community as a whole on project implementation and financial status of the fund; Support the OCHA HoO and the HC in the CERF allocation process in terms of definition strategy, criteria and guidelines; Facilitate and coordinate the preparation and submission of CERF project proposals and annual report; Provide update funding information to Financial Tracking System (FTS) Geneva; Promote information sharing and coordination with relevant OCHA Headquarter sections in particular the Coordination and Response Division (CRD) and Funding Coordination Section (FCS); Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related protection issues, to include approaches and techniques to address difficult problems; Strong analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyse and articulate the humanitarian and protection dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response; Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems; Strong research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian and protection situation in assigned country/area; Ability to work under pressure, on occasion in a stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery); Knowledge of UN institutional mandates and policies, and core UN guidelines related to humanitarian affairs is required; Knowledge of UNDP rules and procedures is desirable; Ability to provide guidance to new / junior staff.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his / her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: Empowers others to translate vision into results; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvements; Does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; Demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
JUDGEMENT & DECISION MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.
Qualifications
Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, political or social science, international studies, or other related field; A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent degree) in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in project and / or programme and fund management, accountability frameworks, humanitarian affairs, crisis / emergency relief management or in a related area; Experience in humanitarian fund management and in humanitarian emergencies in the field is required; Relevant experience at the international level is a string asset; Familiarity with working with Multi-Donor Task Forces is desirable; Knowledge of the region and donor relations is desirable.
Language:
For this particular position English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is highly desired.
***SPECIAL NOTICE ***
Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.
All posts are subject to availability of funds.
Applications from qualified female candidates and from nationals of non- and under-represented countries are particularly encouraged.
Diploma of completed University degree may be requested in due course.
Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions at the same level in other field duty stations. Candidates will be expected to move periodically to new functions throughout their careers and are subject to the assignment by the Secretary-General to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations.
*** IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR APPLICATION***
All applicants are requested to email the following documents to Ms. Iahli Patale at patale@un.org with a copy to ochavacancies@un.org
- Cover letter, explaining why you consider yourself qualified and motivated for this particular position;
- Completed Summarized Personnel Information Form;
- Completed P-11 and P-11 Supplementary Forms.
All Application Forms can be found by clicking on the following link: http://ocha.unog.ch/OCHAvacancies/
*** It would be appreciated your stating your full name and the OCHA vacancy notice number (OCHA/G/37/2011) as the subject in your e-mail application ***
Please send one email application for every vacancy announcement.
"The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees). Also, the United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts".
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