Humanitarian Affairs Analyst, Somalia, Qaran Jobs

The situation in Somalia remains fragile with continued political instability, climatic variability, and lack of basic social services. In 2017, drought and conflict have impacted Somalia and Galmudug was one of the most affected. OCHA’s role is to coordinate effective and principled inter-agency humanitarian response and ensure that relief assistance reaches the people who need it in a timely manner. In line with OCHA’s global mission, OCHA Somalia continues to:

• Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, food, shelter, education and health for vulnerable communities, including the collection, analysis and dissemination of information to humanitarian partners, and negotiation of access.
• Support the government efforts and humanitarian organizations in humanitarian response efforts, including assisting internally displaced and return.
• Support Government efforts in dealing with the ongoing humanitarian issues, including drought and building the capacity of Government focal points on humanitarian issues.
• Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Somalia 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 clans.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Field Coordination/HAO, the HAA is expected to have comprehensive knowledge on the issues in Galmudug State, operating from Dhuusamarreeb; and Somalia as a whole. He is expected to play a key role in ensuring the primary objectives of OCHA Somalia are met. This can be done by contributing to the following functions:

Summary of key functions:

• Information Collection in support of Humanitarian Analysis and Response,
• Information Sharing
• Development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders
• Monitoring and Reporting
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Provide 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 senior management;
• Actively participate in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and HRP Mid-Year Review and End-year Review processes, and any other strategic planning and field analysis initiatives that involve field input and analysis;
• Gather and verify information on issues affecting the humanitarian situation, emphasizing opportunities for response;
• Supports regional analysis and interface with the AIM working group to extract key action points that need follow up from assessments undertaken and the humanitarian Dashboard.

Assist in 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.

Support the development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Support existing coordination mechanisms and assist in the establishment of new field coordination wherever required;
• Establish relationships with key stakeholders, including non-traditional humanitarian actors, in areas of operation to ensure humanitarian information flow from OCHA to partners and vice versa and ensure their participation in operations.

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

• 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 in the districts and workings with district level partners provide analysis on response gaps and advocacy issues.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of sources of information related to coordination;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall coordination of humanitarian and emergency assistance. The root causes of the humanitarian/emergency situations are appreciated, ensuring that strong and effective responses are mounted. This facilitates operational agencies in succeeding in their core objectives, building of strong partnerships with relevant parties and the achievement of OCHA’s objectives.

Advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating OCHA’s priorities

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches

Resource Mobilization

• Collects, researches and analyzes information on resource mobilization and utilization, drafts reports and documents and maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors and donor funded projects

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• 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

•  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

• 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

• Researches 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

Core Competencies

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• 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. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing are the responsibility of each staff member.
•  Informed and transparent decision making

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in social science, emergency/disaster risk management, political science, law or international relations or related field with 3 years’ experience.
•  A first level university degree with 4 years’ experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Professional experience, preferably in complex emergency and inter-agency contexts, 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 Somali is a requirement.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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