Early Recovery & Livelihoods Sector Coordinator

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The coordinated international humanitarian operation in the BAY states started in 2014, at the behest of the Government of Nigeria in response to a non-international armed conflict. A new methodology to estimate people in need was introduced for 2023. Needs in north-east Nigeria are deepening with an estimated 6 million people in a severe, extreme or critical situation. This is an increase of 14 percent. An estimated 8.3 million people will need some form of humanitarian assistance in the BAY states in 2023. Of these people, 2 million are IDPs; IDPs outside the BAY states are not included in the caseload. Some 1.5 million are returnees and 4.8 million are in host communities or communities affected by conflict. Given a change in the access assessment classification methodology, the 4.8 million represents an increase of 900,000 in this category, when compared to 2022. This is partially the result of the Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) for 2023 covering four LGAs1 this year – Abadam, Guzamala, Kukawa and Marte2 – which were categorized as ‘inaccessible’ in the 2022 HNO; this has occurred in parallel with the discontinuation of an ‘inaccessible people in need (PiN)’ category. Despite these increases across individual sectors, the overall number of people in need remains unchanged. This is likely due to vulnerable people developing additional needs across multiple sectors.

While in a crisis situation life saving relief is undeniably the most important priority, affected populations simultaneously start looking for ways to rebuild their lives. Support to stabilisation of the situation in the first instance can reduce further setbacks for the affected population and pave the way towards an eventual recovery. This requires of all actors that they focus not only on saving lives but also on stemming further loss of livelihoods and security that are fundamental to the survival of the affected population, even during humanitarian operations. From the outset it is also vital to support, sustain, and begin to rebuild the essential national capacities that are necessary to manage the situation in the longer term. Early Recovery is the application of development principles to humanitarian situations. It is intended to stabilise local and national capacities from further deterioration so that they can provide the foundation for full recovery and stimulate spontaneous recovery activities amongst the affected population. If such national capacities are used and strengthened, they are likely to reduce the overall burden of humanitarian support more rapidly. This can be achieved through distinctive early recovery activities to stabilise the situation, while identifying opportunities for longer term recovery and eventually development. Early Recovery aims to bring development principles into relief and seize opportunities to go beyond saving lives and contributes to the restoration of national capacity, livelihoods and human security. Early Recovery and humanitarian efforts occur in parallel and use the same mechanisms, but their objectives and expertise are different. Early Recovery aims to: • Augment on-going emergency assistance operations through measures that foster the self-reliance of the affected population and meet the most critical needs to rebuild livelihoods; • Support spontaneous recovery initiatives by the affected population and mitigate the rebuilding of risk; • Establish the foundations for longer-term recovery.

In general, the Sector Coordinator enables sector partners to be more effective by working together in accordance with the principles of partnership than they could be individually. The Sector Coordinator provides accountable leadership and works on behalf of the sector as a whole, facilitating all sector activities and maintaining a strategic vision. He/she also ensures coordination regarding the areas covered, e.g. governance, infrastructure, social cohesion and livelihoods, with other sectors in relation to inter-sector activities and cross-cutting issues. UNDP as the Sector/Cluster Lead Agency is accountable to the HC for ensuring that the tasks below are carried out effectively. The Sector Coordinator also has a duty, to all partners within the Sector, to act as a representative of the sector as a whole rather than solely as a representative of UNDP. Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Early Recovery team leader or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Sector Coordinator is responsible for facilitating a process at the sectoral level aimed at ensuring the following: 1) Establishment and maintenance of effective coordination mechanisms 2) Preparedness and capacity development 3) Needs Assessment and analysis, prioritization and planning 4) Integration of cross-cutting issues 5) Application of standards, guidelines and good practice 6) Information management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting 7) Advocacy 8) Resource Mobilization

A. Specific Knowledge Competencies • Humanitarian Response - Exceptional knowledge of humanitarian response systems, coordination mechanisms, and humanitarian policy. This includes coordinated needs assessments (MIRA, PDNA), and the Humanitarian Programme Cycle.

• Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus – Comprehensive understanding of the challenges and experience of countries addressing simultaneously humanitarian needs, recovery and development. Good knowledge of both humanitarian and development systems and planning.

• People Centered Approach - Understands that a people-centered approach to humanitarian action brings together the universal determinants of age, gender, and other specific diversity characteristics for analysis that informs an effective response which includes disability, HIV&AIDS, mental health, socio-economic status, religion, nationality, the environment and ethnic origins.

• Recovery Programming - Strong knowledge of one or several of the early recovery programmatic areas:

• Livelihoods- Emergency Employment, Economic Recovery, Government Employment, Cash Coordination • Governance - Rule of Law, Peace and Reconciliation, Community Stability, Social Cohesion, Local Governance, Civil Society • Basic Infrastructure repairs and rehabilitation- Waste Management, Utility systems, Local Government buildings, Community buildings, Mine Awareness and Clearance.

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards. • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN. • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

B. Functional Competencies i. Professionalism – Advanced knowledge of the use of information management in humanitarian response and recovery environments; highly developed conceptual, analytical and innovative ability to identify and articulate the information management requirements of complex situations requiring a coordinated response between disparate actors; demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to use sound judgment to ensure the effective and timely completion of complex tasks; ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters).

ii. Communication – Excellent communication and training (spoken and written) skills including the ability to convey complex information management concepts and recommendations to staff at all levels, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style that can be readily understood by non-information management practitioners.

iii. Teamwork iv. Planning and Organization v. Accountability vi. Client Orientation vii. Judgment/Decision-making

Political science/international relations, or other relevant field; or the equivalent combination of education and the extensive relevant professional experience in a related area • A minimum of 3 years work experience in the field of international development and humanitarian assistance, in particular experience in the field of early recovery. • Included in the above: minimum of 2 years specific substantive and technical experience in inter-agency coordination, needs assessment, policy development, strategy formulation, programme planning and monitoring & evaluation in crisis and post-crisis settings is desirable. • Experience working in an international organization • Knowledge of UNDP/UN regulations, rules, policies, procedures and practices • Fluency in written and spoken English is essential. • Qualifications and/or industry certification and /or demonstrable experience in the following applications: Microsoft Office (advanced user certification of MS Access, MS Excel and MS Word desirable) and Lotus Notes are desirable. • Possess a comprehensive set of competencies enabling immediately taking on the challenging role of leading early recovery efforts in the designated area of responsibility – strategic, integrity, results orientation, teamwork, good inter-personal skills, well developed communication skills, sound judgment, analytical skills, flexibility, proactive engagement, innovation, risk management, gender and culturally sensitive, ability to work under pressure and demonstrates high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability.

Maiduguri is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in North-Eastern Nigeria. Spoken languages are English (official), Hausa, Fulani, and others. The prevailing climate in Maiduguri is known as a local steppe climate with little rainfall during the year. Temperatures are generally between 25 and 38 °C. Driest month is January, and May is warmest one. Security environment in the Northeast continues to be a cause of concern due to ongoing armed conflict between security forces and insurgents. Despite some recent gains by security forces, Boko Haram insurgent group remains resilient and continues to resort to asymmetrical warfare resulting in collateral damage among civilian population. UN Security Level-3 is currently in place in Maiduguri, and it is non-family duty station. This implies that official and private road travel by staff is limited as per the MOSS and all official missions in this region should not begin before 07:00 and be in a secure location no later than 18:30. Security escort is not required for travel within the city. However, police escorts are required as per MOSS for travel by road for most of the directions outside Maiduguri city. Most of the areas of responsibilities are accessible by UNHAS helicopters. Manual security clearance as well as TRIP system clearance should be obtained from UNDSS for all travels by road/air within North-East of Nigeria. Traveling from Maiduguri to major cities (Abuja, Lagos, Yola, etc.) can be on several UN cleared commercial air carriers, as well as UNHAS.