Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Civil-Military Coordination, P-4

UN OCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Operations and Advocacy Division (OAD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Civil-Military Coordination in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, OCHA Burkina Faso, the incumbent reports to the Deputy Head of Office.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Civil-Military Coordination will be responsible for the following duties:

Adviser on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination:

In his/her capacity as the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) and the HC’s adviser on civil-military relations, the HAO will establish the necessary links with Senior Military Officers in International military Forces and National Military Forces, Military Liaison Officers (MLO), and personnel in UN agencies, including any relevant civilian mission staff, and civil-military coordination personnel of appropriate NGOs.
Monitor, analyze and report on any major accomplishments and progress as well as identify and follow up any potential or actual friction points in relations between the humanitarian and military communities.
Serve as the primary focal point for all matters including policy related to civil-military coordination in close consultation with the Head of OCHA Burkina Faso or Humanitarian Coordinator.
Prepare, or provide substantive input in the preparation of, policy, position papers and reports on civil-military coordination issues for presentation to various agencies throughout the UN system and IASC members. Contribute to the Office regular reporting on civil-military coordination issues.

Policy and Advocacy:

Lead, if applicable, the development of country-specific guidelines on civil-military relations, based on the current “Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief” and “Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets to Support UN Humanitarian Activities in Complex Emergencies”, as well as the “IASC Reference Paper on Civil-Military Relationship in Complex Emergencies”, the IASC Discussion Paper and Non-Binding Guidelines on the “Use of Military or Armed Escorts for Humanitarian Convoys”, applicable Security Council resolutions and other relevant instruments.
Ensure that the country-specific guidelines, and the generic guidelines mentioned above are properly disseminated and understood by both the humanitarian actors and the military forces present, as well as by local actors, as appropriate. Promote and ensure adherence to the above Guidelines within the entire humanitarian community and advise on potential consequences if these principles are compromised.
Organise, with relevant and balanced Humanitarian and Military representation, Workshops on Civil-Military relations, by advocating adherence to applicable guidelines and principles and focusing on positive examples, contribute to a positive working relationship between relevant international military and IASC members.
Additionally, act as an advocate for the promulgation of UN-CMCoord concepts, principles and activities, the promotion and protection of humanitarian principles and the dissemination of UN-CMCoord related guidelines.

Establish and maintain UN-CMCoord Network:

In this context, establish and maintain dialogue and coordination with the military and security forces in the area of responsibility. Identify, establish and maintain contact with the appropriate military counterparts, especially international military force deployed, and ensure mutual exchange of information about ongoing humanitarian activities and issues. Advise the military forces in the area of responsibility on international humanitarian coordination mechanisms. These mechanisms may include the UN Country Team, UN Security or Disaster Management Teams, Humanitarian Clusters, etc.
In parallel, establish and maintain contact with humanitarian actors in the area of responsibility and serve as an information channel and advocate for their issues with relevant military/paramilitary organizations.
Lead or participate in working groups, meetings and consultations with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners; organize meetings on UN-CMCoord matters with Heads of Agencies and/or other appropriate entities.
Establish and maintain, if appropriate, an information exchange forum for stakeholders and interested parties in civil-military relations and participate in relevant meetings.

Humanitarian Affairs:

Leads and/or participates in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions; coordinates international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations; ensures necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); prepares situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries.
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 contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.; ensures appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system, including on early warning and contingency planning.

Other duties:

Acts as Security Focal Point for the OCHA Burkina Faso Country Office, establishing and maintaining engagement with the Country Security Management as appropriate.
As the team unit lead or participate in planning and preparation of unit budget and work program.
Provides leadership and work direction to assigned to direct reports, mentors and supervises the work of direct reports.
Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related human rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems. Solid understanding of Civil Military Coordination issues. Knowledge and understanding of the UN Security Management System. Analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyse 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.
JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or other field related to civil-military coordination is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required. Experience in civil-military coordination, or experience in the military forces dealing with humanitarian operations is required. Experience managing field teams in humanitarian operations is required. A minimum three (3) years of field experience in a humanitarian context in the last 7 years is desirable. Experience in a humanitarian context in the UN Common System or other comparable international organization is desirable. Experience in the West and Central Africa region is desirable.