Emergency Officer, Volunteer (Clean Water and Sanitation) at the United Nations Volunteers

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. We work with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well supported UN Volunteers into development programming and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and reports to the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Emergency Officer

Location: Kano
Host Entity: UNICEF
Type: Onsite
Expected Start Date: 03/10/2022
Duration: 24 months
Sustainable Development Goal: Clean Water and Sanitation
Volunteer Category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

Mission and Objectives

• UNICEF is responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. UNICEF Health program is designed to support national health priorities with focus on programs that will positively impact on the lives of the most disadvantaged children, such as the prevention and treatment of diseases through establishing community-level efforts and services to promote the health and well-being of children. In line with this strategy, UNICEF supports immunization and health prevention programs for childhood diseases and funding for sustainable health services.
• UNICEF programs have been guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which affirms the right of all children to “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health".
• UNICEF is committed to realizing the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential. We believe that ensuring a happy and healthy child begins before birth: from ensuring his/her mother has access to good neonatal care and delivering in a clean, safe environment to reaching adulthood as a responsible, healthy and informed parent to the next generation. This journey relies on a child having access to shelter, good nutrition, clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education.

Context

• The scope of the job duties ranges from methodical data collection, analysis, and reporting, to effective monitoring and analysis of project implementation and management, with limited independent technical decisions on project implementation and evaluation which will impact on project efficiency and delivery.
• The nature of the job is mostly contributory technical work requiring substantive technical analysis and core knowledge of the specialized functional area. The work makes substantial contribution to the achievement of planned objectives of the project teams and the Section at the solid professional quality level.
• The supervisor guides and oversees the work process, progress and end-results delivery. The work also includes the review of appropriateness and completeness of financial and supply documentation as well as adherence to established allotments. Technical expertise is required to analyze data and background information in support of emergency situation analysis, risk analysis and updates.
• The job requires professional judgement to interpret and apply guidelines correctly. If necessary, recommends deviations from guidelines to programme/project officers, as appropriate.

Task Description
Under the direct supervision of Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kano, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Emergency Preparedness:

• Provides professional assistance in risk analysis to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and contribute to early warning and timely emergency preparedness.
• Participate in the formulation of plans of action in preparation and response to emergencies. Gathers information on best practices in emergency situations for the preparation of contingency plans. Monitors compliance of all sectors with emergency plans of action.
• Identifies formal and informal sources of information. Collects, interprets and analyses all available data on the evolving emergency situation and its implications to the emergency operation. Keeps the effective flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergency measures. Identifies availability of resources in emergency prone areas
• Supports in organizing and conducting staff training for the office’s capacity building in emergencies preparedness and response. Provides briefing, as required. Participates in other emergency training workshops in the region, and contributes to enhancement of the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office staff.

Emergency Response:

• In the event of an emergency, promptly assists in implementing the initial operational tasks relating to emergency assistance. Immediately collects reliable information to verify the nature and extend of the emergency with staff, government officials, other UN agencies or local organizations and media. Follows up to ensure that the office is provided with effective telecommunications facility and staff security assistance in an emergency, as necessary. Contacts with all UNICEF staff and their dependants and visitors to ensure their safety and whereabouts, and promptly informs head of office, supervisor and other emergency staff of their status as required.
• Assists supervisor with assessment of local emergency and security situation. Visits the location to conduct an initial rough assessment of the magnitude of the crisis and its implications for children, mothers and the community. Assists with the assessment of the validity of the emergency preparedness plan and ability of the office vis-à-vis the current crisis as well as immediate and additional needs. Provides input in and contributes toward determining priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF. Coordinates with other partners to make a rapid assessment covering priority areas as defined by the Core Commitment for Children in Emergencies. Establishes contact with community groups, government, UN agencies, media and other partners to keep the country office of emergency situations.
• Participates in Implementing the emergency preparedness and response plan as necessary. Assists in identifying urgent staffing requirements and redeploying country office staff. Follows up with the timely delivery of assistance and procurement of supplies, and monitors the appropriate and effective use of UNICEF resources. Identifies problems and constraints in project delivery. Sends daily situation reports to concerned parties.

Emergency Project:

• Participates in the implementation of plans of action and workplans for emergency project. Undertakes field visits to emergency project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor project progress. Carries out project administration. Prepares inputs for appeals and updates related to emergencies. Coordinates with program sections staff and others to mobilize donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding, including humanitarian appeals and documents (e.g., pitch documents). Communicates and advocates on the situation and needs of children through local and international media, as appropriate.
• Collects and analyses lessons learnt from UNICEF's emergency operations experience and contributes towards adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions. Assists in identifying longer-term requirements of the emergency intervention/operations.
• Works with other colleagues to make sure that disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response strategies are mainstreamed in the country office's workplans. Assists in the preparation of sectoral input for the country programme documents, plan of action, annual work plans, and other related documents of the office’s Emergency Preparedness and Response. Provides technical input in the preparation of the Situation Analysis and the Country Programme document, as required.

Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Public Health, Health Education, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Law, Public Health, Nutrition, International Relations, Business administration or other related disciplines.

Required Experience:

• 3 years of experience in Emergency readiness and preparedness, humanitarian and crisis management.

Area(s) of Expertise:

• Crisis and emergency response, Development programmes, Community development.

Languages:

• English, Level: Fluent, Required.

Competencies and Values:

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Client Orientation
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Creativity
• Ethics and Values
• Judgement and Decision-making
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Working in Teams.

Eligibility Criteria
Additional Eligibility Criteria:

• Age: 27 - 80
• Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
• This assignment is funded by the Government of France, therefore the following specific criteria will apply:
• Only French nationals are eligible to apply.
• In addition to the requirements of the DOA, candidates must have obtained a Master II certificate.
• Candidates must be between 27 and 35 years of age at the time of the application and have at least 3 years of professional experience.
• The Government of France will review the profiles and invite longlisted candidates for pre-assessment interviews. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews with the UN Host Entity.
• The assignment is scheduled to start in October 2022, after the Journée d’Accueil organized by MEAE.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline 18th February, 2022.