HEAD OF OFFICE, HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, D1
Overview
Serve as Head of Office for OCHA DRC in Kinshasa, responsible for coordinating humanitarian action and advising on policy and programming.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as senior policy advisor to the UN RC/HC, UNCT and humanitarian country team on humanitarian principles and initiatives.
- Develop and maintain contacts with the international community to raise awareness and advocate for humanitarian concerns.
- Strengthen cooperation among the humanitarian community on policy issues and act as a key interlocutor with Government partners.
- Advise, promote and provide guidance on humanitarian reform initiatives.
- Provide strategic support to the UN RC/HC in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the humanitarian community's work plan.
- Provide strategic leadership on humanitarian access negotiations.
- Consult with the RC/HC, Heads of UN Agencies, NGOs, government and the donor community on humanitarian activities.
- Support the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of humanitarian programs.
- Promote best practices in humanitarian planning, response and evaluation.
- Facilitate inter-agency resource mobilization efforts.
- Develop, reinforce and maintain effective coordination mechanisms with the humanitarian country team and other key stakeholders.
- Establish/manage information management systems to map humanitarian needs and response activities.
- Foster and reinforce linkages between field monitoring, information management and coordination efforts.
- Ensure timely and appropriate assistance in response to disasters and emergencies.
- Support inter-agency efforts to build in-country UN capacity to manage natural disaster response.
- Provide substantive support and leadership to government institutions and local humanitarian entities to build national capacity for emergency/disaster management.
- Promote dialogue, regional alliances, and sharing of knowledge and resources among national and regional humanitarian actors.
- Promote and lead contingency planning processes.
- Develop joint initiatives on disaster management with other UN and regional actors.
- Reinforce regional networks and mechanisms for swift, effective response to emerging humanitarian situations.
- Provide oversight of all programmatic/administrative tasks for the efficient functioning of the OCHA office and any sub-offices.
- Lead work planning and budgeting process, support resource mobilization and ensure sound financial management.
- Ensure regular and effective supervision of OCHA staff.
- Promote OCHA's mandate, objectives and tools through contacts with government, diplomatic missions, UN entities, NGOs and the media.
- Ensure the Office produces timely, high-quality outputs.
- Perform other duties as requested by the UN RC/HC and/or Director of CRD.
Required Experience
A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required. Minimum of 5 years of international field experience in aid operations in complex emergencies or natural disaster settings is required. Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating humanitarian operations at a senior management level during complex health emergencies, disease outbreaks, or epidemics is desirable. Experience in UN or humanitarian mission settings within Central or West Africa is desirable.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, management, economics, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.