Humanitarian Affairs Officer at United Nations

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (PSEA Advisor) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as a policy officer; advise on overall policy direction on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) in the humanitarian sector; reviews and provides advice and expertise to Humanitarian Coordinators, Heads of Offices, field managers, PSEA coordinators on a diverse range of policy issues, related to mitigation, prevention, and response to sexual exploitation and abuse to ensure the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and the linkages with other related areas (e.g. protection, gender).
• Leads and/or participates in working groups related to providing field support to inter-agency PSEA coordinators and networks, providing technical advice and support to countries and on the roll out of IASC tools, policies, and guidance.
• Assists in the production of guidance to PSEA Coordinators to integrate protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in the humanitarian programming cycle.
• Initiates and coordinates activities related to technical cooperation and technical assistance projects in PSEA; formulates project proposals and relevant project documents; provides technical support to field work; reviews and clears project reports for submission to governments. Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions, eg participates in interagency field missions to undertake reviews of PSEA coordination mechanisms.
• Organizes and prepares studies on PSEA; organizes follows-up work, including interagency technical review meetings or field missions to support policy development and decision-making on important issues; and ensures the implementation of recommendations emanating from relevant studies.
• Assists or leads, as appropriate, in the preparation of OCHA/IASC reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence, presentations, background papers, policy guidelines, etc.; develops country-specific indicators for countries of concern in collaboration with area experts and ensures the subsequent monitoring of these indicators; recommends actions based on the analysis of pertinent information.
• Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; helps ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships with key constituencies to elicit support for and maximize impact of IASC PSEA strategy and plan of action, including liaison with the UN Sexual Exploitation and Abuse working group.
• Serves as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; keeps abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., ensures appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provides information and advice on a range of related issues. Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
• May participate in planning and preparation of unit budget and work program.
• Provides leadership and work direction to assigned work team, and/or mentors and supervises the work of new/junior officers.
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of wide range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues. Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, to include ability to analyze and articulate the PSEA and humanitarian dimension of complex issues that require a coordinated UN response. Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems. Ability to negotiate and to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery). Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs and knowledge of the institutions of the UN system. Demonstrated ability to complete in-depth studies and to formulate conclusions/recommendations. Ability to relate humanitarian affairs issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political, economic, social and human rights programmes in affected country/region. 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.
• 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 applica

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required.
• Out of seven years of relevant professional experience, at least five years of professional experience in the fields of protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, protection, gender-based violence, staff conduct and discipline and/or gender is required.
• At least three years in the last seven years of experience in protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian contexts in the field is desirable.
• Experience in humanitarian coordination in UN, NGO and inter-agency settings at field level is desirable.
• Experience advocating for PSEA with governments, clusters and donors at field and global level is desirable.
• Experience of community-based complaint mechanisms/ SEA reporting channels, implementing partner assessments, victim/survivor assistance, and/or engagement with national authorities on PSEA is desirable.
• Experience working in the IASC or in other inter-agency bodies or processes is desirable.

Languages

• French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.