Jobs at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) 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 effort.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Associate Programme Analyst – Finance

Job ID: 29246
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Practice Area – Job Family: Management – Humanitarian Finance, Capacity Development – Funding
Grade: NOA
Vacancy Type: FTA Local
Posting Type: External
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

Background
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affair’s (OCHA) 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 for the rights of people in need
• Promote preparedness and prevention
• Facilitate sustainable solutions.

In December 1991, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 46/182 designed to strengthen the United Nation’s response to both complex emergencies and natural disasters.  In addition, it aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the UN’s humanitarian operations in the field.

Organizational Context

• In response to the humanitarian crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in North East Nigeria, the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) was launched in February 2017 by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and became operational in June 2017.
• The NHF is a multi-donor pooled fund, a critical source of predictable, quick and flexible funding to address the most urgent humanitarian needs in North East Nigeria.
• In line with the global Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPFs) guidelines, the NHF has set up a robust, four-pillar accountability framework (partner capacity/performance assessment, monitoring, reporting and audits).
• The framework is set up to progressively improve fund management and increase the accountability towards the affected population, donors and other stakeholders by introducing the risk management approach to the NHF.
• As of 31 December 2019, the NHF has received a US$98.7 million in contributions from 20 donors.
• The Fund has conducted nine allocations totaling US$88.1 million, funding 174 humanitarian assistance projects being implemented by 39 UN, National NGO and International NGO partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Associate Programme Analyst – Finance, under the guidance of the Head, Humanitarian Financing Unit (HFU), and direct supervision of the NHF International Finance Officer, participates in the overall implementation of the NHF Accountability Framework and works in close collaboration with the HFU staff.
• He/she is expected to travel extensively to the NHF project locations within Nigeria to assist with the implementation of the NHF Accountability Framework, focusing on financial compliance and verification.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Provide support in the allocation and financial management processes of the NHF.
• Provide support in implementing the financial aspects of the NHF Accountability Framework
• Provide support to the implementation of the monitoring pillar of the NHF accountability framework.
• Facilitate knowledge-building and knowledge-sharing on financial monitoring and reporting within OCHA Nigeria and the NHF implementing partners

Provide support in the allocation and financial management processes of the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF):

• Review and advise on the clearance of the project budgets and grant agreements;
• Review and advise on budget amendments or no-cost extension requests;
• Regular follow-up with IP to obtain financial reports;
• Review of interim and final financial reports and supporting documents to ensure compliance with the signed NHF agreements, budgets and guidelines;
• Follow up on disbursement of funds and refund of balances from partners;
• Review of grant agreements and supporting documents to ensure accuracy, consistency, reasonableness, compliance with the United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations (UNFRR) and the Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) Guidelines;
• Receipt & review of audit reports from contractors and ensure projects records are updated as necessary.

Provide support in implementing the financial aspects of the NHF Accountability Framework:

• Conduct financial spot-checks in line with the NHF operational modalities;
• Facilitate and provide support during audits, at the project and fund level, as requested, including assistance with vendor contracting, supporting the planning process and assisting in the follow-up of critical audit findings;
• Liaise with partners, NHF/HFU staff and other third parties in verifying expenditure supporting documents during spot-checks, review of financial reports, capacity assessments and audits;
• Assist with the submission and return of Partners’ financial documentation for spot-checks in OCHA field offices.

Provide support to the implementation of the monitoring pillar of the NHF accountability framework:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring plans in line with allocation funding modalities;
• Participate in planning and actual field project monitoring;
• Participate in the request and review of partner capacity assessments and corresponding status update in Grant Management System (GMS);
• Assist with updating the project monitoring timelines, results and recommendations in the GMS

Facilitate knowledge-building and knowledge-sharing on financial monitoring within OCHA Nigeria and the NHF implementing partners:

• Identify and synthesize financial monitoring best practices, lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into fund management efforts and channeled into decision-making processes;
• Promote awareness on NHF guidelines, and operational manuals;
• Plan and participate in trainings/workshops to implementing partners and other stakeholders.

Impact of Results:

• The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and success of OCHA interventions and activities in providing Humanitarian assistance.  Effective implementations of evaluation policies and strategies, as well as efficient organization and coordination of the evaluation process, enhance the organization’s capacity and credibility in implementation of highly effective programmes with strong impact.

