Background/Purpose:

The Humanitarian Branch provides global strategic direction, technical and operational support for UNFPA’s activities in all humanitarian settings, focusing on reproductive health, gender/GBV and population and related data issues.  

The increased demand for UNFPA to respond to humanitarian situations has led to a doubling of the organization’s humanitarian requirements, from $78 million in 2006 to $175 million in 2014 –the largest ever appeal in UNFPA history. This growing trend mirrors the global humanitarian trends. More is expected of UNFPA than ever before to provide life-saving assistance.

With a primary focus on surge management, this post will help provide timely operational and technical support for UNFPA’s interventions for preparedness, response and reconstruction in all humanitarian settings around the world. In collaboration with all core programme staff, the post will contribute to coordinating the development, revision and optimal use of all corporate humanitarian guidelines, policies and tools for humanitarian programming in accordance with the UNFPA Humanitarian Strategy and the Strategic Plan, and will contribute to the management of Humanitarian Financing, notably the CERF Funds by country offices and regularly provide advice on such funding.  

The post will also contribute to the management of UNFPA’s interventions for preparedness, response, including surge support for internal and external personnel to be rapidly deployed to support UNFPA’s humanitarian response. While based in the Humanitarian and Fragile Contexts Branch, the post will work closely with the Division for Human Resources (DHR).

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

a)     Surge Management

• Act as Team Leader for surge management, providing oversight to the coordination, management, monitoring, and capacity development of internal Surge Roster and deployment, Stand-by Surge Personnel processed through NRC, DRC, CANADEM, and other partners to UNFPA.
• Foster an internal understanding around surge systems, human resources in emergencies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools in order to fully embed within UNFPA a culture of rapid response to emergencies.
• In coordination with DHR, monitor implementation of the Surge SOPs and the development of an annual report/ lessons learned paper analyzing trends within surge deployments (including post-deployment performance evaluations, retention rates, deployment efficiency (requests, duration, timeframe), deployment outcomes, and exit strategies).
• Supervise surge staff to ensure an up to date, consolidated database of internal and external Surge candidates and to track all deployments.
• Lead resource mobilization efforts for surge, contributing to preparation for donor meetings and donor proposals.

b)     Humanitarian Preparedness and Response

• Working with a consultant, coordinate the development and roll out of the UNFPA multi-year preparedness initiative.
• Support the facilitation of the UNFPA’s HSC response as and when level 3 is set up.
• Support Humanitarian Branch Chief in coordinating headquarters support to ROs and COs.
• Represent UNFPA in the IASC task teams on Emergency Preparedness.
• Develop Funds proposal on emergency preparedness as required.
• Contribute in strengthening collaboration/ partnership with various partners involved in emergency preparedness.

c)     Humanitarian Operations

• Coordinate the Humanitarian Steering Committee (HSC) Secretariat, including preparing agendas and background documents and taking notes as required.
• Participate and contribute to the coordination of UNFPA’s bi-annual Global Humanitarian Consultation, including coordinate necessary follow-up action.
• Participate in and contribute to the agenda for the Inter-Divisional Working Group (IDWG) on humanitarian assistance.
• Contribute to the development and updating of new operational policy, procedures, guidance.
• Support the analysis of operational context, programmatic and strategic institutional aspects related with UNFPA engagements in humanitarian action from preparedness to response and transition programming. This includes on-going work on Humanitarian Portfolio Review and organizational review.
• Contribute to the strategic positioning of humanitarian operations and programming into the new Strategic Plan
• Manage the Operations Team and provide guidance as required.
• Support and guide country offices to access joint UN funding mechanisms (e.g. CERF, HRP, CBPF, Flash Appeal) and represent UNFPA in the inter-agency CERF WG for the Under-funded Window.
• Support data collection and analysis of humanitarian financing trends especially in relation to UNFPA's CERF funding and its reporting to the CERF Advisory Board and UNFPA Emergency Funds and its reporting to the Executive Board.

d)     Inter-agency Coordination:

• Act as focal point for UNFPA representation in IASC Task teams on Early Warning and Preparedness, Humanitarian and Development Nexus, and Reference Group on protracted displacement. Supports the HFCB Branch Chief for her participation in the IASC Working Group.

Qualifications and Experience:

The ideal candidate is passionate about UNFPA’s mandate and about helping people during times of crisis.  S/he excels at multi-tasking and prioritizing, is able to work well under pressure and is a talented project manager who continuously strives to improve business processes.  S/he is also a team player capable of working with colleagues of diverse backgrounds.

Requirements

Education:    An advanced university degree Human Resources Management, MBA, Public Administration, Public Health or related field.

Qualifications and Experience

•      Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in human resources management, management of humanitarian operations, and humanitarian coordination.
•      Familiarity with IASC and other humanitarian coordination mechanisms, guiding principles and standards
•      At least 4 years of international work experience in a field related to emergency response
•      Experience in project management for humanitarian response desirable
•      Excellent writing and communication skills          
•      Excellent client service skills

Languages:  Fluency in English.  Knowledge of additional UN languages is desirable.

Duration:        4 months (15 August- 15 December)

How to Apply:

Please send a motivational cover letter and P11 to hfcb.office@unfpa.org by​ ​3 August​ ​2016.

All interested staff members should ensure relevant approval from their supervisors is provided in writing at the time of expressing their interest.