Emergency Officer (NO-1), TA, Caracas, Venezuela, LACR. (364 days)

Contract

This is a NO-1 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-1 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, protection

The humanitarian needs of children in Venezuela are immediate, immense and growing. An estimated 3.2 million children in Venezuela need urgent assistance due to the current socio-economic and political crisis. Since 2018, UNICEF has rapidly increased its presence and programs in Venezuela to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of children.

UNICEF has strengthened its work with a broad spectrum of partners and stakeholders to provide vulnerable children affected by the economic crisis with support in education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and protection. In line with the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Venezuela launched by the United Nations and its partners, UNICEF launched the first appeal to provide humanitarian assistance to 1.3 million people, including 900,000 children. A second appeal will aim to meet the needs of children during 2020.

How can you make a difference?

KEY END-RESULTS

1. Emergency preparedness and response plans addresses gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies.
2. Substantive professional contributions are made to the formulation of emergency plans of action, contingency plans, and monitor compliance with plans of action.
3. 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 emergencies responses.
4. Staff training in emergencies preparedness and response is effectively supported to enhance office’s capability.
5. Professional support is provided to establish facts and needs, coordinate a rapid assessment, situation analysis and determine priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF.
6. 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.
7. Substantive input and assistance are provided in the implementation of emergency plans of action, workplans, emergency appeals, and in the mobilization of donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding.
8. Lessons learnt from UNICEF's emergency operations experience are collected and analyzed for adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions. Longer- term requirements of the emergency operation/interventions are effectively identified.
9. Collaborates with the relevant units within the CO so that disaster risk reduction strategies are mainstreamed in the country office's workplans. 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, interprets and analyses all available data on the evolving emergency situation and its implications to 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 emergencies preparedness and response. Provides briefing, as required. Participates in other emergency training workshops in the region, and contributes to enhance the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office staff.
5. Assist in the regular update of the EPPs, at the country office and field office levels, keeping a close monitoring of their MPSs compliance, as well as the adequate support and follow up to their preparedness actions in close coordination with all CO Sections, both in programs and Operations.

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 extend of the emergency with staff, government officials, other UN agencies or local organizations and media. Follows up and coordinate with Operations/ICT/Security teams to ensure that the office is provided with effective telecommunications facility and staff security assistance in an emergency, as necessary.
2. Assists supervisor with assessment of local emergency and security situation. 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 of 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.
4. Supports supervisor in stablishing adequate articulation with OCHA and interagency coordination fora to ensure UNICEF honors its Cluster coordination commitments and participates in any preparedness and response initiatives.

Emergency Project

1. Participates in the implementation of plans of action and workplans 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 program sections staff and others to mobilize donor preparedness, response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding, including humanitarian appeals and documents (e.g., pitch documents). Communicates and advocates on the situation and needs of children through local and international media, as appropriate.
2. Collects and analyses lessons learnt from UNICEF's emergency operations experience and contributes towards 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.
4. Supports initiatives related to risk mapping and risk analysis both at national and local level where possible.

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

• University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.

• A minimum of One year of relevant professional work experience at the national or international level in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or administration.

• Developing country work experience (for IP) or field work experience (for NO). Training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.

• Fluency in Spanish is required and English is considered asset

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others.

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:

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.