Emergency Officer - Donor Relations

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.

Famine has been averted for the time being, but the situation remains extremely alarming. The efforts of local communities and the scale-up of humanitarian assistance, supported by slightly more favorable than previously foreseen rains, have averted famine. Yet the situation remains critical. Nearly 5 million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity through March, classified in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), including close to 1.4 million people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and 96,000 in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Between April and June, some 6.5 million people are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), including approximately 1.9 million people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and 223,000 in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Critical levels of acute malnutrition persist in many parts of the country: an estimated 1.8 million children under the age of five will be acutely malnourished through December 2023, including nearly a half a million who are likely to be severely wasted. The risk of famine persists and famine could occur if humanitarian assistance does not reach those most in need and if the April to June 2023 rains fail. Prolonged and extreme conditions are continuing to exacerbate needs. The main drivers of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia – prolonged drought, conflict, high food and water prices, and disease outbreaks – continue unabated, their combined impact pushing an ever-greater number of people into reliance on external humanitarian assistance. The ongoing drought is the longest and most severe in recent history. Insecurity contributes to an extremely difficult operating environment. In addition to costing lives, disrupting livelihoods and causing internal population displacement, conflict and insecurity are major impediments to humanitarian operations outside major population centers' and in other hard-to-reach areas across Somalia. About 607,000 people were displaced by conflict and insecurity last year, and more displacement is likely as a result of the ongoing military offensive and fighting in Laas Caanood. Nearly 660,000 people, of whom 375,770 are estimated to need humanitarian assistance, live within territory controlled by non-state armed actors and are largely out of reach. UNICEF is appealing for US$272.3 million to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of 3 million people in Somalia, including 2 million children. They are experiencing the devastating impacts of worsening drought, armed conflict and large-scale population displacement.

On 7 April 2022, UNICEF activated its Corporate Emergency Level 2 Scale-up Procedure for the Horn of Africa drought crisis (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia), following one of the worst droughts in recent history. A system wide scale up of the response was initiated in August 2022 in Somalia and on 15, September, UNICEF activated a Corporate Emergency Level 3 Scale-up Procedure for the Horn of Africa drought crisis (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia) from 14 September 2022 to 13 March 2023 following one of the worst droughts in recent history. The Level 3 Scale-up has since been extended for another six months from 14 March 2023.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief of Emergency or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Humanitarian Donor Relations will: 1. Knowledge management for emergency preparedness and response 2. Humanitarian programme development and management 3. Optimum resource mobilisation and utilisation 4. Humanitarian action donor reporting 5. Any additional tasks as necessary

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;

• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values

in document production and editing; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in the agenda for children, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Kenya is a unique country and Somalia is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.