Emergency Specialist (P-3), Temporary Position, #00137929, Panama, Panama City, Regional Services Div (LACR)

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them reach their full potential. The Latin America and the Caribbean region is particularly vulnerable to climate change-intensified hazards, leading to displacements and increased risks for children. UNICEF LACRO strengthens capacities for emergency response and preparedness.

Job Purpose

The Emergency Specialist (P-3) will provide crucial technical assistance and capacity building to UNICEF country offices in Latin America and the Caribbean. The role focuses on enhancing their preparedness for and response to emergencies, aligning with humanitarian action principles. This involves advising on shock-responsive systems, disaster preparedness, early warning, anticipatory action, vulnerability analysis, rapid assessments, contingency planning, and effective emergency response strategies. The specialist will support the enhancement of child-centered, shock-responsive systems and contribute to building more resilient communities and societies capable of resisting, absorbing, and recovering from disasters, ensuring a multi-sectorial approach to address children's vulnerabilities and risks.

Responsibilities

The Emergency Specialist will be instrumental in building knowledge and providing technical assistance to country offices in the Latin America and Caribbean region to strengthen their emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Key responsibilities include advising on and supporting the development of shock-responsive systems, disaster risk reduction strategies, early warning mechanisms, and anticipatory action plans. The role involves conducting vulnerability analyses and rapid assessments to inform contingency planning and emergency response efforts. Furthermore, the specialist will contribute to advocacy, partnership building, and resource mobilization initiatives to enhance humanitarian action. They will also play a role in humanitarian coordination, ensuring coherent and effective responses. This includes supporting country offices in developing and implementing child-centered emergency preparedness and response plans, fostering inter-agency cooperation, and promoting a multi-sectorial approach to address the specific risks and vulnerabilities faced by children in disaster-prone areas. The specialist will also contribute to building more resilient systems, communities, and societies that can better withstand and recover from emergencies.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian action is required. This experience should have a strong focus on emergency preparedness and response, disaster risk reduction, shock-responsive systems, contingency planning, and humanitarian coordination.

Skills

Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Risk Reduction, Resource Mobilization, Risk Analysis, Contingency Planning, Humanitarian Action, Capacity Building, Shock-Responsive Systems, Vulnerability Analysis, Rapid Assessment, Humanitarian Coordination, Advocacy

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