Humanitarian Affairs Officer / Government Liaison Officer at United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - UNOCHA

Job Identification: 2994
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Grade: NOB
Job Schedule: Full time
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Practice Area: Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions

Background

• Given the current crisis in Nigeria, OCHA has to scale up its support to the Humanitarian Coordinator in mobilization and coordination of an effective and principled humanitarian response. OCHA is particularly concerned about vulnerable communities and those at-risk due to current conflict.
• Under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, OCHA maintains an office in Abuja and a field presence in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in Northeast; the primary objectives of OCHA Nigeria include the following:
  • Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, education, and health for vulnerable communities, including collection, analysis and dissemination of information and negotiation of access.
  • Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Nigeria with UN agencies and programmes, national and international NGOs, and local authorities/communities as appropriate with focus on strengthening the Cluster Approach.
  • Enhance a protective environment that respects the human rights of all, including IDPs, returnees and minority clan.
  • The HAO/Government Liaison Officer is expected to have comprehensive knowledge of Northeast of Nigeria, UNOCHA operations, humanitarian partners, operations of the government and NGOs.
  • As such the HAO/Government Liaison officer provides the elements of institutional memory and local networking essential to the credibility and authority of the statements and documents provided by OCHA and the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator.
  • They work with little supervision in the field and are expected to prepare concise reports and analysis and are an integral part of the OCHA Team in Nigeria.

Duties & Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:

• Information Collection in support of Humanitarian Analysis and Response,
• Information Sharing
• Support of thematic coordination mechanisms among OHCT members, Humanitarian Community and State Government Structures to ensure inclusion of priorities.
• Monitoring and Reporting

Ensure accurate Information Collection in support of Humanitarian Analysis and Response, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Review incoming field reports, prepare summaries of field activities and flag important issues to the Head of Government Liaison Unit. Actively participate in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and Humanitarian Needs Overview process, and HRP/HNO Mid-Year Review and End-year Review processes.
• Gather and verify information on issues affecting the humanitarian situation, emphasizing opportunities for response.
• Supports field analysis and interface with the AIM working group to extract key action points that need follow up from assessments undertaken and the humanitarian Dashboard.

Ensure facilitation of information sharing among partners focusing on achievement of the following:

• Pro-actively share information with OCHA and relevant stakeholders on pertinent issues.
• Identify key pieces of information that will assist with organizational decision-making with a particular focus on improving humanitarian response.3. Support of thematic coordination mechanisms among OHCT members, Humanitarian Community and State Government Structures focusing on the achievement of the following results
• Support existing coordination mechanisms and assist in the establishment of new field coordination mechanisms to provide a platform for synergies and harmonization of activities wherever required.
• Establish relationships with key stakeholders, including humanitarian actors, state government representatives, religious and traditional leaders in areas of operation to ensure humanitarian information flow from OCHA to partners and vice versa and ensure their participation in operations

Ensure proper monitoring and reporting focusing on achievement of the following:

• Field visits to Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States and support the collection of field information to monitor and improve ongoing response, coordination activities and information products.
• Prepare succinct reports on the key humanitarian issues and workings with state level partners provide analysis on response gaps and advocacy issues

Competencies:
Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating / safeguarding ethics and integrity  
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.

Functional & Technical competencies:

• Preparing information for advocacy: Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating OCHA’s priorities.
• Building Strategic Partnerships- Maintaining a network of contacts: Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up to date on partnership related issue. Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.
• Resource Mobilization - Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategy : Collects, researches and analyzes information on resource mobilization and utilization, drafts report and documents and maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors and donors funded projects.
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing - Basic research and analysis: Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things. Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.
• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise - Fundamental knowledge of own discipline : Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position. Strives to keep job knowledge up to date through self-directed study and other means of learning. Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments. Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.
• Global Leadership and Advocacy for OCHA’s Goals- Preparing information for global advocacy: Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for OCHA’s goals for a variety of audiences. Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of OCHA’s priorities and to support advocacy efforts.
• Client Orientation - Establishing effective client relationships : Research potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct, and appropriate fashion. Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines. Establishes, builds, and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients.
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing are the responsibility of each staff member: Informed and transparent decision making.

Requirements
Education:

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Political Science, Sociology, Law, International Relations, or other related fields with up to 4 years of relevant experience at the national or international level.
• A relevant first level university degree with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 4 years (Masters) or 4 years (Bachelor degree) of relevant professional experience, preferably in complex emergency and inter-agency contexts particularly the Northeast of Nigeria, dealing with relief and transitional issues.
• Familiarity with UN policies, rules, and procedures, particularly in relation to humanitarian response and coordination, and knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance, especially the humanitarian reform agenda.
• Ability to research, analyze, evaluate and synthesize information.
• Ability to express clearly and concisely, ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in both oral and written English
• Knowledge of local language is a must