Emergency Officer , (NO-1), Sokoto at UNICEF

Purpose for the job.

Under the close supervision and instructions of the Chief Field Office, provides professional support and effective teamwork for the implementation of field office emergency preparedness and response, collaborating with other emergency team members in the office. Responsible for the technical contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the emergency interventions to advance the survival and well-being of children and mothers and affected communities in emergency situation.

Key Functions, Accountabilities And Related Duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Emergency Preparedness
 

• Provides professional assistance in an analysis to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and risks, and contribute to early warning and timely emergency preparedness.
• Assists in 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. Monitors compliance of all sectors with emergency plans of action.
• Identifies formal and informal sources of information, collecting, interpreting and analysing all available data on the evolving emergency situation and its implications to the operation. Keeps the effective flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergencies. Identifies availability of resources in emergency prone areas
• Assists in organizing and conducting training for the office’s staff capacity building in emergencies preparedness and response. Provides briefing, as required. Participates in other emergency training workshops in the region, and contributes to enhancement of the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office staff.
   

Emergency Response
 

• In the event of an emergency, promptly assists in implementing the initial operational tasks relating to emergency assistance. Immediately collects reliable information to verify the nature and extend of the emergency with staff, government officials, other UN agencies or local organizations and media. Follows up to ensure that the office is provided with effective telecommunications facility and staff security assistance in an emergency, as necessary. Contacts with all UNICEF staff and their dependants and visitors to ensure their safety and whereabouts, and promptly informs head of office, supervisor and other emergency staff of their status as required.
• Assists supervisor with assessment of local emergency and security situation. Visits the location to conduct an initial rough assessment of the magnitude of the crisis and its implications for children, mothers and the community. Assists with the assessment of the validity of the emergency preparedness plan and ability of the office vis-à-vis the current crisis as well as immediate and additional needs. Provides input in and contributes toward determining priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF. Coordinates with other partners to make a rapid assessment covering priority areas as defined by the Core Commitment for Children in Emergencies. Establishes contact with community groups, government, UN agencies, media and other partners to keep the country office of emergency situations.
• Participates in Implementing the emergency preparedness and response plan as necessary. Assists in identifying urgent staffing requirements and redeploying country office staff. Follows up with the timely delivery of assistance and procurement of supplies, and monitors the appropriate and effective use of UNICEF resources. Identifies problems and constraints in project delivery. Sends daily situation reports to concerned parties.
   

Emergency Project
 

• Participates in the implementation of plans of action and workplans for emergency project. Undertakes field visits to emergency project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor project progress. Carries out project administration. Prepares inputs for appeals and updates related to emergencies. Coordinates with program sections staff and others to mobilize donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding, including humanitarian appeals and documents (e.g., pitch documents). Communicates and advocates on the situation and needs of children through local and international media, as appropriate.
• Collects and analyses lessons learnt from UNICEF's emergency experience and contributes towards adoption of best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions. Assists in identifying longer-term requirements of the emergency operation/interventions.
• Works with other colleagues to make sure that disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response strategies are mainstreamed in the country office's workplans. Assists in the preparation of sectoral input for the country programme documents, plan of action, annual work plans, and other related documents of the office’s Emergency Preparedness and Response. Provides technical input in the preparation of the Situation Analysis and the Country Programme document, as required.
• In close coordination with field offices and relevant sections, supports humanitarian access efforts, including follow-up on the implementation of field-office access action plans, coordination and consolidation of inputs for the UNICEF access strategy, and representation of UNICEF in internal and external access coordination forums to strengthen operational presence and ensure timely delivery of assistance in hard-to-reach areas.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.
• Work Experience: One year of relevant professional work experience at the national or international level in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or administration.
• Developing country work experience (for IP) or field work experience (for NO). Training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.