BATCH VACANCY: Emergency Officer NO-B, TA, 364 Days, (Kabul Central Region, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad and Mazar-e-Sharif Field Offices), Afghanistan (5 Positions) - (Afghan Nationals On

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, response

The situation in Afghanistan remains exceptionally complex, with a protracted emergency situation, characterized by recurrent natural disasters, an increased number of people living in poverty, continued internal displacement, and unprecedented levels of food insecurity, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. This complexity has greatly impacted the situation of children and women in the country. The withdrawal of the United States military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the establishment of a de-facto government by the Taliban have exacerbated the complexity and uncertainty of the situation. UNICEF is required to rapidly adapt our ways of working to address the multiple operational constraints present in the highly volatile and unpredictable context.

The office is on the verge of scaling up with an increased overall office budget through HAC and other donors.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of and in regular consultation with the Chief of Field Office, supervisor, implement field office emergency preparedness and response. Responsible for the technical contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the multi-sectoral emergency interventions to advance the survival and well-being of children and mothers and affected communities in Afghanistan.

KEY END-RESULTS

1. Timely and thorough analysis is made to identify emergency-prone situations and contribute to early warning and enhancing emergency preparedness.
2. Emergency preparedness and response plans address gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies.
3. Substantive professional contributions are made to the formulation of emergency plans of action, contingency plans, and monitoring of compliance with plans of action.
4. Effective analysis of available data regarding the evolving emergency situation and its implications to the operation are timely provided. Supports constant flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergency responses.
5. Staff training in emergency preparedness and response is effectively supported to enhance the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office.
6. In the event of an emergency, prompt support is provided to execute the initial operational tasks by collecting accurate information on the nature and scope of the emergency, ensuring effective telecommunications facility and staff security assistance, and promptly reporting the status as required.
7. Professional support is provided to establish facts and needs, coordinate a rapid assessment, and determine priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF.
8. Timely delivery of assistance and supplies is maintained, urgent staffing requirements are identified, and the appropriate and effective use of UNICEF resources is monitored for effective project delivery.
9. Substantive input and assistance are provided in the implementation of emergency plans of action, work plans, emergency appeals, and in the mobilization of donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding.
10. Lessons learned from UNICEF's emergency operations experience are collected and analyzed for the adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions. Longer-term requirements of the emergency operation/interventions are effectively identified.
11. Ensures that disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response strategies are mainstreamed in the country office's workplace. Sectoral input is provided for all related documents of the office’s Emergency Preparedness and Response, as well as for the Situation Analysis and the Country Programme Document.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end results.

Emergency Preparedness

1. Provides professional assistance in risk analysis to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and contribute to early warning and timely emergency preparedness.
2. Assists in the formulation of plans of action in preparation and response to emergencies. Gathers information on best practices in emergency situations for the preparation of contingency plans. Monitors compliance of all sectors with emergency plans of action.
3. Identifies formal and informal sources of information. Collects interpret and analyses all available data on the evolving. emergency situation and its implications for the emergency operation. Keeps the effective flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergency measures. Identifies availability of resources in emergency prone areas.
4. Assists in organizing and conducting staff training for the office’s capacity building in emergency preparedness and response. Provides briefing, as required. Participates in other emergency training workshops in the region and contributes to the enhancement of the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office staff.
5. Supports access and engagement processes at the field level, which may include access monitoring and analysis, engagement actor mapping, and development of regional-level access strategies.
6. Participates in the CO-wide Access Technical Team at the request of CFO, as needed.

Emergency Response

1. In the event of an emergency, promptly assists in implementing the initial operational tasks relating to emergency assistance. Immediately collects reliable information to verify the nature and extent of the emergency with staff, government officials, other UN agencies or local organizations, and media. Follows up to ensure that the office is provided with an effective telecommunications facility and staff security assistance in an emergency, as necessary. Contacts with all UNICEF staff and their dependents and visitors to ensure their safety and whereabouts, and promptly informs the head of the office, supervisor, and other emergency staff of their status as required.
2. Assists supervisor with the assessment of local emergency and security situations. Visits the location to conduct an initial rough assessment of the magnitude of the crisis and its implications for children, mothers, and the community. Assists with the assessment of the validity of the emergency preparedness plan and ability of the office vis-à-vis the current crisis as well as immediate and additional needs. Provides input in and contributes toward determining priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF. Coordinates with other partners to make a rapid assessment covering priority areas as defined by the Core Commitment for Children in Emergencies. Establishes contact with community groups, government, UN agencies, media, and other partners to keep the country office in emergency situations.
3. Participates in Implementing the emergency preparedness and response plan as necessary. Assists in identifying urgent staffing requirements and redeploying country office staff. Follows up with the timely delivery of assistance and procurement of supplies, and monitors the appropriate and effective use of UNICEF resources. Identifies problems and constraints in project delivery. Sends daily situation reports to concerned parties.

Emergency Project

1. Participates in the implementation of plans of action and work plans for emergency projects. Undertakes field visits to emergency project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor project progress. Carries out project administration. Prepares inputs for appeals and updates related to emergencies. Coordinates with programme sections staff and others to mobilize donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding, including humanitarian appeals and documents (e.g., pitch documents). Communicates and advocate for the situation and needs of children through local and international media, as appropriate.
2. Collects and analyses lessons learned from UNICEF's emergency operations experience and contributes toward the adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions. Assists in identifying longer-term requirements of the emergency intervention/operations.
3. Works with other colleagues to make sure that disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response strategies are mainstreamed in the country office's workplans. Assists in the preparation of sectoral input for the country programme documents, plan of action, annual work plans, and other related documents of the office’s Emergency Preparedness and Response. Provides technical input in the preparation of the Situation Analysis and the Country Programme Document, as required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A Bachelor's university degree in social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration, or other related disciplines.
• A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, or administration.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergencies is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of local languages and other official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) • Works Collaboratively with others (1) • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) • Innovates and Embraces Change (1) • Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) • Drive to achieve impactful results (1) • Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

View our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

* Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.