Latest Job Opportunities at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)

Job ID: 12540
Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria
Practice Area - Job Family: Management
Grade: NOB
Vacancy Type: FTA Local
Posting Type: External
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the OCHA Head of Office and under the direct supervision of the CHF Fund Manager, the incumbent will be expected to be able to perform the following, prioritized according to operational requirements:

Program Management:

• Attend cluster and other humanitarian coordination fora as required in order to support CHF awareness-raising on strategic issues and guidelines;
• Support the preparation and delivery of trainings and workshops related to the CHF’s goals and objectives, grant management and eligibility procedures, monitoring and reporting, development of proposal logframe and budgets etc.;
• Support the HFU Program Officer with the review and revision process of project proposals through consultation with cluster leads and other technical partners and advise NGOs on recommended revisions, assisting partners in revision drafting if required;
• Prepare paperwork related to Humanitarian Coordinator project approval and disbursement actions (Fund Transfer Requests, agreements, MoU, etc.);
• Support preparation of and execution of transfer agreements to be signed by NGO and HC, following up on requests to the HFU to arrange for fund transfers to partners;
• Communicate concerns about proposals, project documents, or implementing partners to the relevant HFU manager;
• Contribute ideas and innovative practices for funding support and strategies;
• Support the compilation of CHF Annual Reports and other progress or ad-hoc reports.

Monitoring & Reporting:

• Prepare and participate in conducting regular field visits to project sites to monitor implementation of CHF-funded projects, ensuring that implementation is in line with the project proposal and the grant agreement;
• Participate in the conduct of remote call monitoring campaigns for CHF funded projects as required;
• Prepare field monitoring reports and recommendations to partners following visits to partners, ensuring timely communication of concerns about status of projects to the relevant HFU manager;
• Ensures findings and results of monitoring visits are shared with appropriate stakeholders and partners in a timely manner;
• Follow up with partners to ensure timely submission of narrative and financial reports pertaining to CHF-funded projects;
• Track, collect and review narrative and financial reports from CHF partners to ensure accuracy and compliance with CHF guidelines and provides feedback to partner and HFU senior management as necessary;
• Keep performance management section updated in the Grants Management System;
• Provide support and information to the contracted entities in charge of monitoring of NGOs as necessary.

Management of Partnerships:

• Proactively map out potential partners and create linkages to the CHF, especially focusing on national NGOs;
• Conduct presentations and consultations with partners and potential applicants and other members of the humanitarian community in order to clarify and raise awareness for the CHF’s goals and objectives and eligibility procedures;
• Participate in the review of documents submitted under the Due Diligence process by organizations and in drafting reports on the partner’s capacity, following up with the partner on additional documents or information required and responding to queries as necessary;
• Provide support and information to the contracted entities in charge of the Capacity Assessment process of NGOs as necessary;
• Ensure the partners’ database and information records are kept up to date.

Administration:

• Update and maintain data on the Grant Management System (GMS).
• Act as interpreter/translator in English, Hausa and Kanori, as required.
• Prepare documentation and reports for country-level coordination forums.
• Support the convening and preparation for CHF Advisory Board meetings.
• Provide logistical support to the Humanitarian Financing Unit.
• Support preparation of briefing packs and venue booking as required.
• Maintain correct, updated partner contact list at all times.
• Perform other duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

• Senior HAOs and Fund Manager.
• National and International HAOs.
• National and International NGOs.
• United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programs.
• Provincial authorities.

Impact of Results:

• Develop well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to problem resolution in dealing with complex policy/technical issues.
• Assist in the management of funding programming projects and partners, ensuring timely delivery of outputs.
• Help meet organizational objectives and provide sound analytical inputs and advice with respect to coordination of humanitarian financing and monitoring.

Competencies
Professionalism:

• Proven analytical skills: ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political economic, social and human rights programs.
• Strong negotiation skills: ability to lead and gain assistance of others in a team endeavor, and to articulate coherent arguments to reach agreement.
• Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. armed conflict, civil strife, natural disasters and human misery).
• Very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system.

Judgment and Decision-making:

• Apply sound judgment to resolve a range of issues/problems.  Will abide by security guidelines.

Planning and Organizing:

• Proven ability to plan and organize, establish priorities, manage and monitor work plans, coordinate competing demands, and work to tight deadlines.

Technological Awareness:

• Solid computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet applications, and relevant software packages, including e-mail. 

