Senior Humanitarian Civil-Military Affairs Advisor

.

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

Background- WFP Palestine Country Office

Over the past five years, socioeconomic conditions in the State of Palestine have deteriorated and a protracted protection and humanitarian crisis has undermined the food security of millions of Palestinians. 1.8 million people are food insecure across Palestine and the aid dependency ratio is increasing. Rising inflation, linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and now also spurred by the Global Food Crisis, has contributed to reductions in the purchasing power of Palestinians and increased food insecurity. For Palestinians engaged in agriculture and herding, climate-related obstacles, including droughts and rising temperatures, increasingly impede productivity.

Building on the strengths of its 2018-2022 country strategic plan, WFP Palestine’s new plan for 2023–2028 will address the needs of Palestinian communities through a humanitarian‑development–peace nexus approach, responding to immediate humanitarian needs and simultaneously addressing longstanding socioeconomic vulnerability.

While food assistance, through cash-based transfers and in-kind food to meet essential needs, remains WFP’s largest activity, this will be complemented by livelihood and resilience building interventions to address issues of poverty and poor labour-force participation, which have been identified as one of the key drivers of poor access to food, and to strengthen resistance to shocks. Nutrition integration will be integrated throughout the programme, to address immediate and underlying causes of micronutrient deficiencies.

WFP Palestine has demonstrated longstanding commitment and contribution to the strengthening of capacity at the national level, through strategic partnerships with various government line ministries, to enhance the consideration of food security, shock-responsiveness and nutrition-sensitivity in national systems, programmes, policies and plans. WFP is engaged in joint programming and implementation with other United Nations agencies. Under the new CSP, WFP is expanding its enabling services – in the form of a CBT platform, CFM, logs sector – to continue supporting the wider humanitarian community to achieve collective outcomes and continue supporting the people we serve.

JOB PURPOSE

United Nations Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination is the essential dialogue and interaction between humanitarian, civilian and military or armed actors in humanitarian emergencies, most notably protracted protection crises, that promotes humanitarian principles. The dialogue and interaction seek to establish understanding between all parties to a conflict; and with civil, humanitarian, and security peace actors including development actors if necessary.

The position – under the instruction of the OCHA Head of Office and in support of the humanitarian Coordinator - will provide support to advocacy with key interlocutors regarding, specifically, friction points between humanitarian and military operations and will serve as a primary focal point for all matters related to humanitarian civil-military coordination More specifically, the position will engage in areas of dialogue with respect to humanitarian civil-military relations and establish the necessary links with senior military officers. international military forces, and non-state and armed actors (NSAAs). The Senior Humanitarian Civil-Military Affairs Advisor (SHCMAA) will advise and support cluster coordinators and cluster members on issues pertaining to relations with the military and their behavior, with specific focus on cross-cutting themes such as protection.

Key functions

In 1995, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee designated OCHA as the focal point and custodian of related guidelines and policies for UN-CMCoord within the UN system. OCHA’s Civil-Military Coordination Service (CMCS) performs that function on behalf of the humanitarian community and facilitates the appropriate interaction between humanitarian operational partners and armed actors. What that facilitation looks like depends on the context, and on the role and mission of the armed actors in that emergency. CMCS also manages the UN-CMCoord training programme, supports large-scale military exercises with a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief component, provides policy guidance, fosters partnerships with like-minded organizations, maintains a UN-CMCoord roster of experienced personnel, and is the custodian of global UN-CMCoord guidelines and policy documents.

Due to unique administrative requirements, WFP has agreed to support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) oPt with the contracting and admistrative oversite (i.e. payment, leave days, travel, etc) of a dedicated advisor to support the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) on all matters dealing with Humanitarian Civil Military Coordination. This position is located in East Jerusalem and seconded to OCHA-occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The incumbent will report to the OCHA Head of Office, with administrative oversight from WFP, in-line with standard duty of care obligations for a WFP employment contract.

