Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Organizational Context
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), part of the UN Secretariat, is responsible for coordinating humanitarian actors to ensure coherent responses to emergencies. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective humanitarian action, advocate for those in need, and promote preparedness. This Humanitarian Affairs Officer position is based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, reporting to the Head of Coordination.
Job Purpose
The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will monitor, analyze, and report on humanitarian developments and emergency situations in their assigned area. This role involves organizing studies, preparing situation papers, and contributing to various written reports and documents to support policy development and decision-making. The officer will assist in implementing and monitoring the Humanitarian Response Plan, ensuring effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place. They will provide advice on humanitarian principles and the delivery of assistance, partner with other agencies on program planning and evaluation, and support cross-cutting issues. The role also includes maintaining contacts with various stakeholders, supporting advocacy initiatives, managing appeals for international assistance, and undertaking field missions to review work mechanisms.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on humanitarian developments and emergency situations. The role involves organizing studies, facilitating inter-agency meetings for policy development, and drafting situation papers and reports on operational factors affecting humanitarian responses. The officer will prepare various written documents, assist in implementing and monitoring the Humanitarian Response Plan, and ensure effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms. They will advise on policy issues related to humanitarian principles and assistance delivery, collaborate with humanitarian agencies on program planning and evaluation, and support sector/cluster working groups. Additionally, the role requires establishing and maintaining contacts with government officials, UN agencies, NGOs, and media, supporting advocacy efforts, managing international assistance appeals, and conducting field missions.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressive experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis management, or related areas is required. Experience representing a UN agency or NGO at the national level, and in humanitarian coordination with multi-stakeholder processes, is also mandatory. Desirable experience includes policy advice, field humanitarian work in emergency situations, UN common system experience, and familiarity with the Caribbean region.
Skills
• Professionalism: Knowledge of humanitarian assistance, analytical capacity, problem-solving, research, and ability to work under pressure. • Teamwork: Collaborative approach, valuing others' input, and supporting group decisions. • Planning & Organizing: Goal setting, prioritization, resource allocation, risk assessment, and efficient time management.