Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Coordination

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response

Overview

Coordinate humanitarian and recovery response in contested areas.

You have:

• Experience in humanitarian coordination/management
• Experience working in complex humanitarian crisis
• Experience in humanitarian program management
• Experience in the African context, preferably in horn of Africa.
• Experience working in contested/disputed areas with dynamic political and ethnic complexities.

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The northern Ethiopia conflict affected millions of people since onset in November 2020 until it ended with the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) in November 2022. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned spontaneously thereafter with support from the government and partners. A significant development, however, began in April 2024 when the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) announced plans to return 689,000 IDPs to the Western, Northwestern and Southern zones, mostly to nine districts contested between Tigray and Amhara regions. An estimated 82,112 IDPs from Tigray region have returned to these woredas predominantly by government-organized convoys.

With Federal Government facilitation through the Ethiopia National Defense Forces (ENDF) aid partners conducted two assessments from 28 July – 12 August 2024. Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) conducted another assessment in September 2024. These assessments concluded that the operating environment is permissive for scaled–up and sustained aid operations and durable solutions. After the assessments an area-based humanitarian and recovery coordination has been activated in Alamata and MaiTsebri for the contested areas. However, the bi-weekly coordination meetings are facilitated by staff missions from Amhara Region (Desie) and Tigray Region (Mekelle and Shire). The area-based coordination hubs report to the federal level Expanded Coordination Meeting on Contested areas. With needs assessed, funding available, partners present (29 NGOs) and the improved operating environment, there is an increased need for a fulltime dedicated expert to facilitate coordination and operational support to partners operating in the contested areas.

Under the direct supervision of Deputy Head of Office – Field Operations and close liaison with respective regional heads of sub-offices, the UN Volunteer will be based in Alamata town, and undertake the following tasks::

 •    Coordinate the humanitarian and recovery response in the contested areas to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. 
 •    Facilitate regular and adhoc humanitarian and recovery coordination meetings among humanitarian agencies (UN agencies and NGOs) including preparation of 
   meeting minutes and follow up of action points. 
•    Draw out operational issues requiring senior management decision and advocacy.
•    Write out background and policy inputs for senior management and EHCT attention and decisions on contested areas.
•    Establish sectoral task forces/working groups in the contested areas and explore op-portunities for linkages and collaboration with local authorities and community 
    struc-tures.  
•    Work closely with relevant officials, UN and NGO counterparts to monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian development, emergency or relief management in the ar- 
   eas.
•    Leadership and facilitation of Civil Military Coordination and operational access through dedicated working groups and authoritative contacts in the security and 
    community structures for facilitation of humanitarian operations.
•    Inform liaison with relevant federal and regional authorities on regular bases regarding humanitarian access, HLP issues, IDP return, etc.
•    Contribute inputs to regular reports and information products on humanitarian situa-tions, access, advocacy and resources mobilization. 
•    Host and facilitate high-level missions (including country representatives, donors and government officials) with appropriate briefs and coordinated local travel.
•    Participate and spearheaded the humanitarian and ENDF forum to channel challeng-es and opportunities for normalization of humanitarian response and response 
     from feasible locations. 


•    Adaptability and Flexibility
•    Commitment and Motivation
•    Communication
•    Ethics and Values
•    Integrity
•    Professionalism
•    Respect for Diversity
•    Self-Management
•    Working in Teams


•    Experience in humanitarian coordination/management

•    Experience working in complex humanitarian crisis

•    Experience in humanitarian program management

•    Experience in the African context, preferably in horn of Africa.

•    Communication and coordination skills.

•    Experience working in contested/disputed areas with dynamic political and ethnic complexities. 

Alamata is an established town experiencing post-conflict dynamics for administrative control between the regional states of Amhara and Tigray, resolution of which is expected through implementation of the peace agreement that ended the Tigray war in October 2022. Security has improved in the last two years, save for sporadic tensions and isolated incidents of insecurity. Livelihoods, mainly agriculture and trade, were devastated by war, leading to increased poverty and slow recovery. Basic services like healthcare, clean water, and sanitation are limited due to conflict damage. Electricity and telecommunications are not fully restored but are available. Few NGOs operate there with offices that have internet access, and their staff, who are all Ethiopian nationals, live in rented houses. Alamata has several hotels with good accommodation and reliable internet. These hotels also offer local food, including most types of traditional Ethiopian dishes. The living conditions are challenging but manageable.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org