Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa: Humanitarian Affairs Officer (P-4)

Dec 11, 2014 | UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer reports to the Head of the Joint Humanitarian Management Unit (JHMU) within the OCHA office. The JHMU manages the DRC Common Humanitarian Fund.

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Acts as responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of the DRC Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) and supports the Head of JHMU in the day-to-day management of the Unit, including in strategic planning, preparation of the annual work plan, performance framework and cost plan of the Unit, as well as in related monitoring and reporting.
• Manages the M&E strategy of the DRC CHF and coordinates its implementation, capacity building and training programs, and information sharing with all CHF stakeholders including guidance and support to the Monitoring & Reporting Team (4 national analysts) .
• Coordinates within the JHMU and with implementing partners to ensure timely monitoring and reporting mechanisms with complete and relevant data in relation to CHF projects’ activities and their impact.
• Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian response and developments related to CHF projects, disaster relief/management programmes or emergency situations in the country;
• Leads and/or participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions; coordinates international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations; ensures necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); prepares situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying gaps and unmet requirements.
• Assists in the production of appeals for international assistance; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA and the DRC CHF.
• Assists national government counterparts in monitoring and reporting capacity-building for handling emergency situations; develops country-specific indicators in collaboration with area experts and ensures the subsequent monitoring of these indicators; recommends actions based on the analysis of pertinent information.
• Initiates and coordinates activities related to technical cooperation and technical assistance projects in disaster response and disaster response preparedness, in particular M&E of CHF projects; formulates project proposals and relevant project documents; provides technical support to field work; reviews and clears project reports for submission to donors.
• Analyzes monitoring and reporting data and assists in taking operational and programmatic decisions within the JHMU and in relation to broader strategic priorities in the context of the DRC.
• Organizes and prepares studies on humanitarian financing and M&E, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, 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 studies.
• Assists or leads, as appropriate, in the preparation of OCHA reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence, presentations, background papers, and in particular analytical reports on the impact of CHF financed projects,;.
• Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions; ensures appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system, including on M&E of CHF projects, .
• Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues, including in relation to M&E, safeguarding humanitarian principles, humanitarian access, and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance; 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.
• Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters and in the collection of data from CHF funded projects.
• 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.

Special Notice

This post is funded for a 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. 

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues, risk management in crisis, rehabilitation and/or development settings, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems. Knowledge of project management, including on monitoring and evaluation and particularly in participative processes and joint management. 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 situation in assigned country/area. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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 two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area. Five years of relevant experience at the international level is required. Experience in humanitarian financing is desirable. Experience in the UN Common System and with NGOs is desirable. Experience in the region is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a 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.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.