Humanitarian Operations Specialist (Anticipatory Action Specialist)

Mid Senior Leadership

Overview

Support anticipatory action for the Country-based Pooled Fund Section.

You have:

• At least five (5) years of experience in humanitarian assistance, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, or development.
• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) preferably in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, climate science, or disaster risk finance.
• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Experience in developing or implementing anticipatory humanitarian action is required.
• Fluency in French, Arabic, or Spanish is desirable.

Contract

This is a IICA-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-2 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian, and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations. The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners, in the delivery of the UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) Cluster supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services, UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), and the Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio. It provides services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement defined activities in support of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

This position will support the Country-based Pooled Fund Section (CBPFS) within the OCHA Pooled Fund Management Branch (PFMB), part of the Financing and Partnerships Division (FPD) at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.

The CBPFs are essential for supporting humanitarian action that saves lives, alleviates suffering and maintains human dignity. These multilateral instruments allocate funding based on the humanitarian needs and life-saving priorities identified at country level, embodying a commitment to a locally led, people-centred and effective response. There are currently 16 CBPFs and 4 Regional Funds – a recent addition to OCHA’s Pooled Funds portfolio drawing on the principles and approaches of CBPFs. In 2023, $1.1 billion was allocated to life-saving assistance for 34.5 million people.

Anticipatory Action (AA) enhances the efficiency of humanitarian aid by delivering life-saving assistance ahead of predictable emergencies, reducing their humanitarian impact and enhancing communities’ resilience to better withstand shocks. The CBPFs and Regional Funds are increasingly supporting anticipatory action, predominantly for getting ahead of predictable climate shocks and complementing core response functions.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment Under the close collaboration with OCHA Chief of the CBPF Section under supervision of UNOPS Project Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

A comprehensive approach to anticipatory action is developed for the CBPFs and Regional Funds in line with the CBPF Global Guidelines, including identification of scope, strategic direction and required capacities. Individual CBPFs or Regional Funds are supported appropriately in considering or undertaking pilots to advance operationally and to generate learning.

The Humanitarian Operations Specialist will collaborate closely with OCHA’s Country Based Pooled Funds Section.

The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Functional Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Integration of anticipatory action: - Support the implementation of a coherent approach for the scale up of anticipatory action amongst CBPFs and Regional Funds, working with relevant OCHA teams to link capacities for risk analysis, advocacy, flexible financing, and implementation. - Contribute expertise and knowledge to OCHA’s overall anticipatory action workstream, including disaster risk financing and the development of policy, standards, reports, data analysis, back-ground papers, presentations, etc.

2. CBPF & Regional Fund allocation planning: - Examine current use of data in the development of AA allocation strategies. - Draft guidance for greater use of forward-looking data in the design of allocation strategies and subsequent decision-making processes to fund certain projects/activities (e.g., forecasts or projections related to climate phenomena, non-climate shocks, and humanitarian needs). - In consultation with staff at HQ and in the field, and in view of existing CBPF funding modalities, propose concrete options for how CBPFs and Regional Funds can support and engage in anticipatory action. This includes, but is not limited to, support to collective or agency-specific anticipatory action frameworks/plans or other AA initiatives; creation of CBPF or Regional Fund-specific anticipatory action plans; anticipatory action beyond formal frameworks. - Provide advice, including surge through assignments as appropriate, to CBPFs and Regional Funds exploring and / or piloting anticipatory action. - Conduct analysis of how AA allocations link to thematic areas such as cash, gender, and Accountability to Affected People.

3. Collection, categorisation, and dissemination of innovative anticipatory action:

• Document examples of where CBPFs and Regional Funds have funded initiatives that could be considered anticipatory, including hazard, activity type, sector, other contextual details.
• Develop relevant materials to advocate and increase understanding about the role and added value of CBPFs and Regional Fund in anticipatory action to different audiences, for example, the Pooled Fund Working Group (PFWG), donors, operational partners, OCHA staff, and the OCHA CBPF-NGO Dialogue Platform, with a focus on the role of local and national actors.
• Contribute to the reinforcement of links between anticipatory action and thematic areas such as gender, localization, and inclusion through facilitating discussions and consultations with key stakeholders.
• Support capacity building efforts on anticipatory action, including facilitating training sessions and developing materials for CBPFs and Regional Funds, including cross-learning between country contexts.

4. Resource mobilization and advocacy: - With reference to existing information about the funding environment for anticipatory action, spell out the potential niche and added value for CBPFs and Regional Funds to mobilize resources. - Draft guidance for CBPFs and Regional Funds on advocacy and the development of partnerships with key actors for anticipatory action. - Support conceptual work on the design and potential establishment of Regional Climate Disaster Facilities, and the potential role of the facilities in supporting anticipatory action, including a particular focus on supporting the work of local and national organizations.

5. Maintain awareness of current humanitarian affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender, inclusion and localization considerations or other developments in specific subject area, country or region concerned.

Frequent collaboration is expected with the following constituents:

• Personnel at all levels within OCHA in New York, Geneva, Regional and Country Offices.
• Counterparts in national government agencies, other UN agencies, NGOs including local and national partners, and research institutions.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

*******FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY****** *CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) preferably in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, climate science, disaster risk finance or a related field is required,
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) plus two (2) additional years of relevant experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience: Required:- At least five (5) years of experience in humanitarian assistance, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development or other related areas is required. - Relevant experience is defined as experience in humanitarian assistance, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development or other related areas. - Experience in developing or implementing anticipatory humanitarian action is required. - Ability to analyze and integrate diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from various sources is required.

Desirable:(The following experiences **are optional, candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply**

• Experience and knowledge of humanitarian pooled funds is desirable.
• Previous proven academic research skills are desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Fluency in French, Arabic or Spanish, is desirable

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA 2)/ICS10 Contract duration: Open-ended (subject to good performance, availability of funds, organizational requirements and project duration)

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Additional Information

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. - Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. - Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. - UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. - Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. - We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.unops.org