Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Civil Military Coordination) P4

This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Iraq (duty station to be confirmed). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Civil-Military Coordination) reports to the Head of OCHA Office in Iraq.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the leadership and guidance of the Head of OCHA Office in Iraq, and within delegated authority, the HAO (Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination) will be responsible for the following duties:

I. Adviser on UN Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination:

1) The HAO (Civil-Military Coordination – UN-CMCoord) will establish and maintain the necessary liaison with Senior Military Officers in International Military Forces and National Military Forces, Military Liaison Officers (MLO), security forces and relevant armed groups, UN mission personnel, UN agencies, NGOs, government officials, and any other relevant civil-military coordination stakeholders.

2) 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.

3) Serve as the primary focal point for all matters, including policy development and operational arrangements, related to UN humanitarian civil-military coordination in close consultation with the Head of OCHA Office in Iraq and the Humanitarian Coordinator.

4) Develop and maintain a mapping of the various security forces, military, police, gendarmerie, and non-state armed groups present in the country / emergency, including ensuring effective communication and successful humanitarian access negotiation.

5) 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.

II. Policy and Advocacy:

1) 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. Lead, if applicable, the development of Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) position papers on UN-CMCoord related matters.

2) Ensure that the country-specific civil-military relations guidelines, and the generic civil-military coordination guidelines mentioned above are properly disseminated and understood by both the humanitarian actors and the military forces present, as well as by local actors and other security forces, 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.

3) Continuously advocate in meetings, conferences, training and other events for adherence to applicable guidelines and principles and, focusing on positive examples, contribute to a positive working relationship between relevant international military and IASC members.

4) 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.

III. Establish and maintain a UN-CMCoord Mechanism and Network:

1) In this context, establish and maintain dialogue and coordination with the military and security forces in the area of responsibility, including international military forces, such as UN peacekeepers, bilaterally deployed forces and/or forces mandated by regional organisations, police forces, and any other security forces which may deploy. Identify, establish and maintain contact with the appropriate military counterparts, especially deployed international military forces, and ensure mutual exchange of information about ongoing humanitarian activities and issues. Advise the relevant military forces on international humanitarian coordination mechanisms. These mechanisms may include the UN Country Team, Humanitarian Country Team, UN Security Management Teams, Humanitarian Clusters, etc.

2) In parallel, establish and maintain contact with humanitarian actors in the area of responsibility, such as UN agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross Movement, and serve as an information channel and advocate for arising issues with relevant military/paramilitary organizations.

3) Establish and maintain, if appropriate, a UN-CMCoord mechanism or cell with the participation of relevant stakeholders, to ensure timely, effective and adequate coordination, deconfliction and information-sharing.

4) Provide support to existing sub-offices on humanitarian civil-military coordination issues. This will include conducting regular field missions, as required by the Head of Office, to support the UN-CMCoord effort.

5) Lead or participate in working groups, meetings and consultations with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners; organize meetings focused on UN-CMCoord matters with Heads of Agencies and/or other appropriate entities.

6) Establish and maintain, if appropriate, an information-sharing forum for stakeholders and interested parties in civil-military relations and participate in relevant meetings.

IV. Training:

1) 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.

2) Organise and/or actively participate in courses, training events, induction courses, briefings and conferences on Civil-Military relations for both humanitarian and military representation. In this regard, liaise closely with the humanitarian community, and other relevant actors. If appropriate, lead the organization of a UN-CMCoord in-country course.

V. Humanitarian Affairs

1) Lead and/or participate in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions; support the Head of Office and the Humanitarian Coordinator in coordinating international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations; ensures necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); prepare situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries. 2) Partner with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related and child protection considerations.

COMPETENCIES

PROFESSIONALISM: Solid understanding of and experience of working with UN Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination issues. Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related human rights 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.

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.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, military, or other related area is required. Previous experience with OCHA and/or in civil-military coordination, or experience in the military forces dealing with major humanitarian operations is desirable. Experience in providing training to humanitarian and military communities is desirable. Experience in engaging with non-state armed actors is desirable. Experience in working with humanitarian organizations in operations or preparedness is desirable. Field experience in emergency situations (complex emergencies, natural disasters, etc.) is desirable.

Education:Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, or other field related to civil-military coordination or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Languages:English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

How to apply:

The position is intended to fill functions of short-term duration This temporary position is for an initial period until 31 December 2014 with a possibility of extension. All posts are subject to availability of funds.

Please state your full name and the temporary job opening notice number OCHA/G/85/2014 as the subject in your e-mail application and send one email application for every temporary job opening announcement. Documents should be saved as pdf file, with the title formatted as follows: FAMILY NAMEgiven name Doc-t type.pdf. For example: GREY_Joe _PHP.pdf.

All applicants are requested to submit a completed personal history profile (PHP) to ochacrdstaffing@un.orgwith a copy to ochavacancies@un.org.Please indicate the temporary job opening number OCHA/G/85/2014 in the Subject of your e-mail.

Note that applications to United Nations Secretariat positions can be generated in the new Inspira recruitment system. We encourage you to create an electronic personal history profile and to apply to these and other positions for which you are interested and qualified at http://inspira.un.org

Note that applicants’ eligibility cannot be fully assessed if the personal history profile is not properly completed. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

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