Humanitarian Affairs Officer

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Location: Kosti
Country: Sudan
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a part of the United Nations Secretariat. Established to bring together humanitarian actors, OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies. OCHA advocates for the rights of people in need, promotes preparedness and prevention, and facilitates sustainable solutions. The organization operates globally, engaging with various stakeholders to ensure a coherent response to emergencies.

Job Overview:
The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will work under the overall supervision of the Deputy Head of Office – Field Coordination and the immediate supervision of the Head of Sub-Office / Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO). The incumbent will support the office in identifying significant humanitarian issues and problems in the assigned region/state. This role involves developing innovative suggestions and approaches to problem resolution, assisting the HAO in managing projects and work teams, and ensuring timely delivery of outputs. The officer will provide sound inputs and advice regarding the coordination of humanitarian/emergency action, deliver assigned outputs in a timely manner, develop partnerships, and interact effectively with colleagues internally and externally. The position requires a proactive approach to addressing humanitarian challenges and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of project activities in the region. Key responsibilities include:

• Coordination: Establish partnerships with other humanitarian actors to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programs, ensuring incorporation of the latest findings, lessons learned, and policy guidelines, including gender-related considerations. Liaise with local authorities on matters related to humanitarian operations and access in the region. Coordinate the delivery of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergencies/disaster situations; conduct rapid assessments, prepare situation reports, analyze the situation, and specify unmet needs in affected areas. Coordinate disaster response/preparedness and the formulation of project proposals; provide technical support to fieldwork. Support the establishment and functionality of humanitarian coordination mechanisms in the region of responsibility. Represent OCHA in sectoral coordination meetings in the region. Monitor OCHA-supported project activities as needed.
• Information Management / Advocacy: Monitor and collect information on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management programs, or emergency situations in the assigned state/region. Establish and maintain contacts with other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, and relevant government counterparts in the assigned region/state. Contribute to the production of weekly/monthly situation reports on the humanitarian situation and strengthen information networks to gather humanitarian data from the field. Consolidate and maintain a database of information on who is doing what where; assist in developing state/provincial profiles, hazard maps, contact lists, and databases on humanitarian assistance and preparedness. Support advocacy efforts concerning humanitarian issues based on analysis of the humanitarian situation, especially regarding the protection of civilians. Organize work groups, meetings, conferences, and consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters. As an international civil servant, adhere to UN rules and regulations, maintain impartiality and transparency, and uphold the UN Code of Conduct. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master’s degree in political or social science, law, international studies, public administration, business administration, or another relevant field. A first-level university degree combined with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian work, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or a related area. Preferably, candidates should have at least two years of experience with international organizations or national implementing partners in the region, with experience coordinating humanitarian operations in White Nile being desirable. Strong drafting and report-writing skills in English and Arabic are preferred, along with experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc).

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in political or social science, law, international studies, public administration, business administration, or another relevant field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian work, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or a related area, with a preference for candidates who have at least two years of experience with international organizations or national implementing partners in the region. Experience coordinating humanitarian operations in White Nile is desirable, and candidates should demonstrate strong drafting and report-writing skills in both English and Arabic.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is required, while fluency in oral and written Arabic is desirable. Candidates should be able to communicate effectively in both languages to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.

Additional Notes:
The initial appointment is for a duration of 12 months, contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period. OCHA reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement and may retain applications for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements. OCHA has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and are expected to adhere to these standards and principles. OCHA is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status. The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fees in connection with the application or recruitment process.