Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Nationals only) - 3 posts

Background

Pakistan has become the epicentre of climate change, ranking among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to natural disasters, including floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF), droughts, and others. These climate-induced disasters in Pakistan have caused fatalities, loss of livelihood and livestock, and damaged and destroyed public and private infrastructure across the country, often with significant humanitarian consequences that require adequate emergency response preparedness. 

Most recently, in 2022 major floods affected around 33 million people and left 20.6 million in need of lifesaving assistance, half of whom were children. In total, 7.9 million people were displaced, while at least 664,000 individuals were placed into relief camps and informal sites. 

OCHA has been scaling up its operations in Pakistan focusing on its key functions of coordination, information management, resource mobilization and advocacy. At the national level, OCHA plans to enhance its reporting and communication capacity to increase situational awareness of the flood emergency, including on-going ongoing efforts. OCHA has opened multiple positions of National Humanitarian Affairs Officer (NHAO) to strengthen its coordination function.    

Under the overall guidance of the Head of the Emergency Response Preparedness and Coordination, the National Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for all matters concerning coordination at the sub-office level.

• Ensure preparedness and response mechanisms are put in place in consultation with the Provincial ISCG, EWG, Humanitarian Actors, PDMA/DDMA, and other government departments.
• Facilitate capacity-build of DDMA/PDMA, humanitarian actors and ensure monsoon, heatwaves, winterization and earthquake contingency plans are in place.
• Support operationalization of Anticipatory Action (AA) at provincial level.
• Provide inputs in the drafting of appeals, situation reports, CERF, Humanitarian Needs Analysis, operational updates, Minutes, concept notes, advocacy messages and lead the PEWP as focal point and support the Provincial ISCG, and Sectors/Thematic working groups.
• Initiate Proposals, implement workplans and report against them. 
• Advocate for access to essential services, especially water, sanitation, food, shelter, education, and health for vulnerable communities, including the collection, analysis and dissemination of information to humanitarian partners, and negotiation of access.
• Support the government efforts and humanitarian organizations in humanitarian response efforts, including assisting internally displaced people and return.
• Support Government efforts in dealing with ongoing humanitarian issues, including drought and building the capacity of Government focal points on humanitarian issues.
• Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Pakistan with UN agencies and programs, national and international NGOs, and local authorities/communities as appropriate, with a focus on strengthening the cluster approach.
• Enhance a protective environment that respects the human rights of all, including IDPs, returnees and minority clans.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Field Coordination/HAO, the incumbent is expected to play a critical role in ensuring the primary objectives of OCHA Pakistan met. This can be done by contributing to the following functions:

Summary of Key Functions: 

• Managing the Coordination function at the OCHA sub-office/country office level
• Information Collection in support of Humanitarian Analysis and Response, 
• Information Sharing 
• Development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders 
• Monitoring and Reporting
• Facilitation of knowledge-building and knowledge sharing

Managing the Coordination function at OCHA sub-office/country office level, in liaison with the government, partners and vulnerable populations/beneficiaries of aid.

• Undertake the necessary administrative and programmatic demands to keep the office functioning at its optimum
• Work closely with the government humanitarian focal point ministry and other entities as necessary
• Work closely with humanitarian stakeholders (UN and NGOs), and strongly advocate for timely response and physical presence to fulfil point number 4 below.

Provide accurate Information Collection in support of Humanitarian Analysis and Response, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Review incoming field reports, prepare summaries of field activities and important flag issues to senior management
• Actively participate in the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HNO, HRP, etc.), and any other strategic planning and field analysis initiatives that involve field input and analysis.
• Gather and verify information on issues affecting the humanitarian situation, emphasizing opportunities for response.
• Supports regional analysis and interface with the Assessments working group to extract key action points that need to follow up from assessments undertaken and the humanitarian Dashboard.

Assist in facilitation of information sharing among partners focusing on achievement of the following:

• Pro-actively share information with OCHA and relevant stakeholders on pertinent issues. 
• Identify key pieces of information that will assist with organizational decision-making with a particular focus on improving humanitarian response.

Support the development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Support existing coordination mechanisms and assist in the establishment of new field coordination wherever required.
• Establish relationships with key stakeholders, including non-traditional humanitarian actors, in areas of operation to ensure the humanitarian information flow from OCHA to partners and vice versa and ensure their participation in operations

Strengthen the cluster system through coordination, individual or joint assessments, individual or collective responses, etc.

Provide proper monitoring and reporting focusing on achievement of the following:

• Support the collection of field information to monitor and improve ongoing response, coordination activities and information products. 
• Prepare succinct reports on the key humanitarian issues in the districts and workings with district-level partners to provide analysis on response gaps and advocacy issues.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to coordination. 
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The key results have an impact on the overall coordination of humanitarian and emergency assistance. The root causes of the humanitarian/emergencies are appreciated, ensuring that strong and effective responses are mounted. This facilitates operational agencies in succeeding in their core objectives, the building of strong partnerships with relevant parties and the achievement of OCHA’s objectives

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

Results-Based Programme Development and Management - Contributes into results through primary research and analysis:

• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation

Building Strategic Partnerships - Maintaining a network of contacts:

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches - Enhancing processes or products:

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches

Resource Mobilization - Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategy:

• Collects, researches and analyzes information on resource mobilization and utilization, drafts reports and documents and maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors and donor-funded projects

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing - Basic research and analysis:

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches

Global Leadership and Advocacy for OCHA’s Goals - Preparing information for global advocacy:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for OCHA’s goals for a variety of audiences
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of OCHA’s priorities and to support advocacy efforts

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master’s degree or first-level Bachelor’s university degree in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, or any other related field is required.
• For a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of two (2) years of progressive relevant work experience in the field of Coordination of humanitarian affairs or reconstruction/development programs and project management is required.

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, or any other related field, are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, or any other related field, are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in coordination of humanitarian affairs or reconstruction/development programs and project management.
• Demonstrated experience in application of humanitarian policies, needs assessments and cluster coordination and report writing, within the UN system, is highly desirable
• Familiarity with UN policies, rules, and procedures, particularly concerning humanitarian response and coordination, and knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, and guidelines about humanitarian assistance, especially the humanitarian reform agenda, is highly desirable
• Experience of building and maintaining effective partner networks and partnerships in the humanitarian or development sector is desirable
• Ability to research, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information desirable.
• Experience in conducting needs assessments and drafting assessment/mission report desirable
• Ability to express clearly and concisely, ideas and concepts in written and oral form
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and experience in handling web-based management systems

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English Language is required. Fluency in Urdu language is required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNOCHA rosters
Note: UNOCHA reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNOCHA at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
UNDP 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.

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