Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Organizational Context
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is part of the UN Secretariat, responsible for coordinating humanitarian actors to ensure effective responses to emergencies. This role is within the Crisis Response Division (CRD) in Kabul, Afghanistan, reporting to the Head of the Strategic Coordination Unit.
Job Purpose
The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will monitor, analyze, and report on humanitarian developments and emergency situations in the assigned area. This includes organizing studies, preparing situation papers, and contributing to various reports and documents. The role supports the preparation and monitoring of the humanitarian work plan, ensuring effective humanitarian assistance delivery and adherence to principles. The officer will also partner with agencies on program planning and evaluation, facilitate cross-cutting issues, and manage appeals for international assistance.
Responsibilities
Key duties include monitoring and reporting on humanitarian developments and emergency situations, organizing studies, and preparing situation papers. The role involves supporting the humanitarian work plan, ensuring effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and advising on policy related to humanitarian principles. Collaboration with other agencies for program planning and evaluation is essential, as is supporting sector/cluster working groups. The officer will establish and maintain contacts with various stakeholders, support advocacy initiatives, manage appeals for international assistance, and conduct field missions. Participation in working groups and meetings is also a core responsibility.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressive experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, or crisis management is required. This includes at least three years of field experience in emergency situations. Experience coordinating Humanitarian Programme Cycle processes at the national level is also required. Experience with humanitarian cluster mechanisms and in the UN common system or similar organizations is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, analytical capacity, problem-solving, research, ability to work under pressure, communication (written and verbal), planning, and organizing.