Communication:

• Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations, articulating options concisely, conveying maximum information, making and defending recommendations.

Teamwork:

• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master's Degree preferably in Political or Social Science, Law, International Studies, Public Administration, or other relevant science is required.

Experience: 

• Up to 2 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in emergency humanitarian programming, crisis/emergency relief management or other related area, preferably with at least two years with a UN organization or an NGO.
• Very good drafting and report writing skills are required, as is experience with project budgeting and proposal writing.

Language Requirements:

• Professional fluency in oral and written English and Hausa and/or Kanori is required.
• Candidates will be tested on their linguistic ability.

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Job ID: 12542
Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria
Practice Area - Job Family: Management
Grade: NOA
Vacancy Type: FTA Local
Posting Type: External
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

Background

• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) has established a field offices in Nigeria to facilitate coordination of humanitarian activities in Nigeria.
• Information management is a core component of a comprehensive support strategy for the humanitarian community.
• In order to meet the increased requirements for coordination support, humanitarian advocacy and information the National Information Management Officer will support the Information Management Unit (IMU) to analyse relevant data (tabular, statistical, spatial etc.) to support an efficient and effective humanitarian response.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Head of OCHA Office and under the direct supervision of the Head of Information Management Unit, the national IMO will be responsible for the following duties:

Support in the development of spatial/geographical information products (i.e. maps, metadata, data dictionary, etc):

• Provide Geographic Information Systems (GIS), map production and geographic data management support.
• Develop and maintain spatial baseline and operational datasets in accordance with relevant standards and guidance.
• Produce and update high-quality map products.
• Maintain a repository of spatial data and ensure that the data are documented and accessible to all humanitarian partners through local and/or online services.
• Maintain the IASC Common Operational Datasets (COD/FOD).

Support the development and maintenance of comprehensive operational information products, Who/What/Where, monitoring matrices, operational analyses, contact lists among others.

• Build strong relationships and maintain regular contacts with the local and international community; gather information on humanitarian activities in support of the Who/ What/Where database, including frequent liaison with key stakeholders.
• Support the development of standardized reporting formats and analysis to support operational decision making for internal and external use.
• Collect information and assist in analysis of monitoring reports based on humanitarian indicators to provide a coherent picture of humanitarian operations.
• On a ad-hoc basis, collect, analyse and disseminate information in cooperation with other Units within OCHA.

Maintain a client-oriented approach that ensures the OCHA provides high-quality information management services and products to the OCHA office and to members of the humanitarian community:

• Provide liaison support with relevant partners and stakeholders to promote information sharing and coordination.
• Provide support to the OCHA field offices, organize flow of information and assist the offices in planning information management activities.
• Provide graphics/design support for various presentations, as well as the development of high quality visual products (infographics, maps, tables, graphs).
• Conduct regular trainings for sector members and work closely with the IM counterparts in partner agencies and organizations.

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing within OCHA and guidance to external stakeholders on information management focusing on achievement of the following:

• Promote the adoption of OCHA Information Management tools and techniques by OCHA staff and partners;
• Contribute to the development and delivery of training curricula to field partners
• Assisting with other tasks as directed by the OCHA Head of Office or the head of the Information Management Unit.

Results:

• Demonstrated contribution to communities of  practice.
• Organization/delivery of training for operational staff on information management.
• Synthesis of lessons learned and implementation of best practices in information management.

Impact of Results:

• The key results have an impact on the overall country office’s efficiency in humanitarian information management and success in introducing, widespread adoption and implementation of operational information management approaches. Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented analytical techniques, timely and appropriate delivery of products that enhance OCHAs credibility in information management.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Professionalism:

• Exposure to a wide range of information management systems related to humanitarian activities, conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, demonstrated problem-solving skills. Good knowledge of the region/country and ability to influence others to reach agreement.

Client Orientation:

• Ability to identify and analyse clients’ needs and refer that to the IM supervisor for improvement of the IM tools.

Commitment to Continuous Learning:

• Willingness to keep abreast of new IM tools

Communications:

• Good communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to explain and present technical information, effectively advice clients on systems related issues, applications, etc…

Judgment:

• Demonstrated ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given.

Teamwork:

• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Planning & Organizing:

• Ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Geographic Information Systems, Graphic Design or related field is required.

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years of work experience in information systems, geographic information systems or graphic design.
• Relevant experience in working with an UN agency or other humanitarian agency is desirable.
• Experience in the area of emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, humanitarian/development environment, field coordination is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required