Closing date: Sunday, 4 January 2015

Posting Title: Humanitarian Affairs Officer, P3

Job Code Title: HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER

Department/ Office

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Duty Station

NEW YORK

Posting Period

5 November 2014-4 January 2015

Job Opening number

14-HRA-OCHA-38025-R-NEW YORK (X)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) at Headquarters in New York. The Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) (Oversight and Compliance), reports to the Senior HAO (Oversight and Compliance) within the Funding Coordination Section (FCS), which deals with the management of and provides guidance to OCHA Country Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Oversight and Compliance) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in assigned country/area which may impact performance of specific Country-Based Humanitarian Pooled Funds.
• Facilitates OCHA response to investigation cases into implementing partners implicated by allegations of fraud or misuse of funding in the context of Country-Based Humanitarian Pooled Funds.
• Monitors and oversees the compliance of implementing partners in terms of contractual obligations and legal clauses in contracts between OCHA and implementing partners. In this context, the incumbent advices OCHA country offices on specific cases to ensure overall policy compliance.
• Maintains a record of ongoing cases of alleged fraud or misuse of funding in the context of Country-Based Humanitarian Pooled Funds.
• Ensures compliance with OCHA Standard Operating Procedures for managing cases of fraud and misuse of funding in the context of Country-Based Humanitarian Pooled Funds; supports OCHA Country Offices in fraud awareness efforts to ensure that cases of fraud and misuse of funding is given due attention and is responded to in an adequate manner.
• Provides advice to OCHA Country Offices on the response to audits and other types of performance assessments in cases where Country-Based Humanitarian Pooled Funds are being assessed.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with Internal Oversight departments within Member States, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and other relevant entities as required.
• 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.
• Ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.
• 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.
• Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; 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.
• Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
• Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
• Provides guidance to, and may supervise, new/junior staff.
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related human rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems. Analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response. Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems. Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian rights situation in assigned country/area. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasions in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery); ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff. 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.

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.

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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area. Experience in oversight and compliance, project administration, monitoring and evaluation is desirable. Experience in the design of policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance is desirable. Experience with the UN common system is desirable. Experience working with NGOs is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Apply here: https://inspira.un.org/psp/PUNA1J/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.UN_JOB_DETAIL.GBL?Page=UN_JOB_DETAIL&Action=A&UNAction=Apply&JobOpeningId=38025&cmd=login&languageCd=ENG