Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Organizational Context
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Nepal seeks a Humanitarian Affairs Officer to support the response to floods in Rasuwa and surrounding areas. This role reinforces UN field-level coordination, working with government, UN agencies, NGOs, and affected communities. The position is based in Rasuwa, Nepal, and reports to the RCO/OCHA Bidur Hub lead.
Job Purpose
The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will provide on-site humanitarian coordination in flood-affected areas of Nepal, focusing on Rasuwa and Nuwakot. The role ensures a shared understanding of needs, response activities, and gaps among operational agencies and local authorities. It involves communicating field-level issues to decision-making structures and advising the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and partners on integrating vulnerable community priorities into humanitarian and early recovery planning. The position requires regular travel to affected communities and response locations, acting as a crucial link between field operations and higher-level coordination.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include ensuring effective field-level humanitarian coordination by maintaining OCHA/RCO presence, facilitating coordination meetings, and promoting complementarity among responders. The role involves monitoring humanitarian conditions, assessing needs, and analyzing emerging risks through field visits and partner engagement, consolidating findings into situation updates and recommendations. It also supports operational response and emergency preparedness by promoting timely coordination and encouraging the integration of humanitarian principles. Furthermore, the officer will manage information sharing, reporting, and coordination support, maintaining liaison between field responders and national/regional structures, and preparing relevant documentation. Building constructive relationships with local authorities, humanitarian organizations, and community representatives is essential for enabling humanitarian access and advocating for priority needs.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of relevant working experience (with a Master's degree) or four years (with a Bachelor's degree) in disaster management, humanitarian affairs, or a related thematic area is required. Experience with a UN agency or comparable humanitarian organization, and in crisis/emergency relief management and field coordination, is also necessary. Experience in coordinating field-based humanitarian response and knowledge of Nepal's local institutions are highly desirable.
Skills
Core competencies include achieving results, innovative thinking, continuous learning, adaptability, determination, engagement and partnership, and enabling diversity and inclusion. Technical skills encompass operation management, partnership management, and advocacy strategy implementation. Proficiency in MS Office suite is essential. Excellent oral and written communication skills in Nepali and English are required.