Organizational Context

The situation in Somalia remains fragile with continued political instability, climate variability and lack of basic social services. OCHA’s role is to coordinate effective and principled inter-agency humanitarian response and ensure that relief assistance reaches the people who need it in timely manner. In l;ine with OCHA’s global mission, OCHA Somalia continues to:

1. Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, education and health for vulnerable communities, including collection, analysis and dissemination of information and negotiation of access.
2. Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Somalia with UN agencies and programmes, national and international NGOs and local authorities/communities as appropriate with focus on strengthening the Cluster Approach.
3. Enhance a protective environment that respects the human rights of all, including IDPs, returnees and minority clan.

Key Functions:

Under the overall guidance of the of the Inter-Cluster Coordinator, the Humanitarian Affairs Analyst will play a key role in ensuring the primary objectives of OCHA Somalia are met. This is expected to occur by contributing to the following:

Summary of Key Functions:

• Analyse humanitarian situation
• Development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders at national and sub-national level in Somalia.
• Information collection and sharing of information in support of humanitarian response.
• Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in OCHA Somalia.
• Analyse humanitarian situation, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
• Analyze incoming clusters and field reports, prepare summaries of field activities and flag important humanitarian issues to the Inter-Cluster Coordinator.
• Assists the Inter-Cluster Coordinator in Analyze political, security, social and economic developments and their impacts on humanitarian and protection needs, as well as the operating environment through field travel and data collection from OCHA sub-offices and partners. This will result in identifying humanitarian needs and strengthening common situational analysis among the aid community.
• Work closely with Inter-Cluster Coordinator, OCHA Strategic Planning Coordination Unit, clusters, IMWG, and actively participate in the Humanitarian Program Cycle process (HNO, HRP, PRMR, and End-year review processes) including the Project Module.
• Contributes to the planning and facilitation of processes leading to the development and finalization of the humanitarian needs overview and humanitarian response
• Facilitates inputs from clusters to calls for proposals such as CERF, SHF among others.
• Gather and verify information on issues affecting the humanitarian situation, emphasizing opportunities for response.
• Establish relationships with key stakeholders, including clusters, working groups, humanitarian actors and other stakeholders at national and sub-national level to ensure humanitarian information flow from OCHA to partners and vice versa and ensure their participation in humanitarian operations.
• Support in the Organization of weekly OCHA Head of Office DOCC briefings to facilitate discussion and coordinate joint action in response to the drought, flood, eviction and other humanitarian crisis.
• Supports the Inter-Cluster Coordinator in the preparation of policy position papers, HCT updates and report including internal OCHA and donor reports.
• Assist the Inter-Cluster Coordinator on follows-up work, including inter-cluster/interagency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues; and ensures the implementation of recommendations emanating from relevant studies.
• Provide or contribute to humanitarian analysis for the HCT.
• Development of coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders at national and sub-national level in Somalia.
• Support existing coordination mechanisms, including the ICCG HCT, RICCG and other coordination fora as required; and assist in the establishment of new field coordination mechanisms whenever required.
• Support the Inter-Cluster Coordinator in the management and planning of inter-cluster coordination group (ICCG) meetings and implementation of action points and ensures effective dialogue between the ICCG and the humanitarian country team (HCT).
• Support in preparations Joint HCT-ICCG Meeting and other humanitarian fora or missions.
• Supports mainstreaming of Protection related work streams in Cluster work plans.
• Liaise closely with UNDSS, UN agencies, NGO’s and other partners to ensure a safe and effective operating environment especially when planning for ICCG field visits/missions.
• Support the organization and facilitation of joint field assessments, evaluations and routine field visit to assess humanitarian situation in areas of concern.
• Assist in the development of appropriate strategies to improve the application of humanitarian principles and develop ground rules for humanitarian interventions.
• Organizes and participates in working groups meetings (such as CWG, IMWG, CEAWG, etc.), conference, consultations with other agencies and partner’s humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters
• Represents OCHA in national cluster meetings and brief the Inter-Clusters on key issues that require the attention of the ICC and OCHA.
• In collaboration with clusters, Information Management Working Group (IMWG), support the ICCG, the RICCG, partners and other stakeholders, in the development and monitoring of the implementation of the Humanitarian Response Plan in the relevant area of operation.
• Closely work with Clusters, IMWG, CEAWG, the Disability Advisor and other Stakeholders to ensure the Integration of gender, age, disability and diversity characteristics of the affected populations into the response across clusters, including through the use of sex and age-disaggregated data (SAAD).
• Information collection and sharing of information in support of humanitarian response:
• Identification of sources of information related to coordination. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals.
• Support the collection of field information to improve coordination activities and information dissemination, including undertaking and supporting assessments.
• Ensure timely and qualitative reporting including weekly and monthly ICCG reports.
• Establish relationships with key stakeholders in areas of operation to ensure humanitarian information flow from OCHA to partners and vice versa and ensure their participation in operations;
• Provide and support the provision of regular briefings and updates to the clusters and others on humanitarian situation.
• Support efforts in disaster risk management, emergency response preparedness / readiness, resilience and durable solutions.
• Provide analysis of the operating environment, with the aim of assisting in the establishment of accepted frameworks for engagement and disengagement in areas of conflict.
• Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management:
• Identification of sources of information related to coordination. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organization of trainings to UN staff on coordination issues when required.
• Promotes knowledge management in UNOCHA and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example.
• Performs other duties as required.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Play a strategic role in identifying humanitarian needs, response and gaps, access issues and other matters to be addressed. Form strong partnerships with relevant parties to help meet OCHA’s objectives. Develop innovative suggestions and approaches to deal with technical issues. Timely delivery of outputs, in accordance with overall objectives and policies. Serve as an effective spokesperson and form strong partnerships with relevant parties to help meet OCHA’s objectives with respect to overall policy initiatives and coordination of humanitarian and emergency assistance.

Competencies

• Core Competencies:
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity.
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Self-development, initiative-taking.
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work.
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively.
• Creating synergies through self-control.
• Managing conflict.
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making.
• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy
• Building Strategic Partnerships
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
• Client Orientation

Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in political science, sociology, law or international relations or related field with 2 years for experience
• A first level university degree with a combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience or other related field may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree with 4 years of experience

Experience:

• Relevant professional experience, preferably in complex emergency and inter-agency contexts, dealing with relief and transitional issues.
• Familiarity with UN policies, rules and procedures, particularly in relation to humanitarian response and coordination, and knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance, especially the humanitarian reform agenda.
• Ability to research, analyzes, evaluate and synthesize information.
• Ability to express clearly and concisely, ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
• Knowledge/working experience in UNOCHA is desirable.
• Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of e-mail and MS Office products (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.)

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English and Somali is a requirement
• Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.