Humanitarian Affairs Officer

org. Setting and reporting

the position is located in the policy branch (pb) of the humanitarian sector division (hsd), office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (ocha). Ocha is the part of the united nations secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. Ocha also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts.

Ocha's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. Within ocha, policy branch is responsible for providing advice, analysis and guidance on policy issues, including on international humanitarian law and other normative frameworks applicable to humanitarian operations (e.g., relevant ga resolutions, sanctions and counter terrorism measures, etc.),

humanitarian access and principled humanitarian action, and gender equality programming; supporting intergovernmental processes relevant to un-coordinated humanitarian action; and leading in the delivery of the under-secretary-general/ emergency relief coordinator's responsibilities to the un security council on protection of civilians in armed conflict. This job opening is being advertised for the position of humanitarian affairs officer based in new york. Under the overall supervision of the policy branch director, the incumbent reports to the humanitarian affairs officer (p4) in geneva within policy branch’s norms and principles section (nps).

• supports the humanitarian affairs officer (p4) based in geneva in (a) providing policy and technical advice, analysis and guidance on principled humanitarian access and operations, including specifically sanctions, counter-terrorism and other restrictive measures; (b) advising on overall policy direction on specific issues.
• serves as ocha’s in-house expert on sanctions, counter terrorism and other restrictive measures, with specific focus on the consequences of these measures on principled humanitarian action, and serves as ocha focal point for relevant un and iasc entities, fora or processes.
• coordinates and partners with other humanitarian agencies on principled humanitarian access and operations – including humanitarian issues related to sanctions, counter terrorism and other restrictive measures, including by ensuring the secretariat and supporting ocha’s co-chairmanship of the iasc community of practice on preserving humanitarian space.
• organizes and prepares studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organizes follow-up work, including interagency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues.
• partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. Are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other un agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.
• undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions, e.g. Participates in field trips to undertake in-depth reviews of specific country coordination mechanisms.
• prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. Drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies,…