Competencies
Professionalism:

• Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems.
• Demonstrates analytical capacity including the ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response.
• Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems.
• Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian rights situation in assigned country/area.
• Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery); ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff.
• 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.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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.

Planning and Organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Advanced (Masters) University Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, Public Administration or related field is required or a first level university degree with relevant academic qualifications with a combination of 4 years of relevant work experience may exceptionally be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 2 years experience as finance officer or finance manager with an NGO.
• Good knowledge of internal control systems and experience with accounting tools is an asset.
• Experience supervising an audit process an advantage
• Experience delivering financial trainings and workshops an advantage

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of Hausa is an advantage

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

Job Title: Information Management Data Associate

Job ID: 29259
Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria
Practice Area – Job Family: Management – DATA
Grade: G6
Vacancy Type: FTA Local
Posting Type: External
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

Background

• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) has established field offices in Nigeria to facilitate coordination of humanitarian activities in Nigeria. Information management is a core component of a comprehensive support strategy for the humanitarian community.
• In order to meet the increased requirements for coordination support, humanitarian advocacy and information the National Information Management Officer will support the Information Management Unit (IMU) to analyse relevant data (tabular, statistical, spatial etc.) to support an efficient and effective humanitarian response
• Under the overall guidance of the Head of OCHA Office and under the direct supervision of the Head of Information Management Unit, the IM Data Associate will be responsible for the following duties:

Summary of Key Functions

• In collaboration with the Information Management Focal Point in sector groups, in the sub office and humanitarian partners, offers, implements simple and effective data collection systems to ensure the update, the consolidation and analysis at the central level of:
  • Contact lists
  • Maintain Mailchimp regularly for information sharing
  • Who does what and where “3W”
  • Performance monitoring of the humanitarian response
  • Monitoring the humanitarian situation
  • Monitoring data on risk groups
  • Profiles of the coverage areas state and Local Government Areas
  • Working closely with IM Assistant Officer to analyze and present the information in an appropriate format (e.g., summary reports, graphs, tables, maps, etc.)
  • Event scheduling and document management
• Manage key humanitarian data in the online databases www.ors.ocharowca.info and https://data.hdx.rwlabs.org
• Manages structured archive of data, both digital and manual, collected from partners, documents and analysis products generated by the central office. And coordinate with IM/Web Assistant to ensure uploading of documents on Nigeria Humanitarian Response Website
• Reinforce the capacity of staff in OCHA Sub Office and Coordination Focal Point by perform field information management missions linked to the OCHA Information Management Strategy
• Manage content on relevant web platforms such as www.unocha.org/nigeria www.humanitarianresponse.info/operations/nigeria, and provide overall quality control for the platform and ensure content is current, comprehensive and follows relevant metadata standards
• Provide client support to web focal point in partner organizations, including training
• Collaborate with counterparts worldwide on the development, improvement and adoption of new modules and features
• Analyze statistical websites monthly, reporting on trends and development
• Assist in the administration of user profiles and access rights of web platforms and provide the necessary technical assistance
• Developing networks and partnerships to support the sharing of information
• Ensure the collection and integration of data from different web sites managed by the national office.
• Provide support of information management in the preparation of background papers, briefing kits, Power Point presentations, working documents, matrices, etc.
• Work with the Public Information Unit to ensure consistency in the dissemination of humanitarian information and advocacy
• Ensure the update of humanitarian kiosk
• Perform any other duties required by the IMU Manager in connection to the information management or as requested by the OCHA Head of Office.

Impact of Results:

• The Key results will have an impact on the OCHA’s Field Information Management Strategy, the provision of support to Field Offices in the adoption and use of information management applications and procedures, such as the Who does What Where/Contact Directory and the field document management system, and on the development and improvement of information management tools and standard at the local and regional levels to ensure that information management in the field functions efficiently.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:

• Communication:  Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; 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.
• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
• Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology

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

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Secondary education with relevant certifications in Arts, Statistics, Disaster Management, Emergency Management, Geographic Information Systems, Information Management, Information Systems, Engineering, Professional Studies, Social Sciences

Experience:

• A minimum of six (06) years of relevant professional experience in the fields of activity concerned (collection and data processing, database management, data analysis, etc.) for the candidates having a High National Diploma.
• A minimum of four (04) years of relevant professional experience in the fields of activity concerned (collection and data processing, database management, data analysis, etc.) for candidates having university degree.
• Thorough knowledge in the use of computers and software (MS Word, Excel, etc.), current use of spreadsheets and database, and experience in the use of applications or electronic management system.
• Knowledge in the field of database management and geographic information systems (such as Arc GIS) is an asset

