Organization Mission

The Pacific is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Small, vulnerable island states are isolated by vast expanses of ocean. They experience frequent and intense disasters with disproportionately high economic, social and environmental consequences.

In 1999, OCHA established an office for the Pacific (OP) to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

Emergency Preparedness & Response
The first responders in any emergency are disaster-affected people and their governments. OCHA’s key objective is to support national efforts to protect the lives, livelihoods and dignity of people in need. International assistance can only be mobilized when a request is made by the affected government.

OCHA maintains a surge support capacity that allows the international humanitarian system to establish quick links with affected countries. It does this through the response capacity of its staff in the Pacific, the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system, OCHA global staff, standby partners, and through the coordination of Pacific Humanitarian Team clusters and member organizations. This flexible approach allows OCHA to find different and appropriate solutions for assistance requests across the Pacific.

OCHA OP personnel can provide support in information management, reporting, mapping, media and communications, assessments, humanitarian financing and inter-cluster coordination. OCHA can deploy UNDAC teams at short notice to assist in the coordination of incoming international relief at the earliest stages of an emergency.

Context

This position is located in the OCHA Office of the Pacific Islands (OoP) in Suva, Fiji. The Assoc. Humanitarian Affairs Officer reports to the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (NOC).

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.

The OCHA Office of the Pacific Islands covers the following countries and territories: Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Niue, FSM, RMI, Palau, Nauru, and FSM.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the HAO/NOC, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks, within limits of delegated authority:

• Monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian responses and issues, disaster relief/management programmes or emergency situations in the region.

• Establish and maintain contacts with other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and government officials to ensure the effective exchange and dissemination of current information.

• Support collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system.

• Act as reporting and public information focal point; including management of the office social media accounts, development of human-interest stories, advocacy tools and products and regular website updates.

• Coordinate the Emergency Crisis Communication Working Group of the PHT and assist in organizing and participating in relevant working groups, meetings, conferences and consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian matters.

• Collaborate with all relevant actors, including the PHT clusters, UN regional and field offices, the UN Communication Group to help identify and create communication opportunities and assist in preparing communication campaigns on specific topics.

• Contribute to the development of a suite of reporting and information products, including the OoP Weekly, the OCHA OoP Annual Report, Humanitarian Situation Updates,
Humanitarian Bulletins, Humanitarian Snapshots etc.

• Assist in the preparation of OCHA reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence, presentations, etc.

• Ability to travel throughout the area of responsibility (14 Pacific countries and territories); including deployment during emergencies.

• Performs other duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

• Colleagues in the humanitarian field; including UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and donors. the UN, and in

• Counterparts and mid-level officials in governments, businesses, academia and other areas of civil society.

Required Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of the UN system is an advantage.

• Previous experience with the UN and humanitarian system in the Pacific region is an advantage.

• Education: A first-level university degree in combination with 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 (both oral and written) is required.

Core Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian 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 handle sensitive information in a professional manner. Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources. Ability to work under pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and humanitarian crises). 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 and upwardly refers when in doubt. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes in clear, concise, grammatically correct English;; 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; understands the sensitive use of internal and external information sources in published products; practices professional workplace etiquette in internal and external communications .

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.

Living Conditions

National UN volunteer will work in the OCHA Office of the Pacific Islands based in the Sun Insurance Building, 2nd floor, Flagstaff, SUVA.