Afghanistan: Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Pooled Fund Manager, P3; 15-Humanitarian Affairs-OCHA-50540-R-KABUL (X)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

This post is funded for a finite period of one year and may be subject to extension. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Kabul, Afghanistan. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office (HoO), the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO), Pooled Fund Manager, reports to the Head of the OCHA Humanitarian Financing Unit (HFU). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will work in the OCHA HFU, which supports the Humanitarian Coordinator in managing the Afghanistan Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). The CHF allocates resources in support of humanitarian assistance and aims to increase the effectiveness of the humanitarian response by promoting timely and needs-based allocation of resources. UN Agencies, international and national NGOs can access funding from the CHF which is allocated through a participatory and inclusive decision making process in which clusters play a key role. OCHA manages the CHF under the oversight of the Humanitarian Coordinator and performs a secretariat function through its Humanitarian Financing Unit.

Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the OCHA Head of Office (HoO) and oversight of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and the Head of the HFU, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Pooled Fund Manager) will be responsible for the following duties:

I. Fund Management and Coordination:

• Under the supervision of the HoO, support and advise the HC on the overall management of the CHF vis-à-vis the humanitarian context (i.e. priorities and critical needs). • Ensure the overall administration of the Fund and liaise as necessary with relevant OCHA HQ sections (i.e. OCHA Coordination and Response Division (CRD), OCHA Funding Coordination Section (FCS), OCHA Administrative Services Branch (ASB) or Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF). • Support and implement standardized policy in line with HQ guidance and decisions. • Manage and supervise Fund-related support staff. • Manage fund allocation processes ensuring necessary coordination with relevant counterparts in line with the Terms of Reference and/or allocation guidelines (i.e. Review and/or Advisory Boards, cluster or sector leads, humanitarian organizations, and OCHA). • Liaise with NGOs, UN partners as well as clusters and OCHA field offices to follow-up on project progress and overall Fund progress. • Conduct periodic field visits to promote the knowledge and support the appropriate use of the Fund in line with its Terms of Reference, field visits should focus on key actors (i.e. OCHA field colleagues, recipient organizations, local governments, communities). • Ensure proper communication and support during the allocation process to all stakeholders. • Liaise with and provide necessary support to recipient organizations of the Fund throughout the life-cycle of the projects, promoting coherence between humanitarian needs and response. • Advise the HC, recipient organizations and stakeholders on measures to mitigate foreseeable operational risks. • Ensure recipient organizations compliance with financial rules applicable to the Fund. • Ensure coordination and information exchange with humanitarian donors aiming to promote coordinated and complementary use of funds.

II. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation: • Ensure compliance with monitoring and reporting requirements in place for the Fund; • Systematically provide information on project status to the HoO and the HC, donors and relevant governing bodies of the Fund; • Ensure timely overall project reporting, including acting as the lead for the pooled fund annual report exercise. • Assist in the preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies in consultation with relevant HQ sections (FCS, EGS).

III. Analysis, communications and public information: • Research, analyze and present humanitarian financing information, in particular funding trends and requirements, gathered from diverse sources. • Assist in policy development, including the review and analysis of humanitarian issues and funding trends at the country level, ensuring proper coordination with FCS. • In collaboration with other OCHA units and field offices, as well as with support from relevant OCHA HQ sections, document and disseminate results, best practices and results of the Fund across internal and broader audiences through information and communication products/pieces (i.e. bulletins, feature stories, photographs/videos, websites, etc.). • Liaise with OCHA field offices and recipient organizations in order to disseminate full information on Fund activities. • Perform other duties as assigned by the OCHA Head of Office.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues; knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance; strong analytical capacity, in particular the ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian and protection dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response; good knowledge of the UN common system and humanitarian NGOs; ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems; strong research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian rights and protection situation in assigned country/area; ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery); ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff; excellent drafting skills and strong computer literacy (MS Word and Excel); takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, project management, budget management, or related area. Experience in humanitarian emergencies in the field is desirable. Direct project management or project supervision experience is desirable. Experience in project administration, monitoring and evaluation is desirable. Experience in the design of policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance is desirable. Experience in the UN Common System or other international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.