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English is essential;
• Knowledge of a second official UN language is desirable

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

Job Title: National Information Management Officer

Job ID: 29256
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Practice Area – Job Family: Management – Information
Grade: NOB
Vacancy Type: FTA Local
Posting Type: External
Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

Background

• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) has established a field office in Nigeria to facilitate coordination of humanitarian activities in Nigeria. Information management is a core component of a comprehensive support strategy for the humanitarian community.
• In order to meet the increased requirements for coordination support, humanitarian advocacy and information the National Information Management Officer will support the Information Management Unit (IMU) to analyse relevant data (tabular, statistical, spatial etc.) to support an efficient and effective humanitarian response.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the overall guidance of the Head of OCHA Office and under the direct supervision of the Head of Information Management Unit, the national IMO will be responsible for the following duties:

Summary of Key Functions

• Support development of information products
• Support the development and maintenance of comprehensive operational information products
• Maintain a client-oriented approach
• Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Support in the development of spatial/geographical information products (i.e. maps, metadata, data dictionary, etc).

• Collect, organise and file geographic data, map/Geographic Information Systems (GIS) production and geographic data management support. This requires a strong practical knowledge of relational database software like MS Access as well as MS Excel and experience with the pivot table function
• Develop and maintain spatial baseline and operational datasets in accordance with relevant standards and guidance, including IASC Common Operational Datasets (COD/FOD).

Support the development and maintenance of comprehensive operational information products, Who/What/Where, monitoring matrices, operational analyses, contact lists among others:

• Build strong relationships and maintain regular contacts with the local and international community; gather information on humanitarian activities in support of the Who/ What/Where database, including frequent liaison with key stakeholders.
• Support the development of standardized reporting formats and analysis to support operational decision making for internal and external use.
• Collect information and assist in analysis of monitoring reports based on humanitarian indicators to provide a coherent picture of humanitarian operations.
• On an ad-hoc basis, collect, analyse and disseminate information in cooperation with other Units within OCHA.

Maintain a client-oriented approach that ensures the OCHA provides high-quality information management services and products to the OCHA office and to members of the humanitarian community;

• Provide liaison support with relevant partners and stakeholders to promote information sharing and coordination.
• Provide support to the OCHA field offices, organize flow of information and assist the offices in planning information management activities.
• Provide graphics/design support for various presentations, as well as the development of high quality visual products (infographics, maps, tables, graphs).
• Conduct regular trainings for sector members and work closely with the IM counterparts in partner agencies and organisations.

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing within OCHA and guidance to external stakeholders on information management focusing on achievement of the following:

• Promote the adoption of OCHA Information Management tools and techniques by OCHA staff and partners;
• Contribute to the development and delivery of training curricula to field partners
• Assisting with other tasks as directed by the OCHA Head of Office or the head of the Information Management Unit.

Impact of Results:

• The key results have an impact on the overall country office’s efficiency in humanitarian information management and success in introducing, widespread adoption and implementation of operational information management approaches.
• Accurate, thoroughly researched and documented analytical techniques, timely and appropriate delivery of products that enhance OCHAs credibility in information management.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Professionalism:

• Exposure to a wide range of information management systems related to humanitarian activities, conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Good knowledge of the region/country and ability to influence others to reach agreement.

Client Orientation:

• Ability to identify and analyse clients’ needs and refer that to the IM supervisor for improvement of the IM tools.

Commitment to Continuous Learning:

• Willingness to keep abreast of new IM tools

Communications:

• Good communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to explain and present technical information, effectively advice clients on systems related issues, applications, etc.

Judgment:

• Demonstrated ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given.

Teamwork:

• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Planning & Organizing:

• Ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.

Required Skills and Experience:
Education:

• Master Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Geographic Information Systems, Graphic Design or related field is required.

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years of work experience in information systems, geographic information systems or graphic design.
• A first-level university degree in combination with four additional years of relevant and qualifying experience may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree.
• Relevant experience in working with an UN agency or other humanitarian agency is desirable.
• Experience in the area of emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, humanitarian/development environment, field coordination is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required

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

Note: Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.