Reporting line

Within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, the positions will be reporting to OCHA Head of Office in Palestine, who is responsible of the workplan, performance assessment, time management of the consultant, and reporting which includes periodic written update on the outputs to be communicated with WFP Country Director.

WFP will be responsible of the administrative arrangement including contracting, travel entitlements, and processing of related financial entitlements.

Responsibilities of the Senior Humanitarian Civil Military Affairs Advisor (SHCMAA):

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

• The SHCMAA will set up the necessary links with the senior military officers in both the national and, where helpful, international militaries in the region and will provide the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), Member States (MS) and the Head of Office of OCHA guidance for humanitarian civil-military relations.
• Provides technical and policy advice to the HC, HCT agencies in the UN system, Member State officials, NGOs, and international and regional organizations on humanitarian civil military affairs in support of Protection of Civilians (PoC).
• Serves as primary liaison with senior military entities and NSAAs for both steady state activities and in case of escalation of conflict or other acute contextual shifts.

• Serve as the primary focal point for all matter,s including policy related, to humanitarian civil-military affairs and Humanitarian Access

• Leads monthly UN CMCoord/Humanitarian Access meetings and consultations with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners;

• Influences the development and evolution of the UN approach to humanitarian civil military affairs in oPT and designs and implements – in consultation with HCT members - policy and programme changes to address humanitarian affairs issues within the context.
• Develops/ensures implementation of context specific humanitarian civil-military strategies and procedures.
• Sensitize military commanders, or where possible OAGs, on evolving humanitarian operations and needs where appropriate and in a principled manner.
• Support OCHA field offices on issue related to Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination.
• Contributes to coordinating international humanitarian/emergency assistance for exceptionally complex situations or major disasters.
• Leads capacity-building initiatives; identifies bottlenecks and gaps and develops proposals to improve response systems and mechanisms related to Civil-Military Coordination, to include technical assistance in the design of specific coordination and other systems/mechanisms;
• Organizes and participates as trainer/resource person in national and international training seminars related to civil-military coordination and/or humanitarian access.

Deliverables at the end of the contract

The proposed position seeks to establish and sustain principled interactions with relevant stakeholders, especially those military entities.

1. Develop sustainable relations with ISF/IDF senior strategic and operational commander to have an effective dialogue Access issues for the humanitarian community.

• Establish relations with ISF/IDF based on the need for principled humanitarian action.
• Coordinate with local military and other structured armed actors on the short and medium term humanitarian priorities, including on-going or planned operations.

2. Strategic, operational and tactical level guidance to senior leaders in the UN and the wider humanitarian community.

• Leveraging the correct stakeholders to provide HC and HCT with guidance on civil military-related advocacy issues.
• Dissemination of relevant information regarding military activities and their impact on humanitarian operations where possible.

3. Support to humanitarian operations and relevant coordination structures (including clusters).

• Coordinate and enable the delivery of humanitarian operations through meaningful support and understanding of military operations and dynamics.
• Advise existing humanitarian coordination structures, on Civil Military-related affairs and the evolving operational environment.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency response, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, or other related area is required.
• At least 4 years in the past 10 years of international experience working in complex emergencies in the field either in a humanitarian or military organisation is required.
• Knowledge of critical civil-military coordination principles and guidance is required.
• Humanitarian experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required.
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN Common System or other comparable international organization is desirable.
• Experience in the Middle East region is desirable.

Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Hebrew and/or Arabic is desirable.

Competencies:

• Professionalism: Knowledge of a full range of humanitarian and emergency relief assistance and related human rights issues. Ability to advise senior management and other senior officials on approaches and techniques to address highly complex/sensitive issues. Demonstrated capacity for intellectual leadership; conceptual and strategic analytical capacity and ability to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of humanitarian and emergency relief issues/problems. Ability to negotiate and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery). Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to humanitarian affairs and seasoned knowledge of the institutions of the UN system; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Managerial Competencies

• Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change: Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture: Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios).

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
• Focus on getting results: Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
• Be Decisive: Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning.
• Build strong external partnerships: Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

By CoB of 21 May 2023

.

WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.