Closing date: Sunday, 2 November 2014

TASK TEAM LEADER - WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT (WHS) SECRETARIAT

Location : New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Application Deadline : 04-Nov-14

Type of Contract : FTA International

Post Level : P-4

Languages Required : English

Duration of Initial Contract : One year with possible extension

Expected Duration of Assignment : November 2014 to May 2016

Background

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships

The position of 'P4, HAO - Thematic Task Team Leader' will be located in the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) Secretariat in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will report to the Chief of the WHS Secretariat.

Background on the WHS

The landscape of humanitarian action has changed since 1991, when a landmark resolution of the United Nations General Assembly established the international humanitarian response system as it is known today. Growth in the scope and diversity of humanitarian needs, and a more complex operating environment, have created new risks. There are also new opportunities: a wider range of actors and inter-operating networks are involved, and innovations improve service delivery in each response. This is why preparations are under way for the first World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in 2016. The United Nations Secretary-General has requested that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) organize the Summit with a view to helping a changing humanitarian community work together better to serve people in need. It is a unique opportunity to take stock and adapt. The Summit will be the highlight in a process of change that begins now, but lasts well beyond the event itself. It will set the agenda for work beyond 2016 to make humanitarian action more inclusive, global and effective - and overall, fit for the future.

The Summit will focus on several core themes. Four broad categories have emerged from recent policy discussions, namely: 1) Humanitarian effectiveness, 2) Reducing vulnerability and managing risk, 3) Transformation through innovation, and 2) How to better serve people in conflict.

For more information on the Summit please visit: www.worldhumanitariansummit.org.

Technical consultations will take place on each of the four Summit themes, to consolidate and interpret analytical work taking place across the humanitarian system and set up the communities of practice that will be necessary to take recommendations forward after the Summit. This will be done by thematic task teams of experts per theme from interested member states, regional organizations, civil society, private sector, and various other humanitarian interlocutors. There will also be a concerted effort to capture and reflect the views of affected communities in the process.

Task teams will be made up of a core team of 8-10 experts to contribute 20-30% of their full-time post at home organization to design and carry out consultations with a broader network of experts, gather substantive inputs and draft recommendations to set the Summit agenda. Deliverables will include a Task Team report, which will draw conclusions from the process of technical consultations to put forward a set of 'asks' or recommendations for post-Summit action. The four thematic reports will be integrated, along with recommendations from the regional consultations and other ongoing processes and initiatives, into the Secretary-General's report published in the lead-up to the Summit

The work of each task team will be led by an expert on the relevant theme to plan and guide the conceptual work of the task team and its contributing members, organize their input and lead drafting processes. The Thematic Task Team Leads will play a 'broker' role to ensure that technical workshops, commissioned work and review processes translate to a set of concrete asks and recommendations to shape the Summit agenda by mid-2015. She/he will also ensure cross-fertilization with other Thematic Task Team Leads.

The Thematic Task Team working on the theme of 'Reducing Vulnerability and Managing Risk' will try to identify ways to improve community resilience and bolster Disaster Risk Reduction efforts. Much of this work is cross-cutting between humanitarian and development agendas. The Summit will aim to identify new strategies to manage risk and make people more resilient to conflicts and hazards.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Thematic Task Team Leader will be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as Thematic Task Team Leader on Theme Two of the Summit: 'Reducing Vulnerability and Managing Risk';
• Supports the conceptualization of the thematic work of the task teams and plans and guides the work of the Thematic Task Team members;
• Analyses and synthesizes work taking place across the humanitarian and development system on the thematic topic of the Task Team;
• Actively sets up communities of practice that will be necessary to take recommendations forward after the summit on the specific Task Team theme;
• Convenes and facilitates meetings of the Task Team and ensures that meetings are well-managed and results-oriented, with decisions clearly communicated to relevant partners and stakeholders. Ensure that meetings are managed in line with the Principles of Partnership;
• Supports the thematic organization of the Summit preparatory conferences, including preparing agendas, identifying participants, etc.;
• Ensure cross-fertilization with other Thematic Task Team Leaders;
• Supports the Chair of the World Humanitarian Summit Secretariat and other senior humanitarian affairs officer, as the primary focal point for Theme Two;
• 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;
• Prepares WHS policy position papers, background documentation and meeting notes on all requests related to the themes of the Task Team;
• Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on the WHS, in particular related to the Task Team theme;
• May participate in planning and preparation of WHS Secretariat budget and work program;
• Provides leadership and work direction to assigned work team, and/or mentors and supervises the work of new/junior officers;
• Performs other duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following

Staff at all levels within OCHA both in New York and Geneva, Humanitarian Coordinators and their staff in the field, as well as Programme Managers, Regional Commissions, UN Resident Coordinators in disaster-prone developing countries, Representatives of other UN humanitarian as well as development agencies and other member organizations in the Inter- Agency Standing Committee, UN Mission and Member State personnel with responsibility for humanitarian issues, and non- governmental organization representatives Delegations, government officials and partners in universities and research institutes, etc., private sector partners, and communities affected by conflict.

Results Expected

The Thematic Task Team Leader plays a lead role in identifying significant issues and problems to be addressed on the theme of 'Reducing Vulnerability and Managing Risk'. The Task Team Leader will be responsible for bringing together existing analyses, reports, discussions and identified challenges, as well as recommendations from the Thematic Task Team into the format of a Thematic Task Team report. The Thematic Task Team report will draw conclusions from the process of technical consultations to put forward a set of 'asks' or recommendations for post-Summit action. This report will be integrated, along with recommendations from the regional consultations, into the Secretary-General's report published in the lead-up to the Summit. The Task Team leader will be expected to contribute knowledge and expertise in the development of substantive analytical work on the theme, and also draw on the network of experts in the field and build support from member states and organisations for the convening of workshops, events, advisory groups and to garner their analytical inputs to take forward the work of the task team over the 2014-2015 consultation period.

Moreover, it is expected that the Task Team Leader will effectively lead and manage the Task Team, and delivers in a timely manner outputs, in accordance with overall objectives mentioned above. The Task Team Leader will serve as an effective spokesperson internally and externally and forms strong partnerships with relevant parties to help meet organization's objectives with respect to overall objective to provide an inclusive, consultative agenda setting process leading up to the World Humanitarian Summit that will contribute to create a more inclusive, effective and interoperable humanitarian system.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Specific knowledge of humanitarian assistance in natural, man-made, and complex emergencies, mitigation, disaster preparedness, capacity building, disaster risk reduction;
• Knowledge of wide range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and development issues;
• Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, to include ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of complex issues that require a coordinated UN response; D
• Demonstrated ability to work across humanitarian and development settings and to provide coherent responses;
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems;
• Ability to negotiate and to influence others to reach agreement;
• Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs and knowledge of the institutions of the UN system;
• Demonstrated ability to complete in-depth studies and to formulate conclusions/recommendations; ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political, economic, developmental, social and human rights programmes;
• Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• Remains calm in stressful situations;
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise;
• Is willing to learn from others;
• Places team agenda before personal agenda;
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
• Shares credit for team accomplishments; and
• Accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning& 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.

Accountability:

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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.

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.

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.

Commitment to Continuous Learning:

• Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession;
• Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally;
• Contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates;
• Shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Technological Awareness:

• Keeps abreast of available technology;
• Understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office;
• Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks;
• Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in disaster management, public Administration, natural resources planning, engineering, earth sciences or a related field;
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area.

Language:

• Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Other requirement

Specific knowledge of humanitarian assistance in natural, man-made, and complex emergencies, mitigation, preparedness, capacity building, Disaster Risk Reduction.

Application details: http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=51038