ASSOCIATE HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER

Organizational Context

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York, specifically the Policy Branch, focuses on principled and effective humanitarian response. It leads in developing humanitarian policy, shaping sector reform, and adapting to global changes. The Norms and Principles Section (NPS) provides guidance and support for intergovernmental engagements on humanitarian assistance, reinforcing international resolutions and strengthening principled action.

Job Purpose

The Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer supports the Norms and Principles Section (NPS) in its mission to provide normative, operational, and policy guidance for coordinating humanitarian assistance. This role involves assisting in the design and preparation of studies on humanitarian issues, researching and analyzing information from diverse sources, and contributing to various written documents, including Secretary-General's reports. The position also supports the organization of key intergovernmental meetings like the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment and facilitates secretariat support for negotiations on humanitarian resolutions, aiming to foster Member State engagement and strengthen the normative framework for principled humanitarian action.

Responsibilities

The Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer assists in preparing studies on humanitarian, disaster, and emergency relief issues. Responsibilities include researching and analyzing information from various sources, including Member States' positions on humanitarian matters. The role involves drafting sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, and parliamentary documents, particularly Secretary-General's annual reports. Additionally, the officer helps organize the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment and the Transition from Relief to Development meeting, serving as a reporter. Support is provided for intergovernmental negotiations on humanitarian resolutions and engagement in other relevant resolutions. The role requires maintaining awareness of current humanitarian affairs and contributing to data collection, analysis, and reporting using visualization methods. Assistance is also provided for work planning and management within the Policy Branch.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of progressive experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis management, or related fields is required, or successful completion of the YPP/NCRE or G to P examination. Experience supporting intergovernmental negotiations on humanitarian resolutions is mandatory. Experience in drafting reports for international legislative bodies, working with Member States and international organizations, and field experience in emergency situations are desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, including knowledge of humanitarian issues and ability to draft reports and analyze data; Teamwork, with a collaborative approach to achieving goals; Client Orientation, focusing on understanding and meeting client needs and building partnerships.

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