Emergency Response Specialist

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 the Emergency Response Section hosted by OCHA. ERS provides a suite of integrated operational readiness and response services to prepare for and respond to sudden-onset disasters and rapid deteriorations in existing emergencies. ERS works towards capacity building efforts with national emergency management agencies and regional organizations. Every effort is made to support localization of crisis management capabilities. The team works to ensure that operational readiness and response tools and services are optimally integrated. This project particularly aims to support the development of United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination System as well as the International Search and Rescue Advisory Board presence in the Americas Region which deploy emergency response teams following a sudden-onset disaster. The UNV is expected to support the ERS Regional Focal Point in the Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa prior, during and after emergencies in the region.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Emergency Response Section Regional Focal Point for Southern and Eastern Africa or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the National Specialist UN Volunteer will:

• Support the Emergency Response Section (ERS), and in particular United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) and the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) Regional Focal Point in the organization of regional meetings and training sessions. • Monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in the Southern and Eastern Africa Regions, in close coordination with the OCHA Regional Offices for Southern and Eastern Africa (ROSEA). • Assist the Regional Office following consultations with the ERS Regional Focal Point (RFP) on policy or policy-related issues as requested, including environmental emergency management, information platforms, and other activities. • Support the Regional Focal Point prior, during and after emergency response operations in the region. • Support the planning, preparations, delivery and follow-up of After-Action Reviews, which are conducted following emergency deployments and which are designed to improve the efficiency of relief teams' deployment. • Support the development of remote and in-person conferences and training modules planned for 2022, taking into consideration potential COVID-19-related implications. • Support the development of partnerships with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that the latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, gender-related considerations, etc. are incorporated into these activities. • Help to build and maintain regional operational partnerships, especially with respect to UNDAC and INSARAG, and in close coordination with ROSEA, to bolster OCHA's emergency coordination activities. • Prepare or contribute to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. draft sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence. • Support the establishment of clear information channels and that program delivery is designed to ensure outlined goals can be reached. • Assist in the management of relevant emergency response web coordination systems (Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Center, ReliefWeb, designated MS Teams channels, etc.) which are essential for the coordination of different disaster management agencies in an emergency response. • Help to organize and participate in working groups, meetings, conferences and consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters. • Analyze and investigate the way information is presented and shared through the different existing systems with the aim of grouping and consolidating the data for its visualization, using Power BI. • Declassify information which is to be shared with the public while paying particular attention to confidential data and sources. • Track email communications. • Perform any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Results/expected outputs: • As an active ERS team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to the Regional Focal Point for the Southern and Eastern Africa Region and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: · The effective delivery of a wide range of administrative and office support functions as per UN administrative rules, regulations and guidelines. · Ensuring that swift and efficient support is provided to the ERS Regional Focal Point in the mobilization of emergency response teams in a sudden-onset emergency in the Southern and Eastern Africa Region. · Mapping and following-up on key findings and lessons learned from emergency mission After Action reviews. · Completing the preparation and delivery of concept notes, course training plans, session plans and all materials relevant to the virtual exercise tool. · Providing a comprehensive analysis of the data extracted from ERS units’ repositories (and particularly INSARAG and UNDAC) relevant to the region.

• 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; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards OCHA’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

disaster management, research, training and event organization or other relevant programmes; experience with partners is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • 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; • Desirable: Good knowledge of OCHA’s mandate; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in emergency response deployments and coordination of relief teams volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.