OCHA Job Vacancy : Humanitarian Affairs Officer - 2015

Job Description

Posting Title: Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Pooled Fund Manager), P4

Job Code Title: HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER

Department/ Office: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Duty Station: NAIROBI

Posting Period: 8 May 2015-23 May 2015

Job Opening number: 15-HRA-OCHA-42864-R-NAIROBI (X)

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

Special Notice

This post 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 of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Nairobi, with OCHA Somalia. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, the incumbent reports to the Senior Humanitarian Financing Officer/Pooled Fund Manager.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, and under the overall guidance of the OCHA Somalia Head of Section, Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization, the HAO (Pooled Fund Manager) will be responsible for the following duties

Fund Management and Coordination

Under the supervision and in support of the Head of Unit, advises the HC on the financial management and administration of the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF;

• Manage and oversee fund allocation processes ensuring necessary coordination with relevant counterparts in line with the Terms of Reference and/or allocation guidelines (i.e. Review and/or Advisory Boards, cluster or sector leads; humanitarian organizations; and OCHA);


• Manage the overall administration of the Fund and liaise as necessary with relevant OCHA HQ sections (i.e. OCHA Coordination and Response Division (CRD), OCHA Funding Coordination Section (FCS), OCHA Administrative Services Branch (ASB) or Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) Office);


• Provides daily supervision of the staff responsible for implementing the accountability framework of the pooled fund (financial management and administration staff; risk management staff; monitoring and reporting staff);


• Monitor the implementation of Fund strategies as endorsed by the HC, in consultation with OCHA HoO, promoting coherence between humanitarian needs and response;


• Support on policy development, including the review and analysis of humanitarian issues at the country level, ensuring proper coordination with FCS;


• Advise the HC and the Head of Unit on risk management and risk mitigation within the context of the CHF Accountability Framework;


• Ensure implementation and compliance with policies and standard guidelines in accordance with HC decisions and HQ guidance;


• Oversee recipient organizations’ compliance with financial rules applicable to the Fund; including in the administration of NGO contracts, negotiating partner agreements and coordination of fund disbursements with OCHA ASB;


• Manage NGO capacity assessments and due diligence process to determine appropriate institutional, financial, management and technical capacities to deliver expected results within financial rules and regulations;


• Manage NGO audits and analysis of audit results, to ensure compliance with financial rules and regulations;


• Ensure proper communication and support during the allocation process to all stakeholders;


• Support recipient organisations throughout project life-cycle promoting compliance with applicable rules;


• Support the Head of Section in the liaison with contributing donors in and outside the country as necessary; Ensure coordination and information exchange with other donors aiming to promote coordinated and complementary use of funds (including CERF when appropriate); Undertake periodic field visits to promote the knowledge and appropriate use of the Fund in line with its Terms of Reference; field visits should focus on key actors (i.e. OCHA field colleagues, recipient organisations, local governments, communities).

Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation

• Ensure compliance with monitoring and reporting requirements in place for the Fund;


• Oversee and ensure timely project reporting cycle, including the annual report of the Fund;


• Support the Head of Section in systematically providing information on project status to the HC, the HoO, donors and relevant governing bodies of the Fund;


• Support the preparation of evaluations, reviews and studies as requested by the HC and governing bodies ensuring due consultation with relevant HQ sections (FCS, EGS).


• Analysis, communications and public information:


• Conduct and update periodic analyses of humanitarian financing information, funding trends and requirements, gathering data from all relevant sources;


• Liaise with OCHA field offices aiming at the largest dissemination of information about the scope, the access and the allocation process of the Fund;


• In collaboration with relevant OCHA, field offices and OCHA HQ sections ensure appropriate dissemination of information about the Fund through different communication products (i.e. bulletins, feature stories, photographs/videos, websites, etc.);


• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM

• Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related human rights issues, to include approaches and techniques to address difficult problems;


• sound knowledge of the administration and financial management of trust funds, preferably multi-donor / pooled funds; practical knowledge related to financial resource management, including formulating budgets and analysis of audit findings, and financial reporting;


• ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems;


• 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; take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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.

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, finance, international studies, economics 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 (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian affairs, project management and budget management, or other related area. Experience in the administration and financial management of multi-donor trust funds is required. Direct project management or project supervision experience is required. Work experience in areas of project management, monitoring and evaluation, and administration is required.


• Experience in the management of funds for humanitarian emergencies in the field is desirable.


• Experience in drafting project documentation is desirable.


• Experience in institutional mandates, policies and guidelines, pertaining to humanitarian assistance is desirable.


• Experience in the UN common system or other international organization and of NGOs is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat.


• For the post advertised, fluency in English is required.


• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

How to Apply

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