This position is open to Somalia Nationals Only

BACKGROUND

Somalia’s prolonged humanitarian crisis is characterized by ongoing conflicts, climate shocks including floods and drought, communicable disease outbreaks, and weak social protection. Since the beginning of 2020, two additional shocks have contributed to a deterioration of humanitarian conditions: the desert locust infestation and the COVID-19 pandemic. Flooding displaced 840,000 people in the first 10 months of 2020 and destroyed infrastructure, property, and 144,000 hectares of agricultural land. Somalia also experienced the worst desert locust invasion in 25 years; tens of thousands of hectares of cropland and pasture were damaged, with potentially severe consequences for agriculture and pastoral-based livelihoods. Communities living in conflict areas were severely impacted by armed violence.

COVID-19 directly impacted the lives of Somalis, worsening patterns of vulnerability. This came on top of ongoing disease outbreaks such as cholera, measles, and, recently, vaccine-derived poliovirus. Lower Shabelle Region of South West State continues to bear much of the brunt of those affected by the negative impact of the shocks mentioned.

Position Purpose:

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Field Coordination/HAO through the Head of the Sub-Office, the HAA is expected to have comprehensive knowledge of the issues in the particular state that they will be assigned to; and Somalia as a whole. He/she is expected to play a critical role in ensuring the primary objectives of OCHA Somalia are met. This can be done by contributing to the following functions:

Key Duties and Responsibilities : 

Summary of key functions

• Supporting a Head of Sub-Office to oversee cluster coordination, facilitate field missions, and strengthen engagement with affected communities – potential establishment of an antenna office may be required, security permitting
• Information Collection in Support of Humanitarian Analysis, Response, and Information Sharing
• Development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders
• Monitoring and Reporting
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1)   Support the basic functions and operations of an OCHA sub-office that works with the government, partners, and vulnerable populations/beneficiaries of aid.

• Support an OCHA sub-office that delivers the full suite of OCHA functions.
• Undertake the necessary administrative and programmatic demands to keep the office functioning at its optimum, including managing contact lists, updating calendars, maintaining minimum administrative requirements, and acting as secretariat support for relevant coordination meetings.
• Work closely with the government humanitarian focal point ministry, local authorities, and other entities as necessary.
• Work closely with humanitarian stakeholders (UN and NGOs), and strongly advocate for timely response and physical presence to fulfil point number 4 below

2)   Provide accurate Information Collection in support of Humanitarian Analysis, Response, and information sharing focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Review incoming field reports, prepare summaries of field activities, and flag outstanding issues of critical humanitarian concern to senior management.
• Actively participate in the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HNO, HRP, etc.), 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, and feedback from affected communities.
• Supports regional analysis and interface with the Assessments working group to extract key action points that need to follow up from assessments undertaken and review operational presence and response against reporting to the 3/4Ws.
• Proactively 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.

3)  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 mechanisms, wherever required.
• Establish relationships with key stakeholders, including non-traditional humanitarian actors, in areas of operation to ensure the humanitarian information flow from OCHA to partners and vice versa and ensure their participation in operations.
• Strengthen the cluster system through coordination, individual or joint assessments, individual or collective responses, etc

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

• Support the collection of field information to monitor and improve ongoing response, humanitarian access, coordination activities, and information products.
• Strengthen engagement with affected communities to ensure effective feedback and accountability to affected populations
• Prepare succinct reports on the key humanitarian issues in the districts and work with district-level partners to provide analysis on response gaps and advocacy issues

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

• Identification of sources of information related to coordination and access.
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to country policy goals.
• Sound contributions

6)    Performs other related duties, as required

COMPETENCIES:

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is a pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously LEVEL 1: Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in the face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-functional and technical competencies 

Business Management-Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels

Business Management-Monitoring 

• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Business Management-Evaluation 

• Ability to make an independent judgment based on set criteria and benchmarks – Ability to anticipate the client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Management-Operations Management

• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.
• Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms

Business Management-Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

General (across the functions)-Public relations 

• Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organization, its mandate, and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public.

Partnership management Relationship management 

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain, and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in social science, emergency/disaster risk management, political science, law or international relations, or a related field
• A first-level university degree in the subject mentioned above in combination with a minimum of two years of relevant working experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum two years of professional experience, preferably in complex emergency and inter-agency contexts, dealing with relief and transitional issues.
• Familiarity with UN policies, rules, and procedures, particularly concerning humanitarian response and coordination, and knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, and guidelines about 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.)
• Experience in handling web-based management systems.

Language requirements 

• Fluency in written and spoken the English Language is required.
• Fluency in written and spoken Local language – is required

Important Note:

This recruitment is for multiple locations – Mogadishu and Galkayo.

Applicant information about rosters

UNOCHA 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 UNOCHA at the same grade level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements.

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