Job Description
| Organization | United Nations Development Programme |
| Agency | UNOCHA |
| Title | National Field Coordinator |
| Job ID | 41564 |
| Practice Area – Job Family | Management |
| Vacancy End Date | 12/04/2022 (Midnight New York, USA) |
| Time Left | 12d 18h 39m |
| Duty Station | Khartoum, Sudan |
| Education & Work Experience | G-Bachelor’s Level Degree – 7 year(s) experience, I-Master’s Level Degree – 5 year(s) experience |
| Languages | Required:English Desired:Arabic |
| Grade | NOC |
| Vacancy Type | FTA Local |
| Posting Type | Common System |
| Bureau | Management |
| Contract Duration | 1 Year with possibility for extension |
Background
UNOCHA is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNOCHA does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
In December 1991, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 46/182 designed to strengthen the United Nation’s response to both complex emergencies and natural disasters. In addition, it aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the UN’s humanitarian operations in the field.
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 for the rights of people in need
promote preparedness and prevention
facilitate sustainable solutions.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the immediate supervision of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) – Head Field Coordination Section in Khartoum, and under the overall supervision & direction of the Deputy Head of Office and Head of Office, the incumbent is expected to perform the following:
- Humanitarian Access.
- Government liaison.
Humanitarian Access
- Supports the Deputy Head of Office, Head of Office and sub-offices in implementing an access strategy for the Sudan context, including actor mapping and context analysis of access dynamics.
- Monitors, analyses, and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations.
- Reviews and provides advice on humanitarian access, safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring effective delivery of humanitarian assistance; organizes and supports follow-up work, including inter-agency technical review meetings to support access work and decision-making on important issues.
- Drafts and prepares regular access papers/reports highlighting relevant policy and operational factors affecting access, the humanitarian situation, and response efforts.
- Supports the maintenance of an access database, including access tracking, reporting and analysis, providing timely analysis and updates to various coordination key stakeholders.
- Organizes and prepares studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including inter-agency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues.
- 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.
- Provides substantial support to sector/cluster working groups as required and facilitate exchange on humanitarian access.
- Supports negotiations with relevant stakeholders to establish/maintain humanitarian access and resolves any arising constraints, while working to promote a principled, coordinated approach to access, and shares best practice with partners to ensure effective and coordinated humanitarian access strategies across the country.
- Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and field missions, e.g., participates in field trips to undertake in-depth reviews of specific humanitarian access issues. Organizes and participates in working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian access-related matters.
- 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.
- Performs other duties as required.
Government liaison
- Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non- governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc. Supports access advocacy initiatives on issues impacting humanitarian needs and response efforts through the collection of information, liaison with humanitarian partners, government officials, etc.
- Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non- governmental organizations.
- Supports field offices and provides advice and technical assistance on engagement with government bodies.
- Participates in formulating and communicating OCHA positions on government-related matters on humanitarian issues, providing suggestions for briefing notes, talking points and issues papers for relevant discussions with the Government.
- Responds to queries from government Officials, NGOs, individuals, etc. and provides the information required or appropriately refers the queries elsewhere.
- Support OCHA Sudan staff in meetings with government officials and facilitate conversations for smooth representation of OCHA.
- Participate in any relevant meetings and conferences organized by authorities.
- Perform other duties as required.
Competencies
Core
Professionalism
- Proven analytical skills: ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Very good knowledge of the state of assignment, including the cultural, political and economic dimensions.
- Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political economic, social and human rights programs.
- Strong negotiation skills: ability to lead and gain assistance of others in a team endeavor, and to articulate coherent arguments to reach agreement.
- Ability to work under pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment.
- Very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs and sound.
- Knowledge of the institutions of the UN system.
Teamwork
- Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Planning and Organizing
- Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Creativity
- Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks ‘outside the box’; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Master’s Degree preferably in Political or Social Science, Law, international studies, Public Administration, or other relevant science is required.
- Bachelor’s degree with two additional qualifying years in above fields may be accepted in lieu of the Masters.
Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- Minimum 5 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management or other related area, preferably with at least two years with a UN organization or an NGO.
- Humanitarian experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required.
- At least 3 years of humanitarian access and government liaison work in a UN or INGO required.
- Experience on CMCoord, including understanding of principles, mechanisms, and engagement with military and security bodies.
- Excellent knowledge of government structures and dynamics, including the cultural, political, and economic dimensions.
- Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, to political economic, social and human rights.
- Strong negotiation and diplomatic skills.
- Ability to work under pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment.
- Excellent institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs – particularly on humanitarian access, bureaucratic and administrative procedures, regulatory environment, and government policies.
- Excellent knowledge of the institutions of the UN system, inter-agency and coordination.
- Excellent knowledge of humanitarian access issues.
- Excellent writing skills are required.
Disclaimer
Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
