Humanitarian Affairs Associate at United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Host Entity: UNOCHA
Duration: 12 months
Sustainable Development Goal: 1. No poverty
Expected Start Date: 01/12/2022
Description of Assignment Title: Humanitarian Affairs Associate
Volunteer category: International UN Youth Volunteer

Details
Mission and Objectives:

• OCHA provides critical support to the humanitarian community in the areas of supporting and facilitating the development of policies and approaches to delivery of assistance, coordination, information management, advocacy and public communications, civil-military and access coordination and humanitarian financing.
• OCHA has laid the groundwork for coordination with the Government at federal and state levels, establishing a platform for response operations has enabled humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving assistance and protection.

Context

• The humanitarian crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in north-east Nigeria is one of the most severe in the world today, with 8.7 million people in need of assistance and over 1.9 million internally displaced.
• What started as a localised insurgency more than twelve years ago has turned into a regional armed conflict with no clear end in sight.
• Violent attacks by non-state armed groups and counter-operations have continued to drive vulnerabilities and needs among affected people and communities.
• Underlying issues of widespread poverty, unemployment, socio-economic imbalances, marginalization, governance deficits, rapid population growth and climate shocks - which rank among root causes of the crisis - remain largely unaddressed.
• The insecurity is a growing threat to the humanitarian response in the north-east, and increasingly affecting OCHA and other humanitarian actors and their ability to deliver critical assistance to those in need.
• UN agencies and international and national NGOs are increasingly directly targeted by non-state armed groups, consequently limiting the already strained humanitarian space OCHA and others operate in.
• This is taking place amidst a rapidly deteriorating food security and nutrition situation, with more than a quarter of households in the northeast being food insecure.
• Alternative operating modalities are continually explored to ensure safety and security of humanitarian workers while continuing to provide basic services and assistance to the most vulnerable communities.

Task Description
Under the direct supervision of Civil Military Coordination Officer/ Head of CivMil and Access Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Supports the Unit and sub-offices in implementing the access strategy and civil-military coordination for the northeast Nigerian context.
• Support the team during monitoring, analysing and reporting on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/ management or emergency situations in northeast Nigeria.
• Assists the team in reviewing and providing advice on humanitarian access, civil-military coordination, safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring effective delivery of humanitarian assistance; organizes and supports follow-up work, including interagency technical review meetings to support access and civil-military coordination work and decision making on important issues.
• Work as part of a team in drafting and preparing regular access and civil-military coordination papers/reports highlighting relevant policy and operational factors affecting access, the humanitarian situation and response efforts.
• Supports the roll-out and maintenance of an access database (Access Monitoring and Reporting Framework (AMRF)), including access tracking, reporting and analysis, providing timely analysis and updates to various coordination for a and key stakeholders.
• Participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions;
• Assists the Team Lead in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); drafts situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements.
• Provides substantial support to sector/cluster working groups as required and facilitate exchange on cross-cutting issues re: access and civil-military coordination.
• Assists in establishing and maintaining contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations, military interlocuters, diplomatic missions, media, etc.
• Supports access advocacy initiatives on issues impacting humanitarian needs and response efforts through the collection of information, liaison with humanitarian partners, government officials, etc.
• Supports the organization and participation of working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on civil-military coordination and humanitarian access-related matters.
• Supports the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements
Required Education Level:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency preparedness, Crisis / Emergency Relief Management, Rehabilitation, Development or a related area.
• 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 the UN Common System is desirable. Experience in the region is desirable.

Required experience:

• 0 years of experience in 0 to 2 years experience working in humanitarian context, emergency and programme development.

Area(s) of expertise:

• Crisis and emergency response, Development programmes, Security and protection

Driving license

Languages:

• English, Level: Fluent, Required

Eligibility criteria
Age:

• 18 - 26 years old.

Additional eligibility criteria:

• This assignment is funded by the Government of the Republic of Ireland and therefore specific criteria apply:
• The age criteria is broadened to include candidates who will be between 18 and 29 years of age throughout the assignment.

Nationality:

• Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Competencies and Values:

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Client Orientation
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Creativity
• Empowering Others
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Judgement and Decision-making
• Knowledge Sharing
• Leadership
• Managing Performance
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness
• Vision
• Working in Teams.

Other Information:
Living Conditions and Remarks:

• The assignment will take place in the nation’s capital, Abuja (Hardship Classification C).
• Abuja is housed by many expatriate and diplomatic communities. Cost of living in Abuja varies but could be termed as high considering the class of people residing in the capital city.
• Terrorism is the main threat in the Abuja. General crime is also prevalent.
• UN staff members are advised to stay only in UNDSS assessed hotels and residential areas.
• As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.