Emergency Officer (Preparedness, Response, Disaster Risk Reduction, Resilience)

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.

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF ECA disaster management work, closely linked to climate change and resilience programming. For more information about ECA and priorities, please visit: https://www.unicef.org/easterncaribbean/

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Emergency Specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Emergency Officer (Preparedness, Response, Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience), will:

• Supports risk analysis to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and contribute to early warning and timely emergency preparedness, including supporting the regular updating of the Emergency Preparedness Platform with programmes. • Assists with 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. • Supports with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergencies strategies, planning and activities. • Supports information and knowledge management initiatives to ensure the orderly availability of information for risk-informed decision-making. • Supports with the collection 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. • Participates in preparedness and emergency initiatives related key programmatic (Child Protection, Social Policy/Social Protection, Education and Nutrition) and cross-cutting areas (climate change and resilience, WASH, technology for development, monitoring and evaluation, private sector engagement, communications, social behavior change amongst others). • Together with emergency focal points, in the event of an emergency, promptly assists UNICEF ECA (Emergency Technical Team, under the Emergency Specialist and/or Deputy Representative) - in emergency operations implementation and programme management to ensure that the funding, budget, management, reporting, and field presence coordination are managed efficiently and effectively with clear accountabilities.
• Support active participation at inter-UN meetings (e.g., United Nations Emergency Technical Team - UNETT) in preparation and response. In response, assist in assessing the humanitarian situation with special regard to WASH, child protection, nutrition, and education – and encourages integrated response where possible. • Support the use of participatory and community-based approaches in the planning and implementation of projects. Promote measures which increase accountability to affected populations and promote the identification of durable solutions.
• Ensure to the extent possible that partners use common standards and tools for information collection/sharing and data management, including in needs assessments and monitoring (while respecting principles of confidentiality and protection concerns).
• Support information gathering and information flow across sections and programmes. • Contribute to reporting in accordance with UNICEF’s CCC-based Humanitarian Performance Monitoring criteria, as well as regular situation reports, as required. • Help facilitate real time evaluations and during and after action reviews with the objective to improve UNICEF’s support in emergencies. • Contribute to the development of project proposals; ensure that agreed strategies and priorities are adequately reflected in appeal documents. Ensure the implementation of the gender marker in appeals. Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Results/expected outputs:

As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Emergency preparedness initiatives are mapped and aligned to the Multi-Country Development Plan (MCPD), to ensure coherence and integrated strategic programming.
• Timely and thorough analysis is made to identify emergency-prone situations and contribute to early warning and enhancing emergency preparedness through the updating of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Platform (EPP) and supporting activities. • Support is provided to programmatic and cross-cutting thematic areas to ensure they are prepared to respond. • Based upon needs and gaps, concept notes and draft proposals are developed prior to an emergency and during an emergency to contribute to emergency appeals. • Lessons learnt from UNICEF's emergency operations experience are collected and analysed for adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions through the conceptualization and implementation of the Emergency SharePoint site. • Maintain an overview of the situation, needs, response and gaps using information from meetings, other sources and field visits. Information gathered through meetings and other sources contribute to programmatic decision-making, reporting and evaluations. • Support is provided to Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) focal points with the development of an AAP strategy. • Record and propose opportunities for the humanitarian/development nexus, beyond emergency response. • Monitoring of supplies delivery and distributions to ensure smooth delivery to partners and beneficiaries, and support end-user monitoring during an emergency. • Conduct field programmatic assurance visits to confirm timeliness and quality of implementing partner activities, write assurance visit reports for quality programme delivery and results to intended beneficiaries during an emergency response. • UNETT and WASH sector coordination preparedness and response activities are attended, and updates are provided regarding UNICEF’s implementation in preparedness and response. In response, assistance is provided in assessing the humanitarian situation in relation to WASH, child protection, nutrition, and education and encourages integrated response where possible.

• 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; • 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.

Disaster management (emergency preparedness and response), climate change, resilience, disaster risk reduction, private sector engagement or other relevant programmes; • Experience with WASH is an asset; • Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • 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.

Barbados is a vibrant island nation that boasts a natural beauty and hospitality, which makes it a tourist destination. It is 34 kilometres (21 miles) in length and up to 23 km (14 mi) in width, covering an area of 432 km (167 sq. mi).

Eastern Caribbean countries and territories are characterized by notable political stability, with open and competitive democratic systems. Social indicators are relatively good among ECA countries/territories, which points to the commitment of governments to improving the quality of life of its residents.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.