Regional Humanitarian Affairs Officers - Disasters & Conflicts
Feb 4, 2014
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United Nations Environment Programme
Job Title
Regional Humanitarian Affairs Officers; Disasters & Conflicts (3 posts), P4
Duty Station
NAIROBI; PANAMA CITY
Organizational Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. One post is located in the Nairobi Duty Station, another is located at the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) at the Panama duty station, while the other is located in the Geneva Duty Station.
APPLICANTS SHOULD INDICATE TO WHICH DUTY STATION THEY ARE APPLYING
Responsibilities
The incumbents will be under the direct supervision of the Chief, Post-Conflict and Disasters Management Branch (PCDMB) and overall supervision of the Regional Director or Division Director, respectively. Within delegated authority, the incumbents will be responsible for the following duties:
Serves as a senior policy officer, advising UNEP, and particularly the UNEP Coordinator for the Disasters and Conflicts Sub-programme, on overall policy direction in the region on specific issues; and, more generally, reviewing and providing advice on a diverse range of policy issues in the region related to humanitarian affairs as they relate to the environment.
Coordinates the regional input into UNEP's programming related to the environmental dimension of crisis risk reduction and post-crisis initiatives.
Serves as the primary UNEP focal point in the region on the environmental dimension of crisis risk reduction and post-crisis initiatives and related policy issues, drawing on knowledge of the impact of humanitarian activities on the environment; keeps abreast of latest developments; liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc.
Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management programmes or emergency situations in assigned country/area, identifying where best an environmental dimension is warranted.
Facilitates a coordinated approach in the region to the environmental dimension within international humanitarian/emergency assistance of complex emergency/disaster situations and in large, complex projects; ensures necessary support (such as staff, funding, specialized equipment or supplies, among others); prepares situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries.
Assists in the integration of an environmental dimension to the production of appeals within the UN system for international assistance; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA in relation to the environmental dimension of such assistance.
Coordinates in collaboration with the relevant UNEP division(s), UNEP's work in the region to assist Member States in capacity-building, technical cooperation and technical assistance for handling the environmental dimension of emergency situations and disaster response preparedness; develops region and country-specific recommendations based on the analysis of pertinent information.
Ensures appropriate monitoring and reporting on UNEP's work in the region related to the environmental dimension of crisis risk reduction and post-crisis.
Organizes and prepares strategies on the environmental aspects of humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues for the region; organizes follow-up work in the region, including interagency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues; and ensures the implementation of recommendations emanating from relevant reports.
Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions or media, among others; ensures appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system, including on early warning and contingency planning, as it relates to the interface of the environment and humanitarian activities.
Organizes and participates in relevant work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
Performs other duties as required.