UNDP Humanitarian Affairs Assistant in Pasto 155 views

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) aims to help ensure that emergency response saves lives and protects people in crisis. OCHA also seeks to enhance the connectivity and coherence between humanitarian and development work, based on the comparative advantage of diverse actors and in support of national and local capacity, towards collective outcomes that reduce risks, needs and vulnerability.

OCHA Colombia works to ensure that evidence-based and collective situational awareness informs decisions on humanitarian action, seeking to ensure that streamlined data and analysis is provided to inform a rapid, effective and principled response. OCHA Colombia works to facilitate sufficient, timely, substantial, predictable and flexible financing that meets the needs of the most vulnerable people. In accordance with its mandate, OCHA undertakes advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable people to ensure effective and principled humanitarian action. This advocacy contributes to action that also enhances the protection of affected people.

This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Pasto, Colombia. The Humanitarian Affairs Assistant facilitates the daily work of OCHA’s Sub-Office for Narino in Pasto. The Humanitarian Affairs Assistant reports to the Humanitarian Affairs Officer in OCHA Bogota. The Humanitarian Affairs Assistant liaises with other colleagues of OCHA Colombia, and with counterparts of relevant public institutions, UN agencies, funds and programmes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and donors, among others, at local and regional levels.

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Under the guidance of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer in Bogota, facilitates daily activities of OCHA’s Sub-Office for Narino in Pasto, and supports substantive/programmatic, logistics, administrative, and security issues.

• Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in Narino.

• Drafts and prepares regular updates and situation reports for OCHA Bogota, highlighting relevant operational issues affecting the humanitarian situation and response efforts in Narino.

• Organizes and chairs the Local Coordination Team (LCT) of Narino, representing OCHA as the humanitarian leader of this LCT, which comprises of UN agencies, funds and programmes, NGOs, and other members, at local and regional levels.

• Organizes and participates in other meetings and consultations with agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.

• Organizes and participates in field missions; for instance to assess humanitarian needs with other organizations, or to report on relevant developments.

• Under the guidance of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer in Bogota, maintains contacts with relevant public institutions, UN agencies, funds and programmes, NGOs, and donors, among others, at local and regional levels.

• Supports in the coordination and monitoring of international humanitarian/emergency assistance in Narino.

• Supports in the coordination of needs assessment, the monitoring of humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes at local and regional levels.

• Liaises with the different units of OCHA in Bogota, including on administrative and financial issues related to OCHA’s Sub-Office for Narino.

• Professionalism: Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems. Analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response. Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying

• technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems: Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian rights situation in assigned country/area. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery); ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Academic Qualifications and Minimum Years of Relevant Work Experience

• Candidates with high school diploma plus five years of progressively responsible experience in one of the following fields is required: in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, development.

• Candidates with bachelor’s degree in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences, health sciences or a related field plus two years of progressively responsible experience in one of the following fields is required: in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or development.

• Experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is desirable.

• Experience working with an international or national organization, and familiarity with the UN system is desirable.

Languages Requirements

• Fluency in spanish is required

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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