Emergency Specialist at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Emergency Specialist

Job No: 563543
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Contract Type: Temporary Appointment
Categories: Emergency
Level: P-3

How Can You Make a Difference?
Emergency Preparedness:

• Adopts adequate emergency preparedness measures through the development and updating of Maiduguri Field Office’s Preparedness Plan (EPP) and contingency plans in the Emergency Preparedness Platform and establishment of early warning mechanisms, to ensure effective preparedness and response to specific emergencies.
• Leads in the formulation and development of contingency Program Documents and Humanitarian Program Documents with actors whom the Emergency and Program units can partner with for rapid response interventions in crisis affected locations including hard to reach areas.
• Support programs in identifying operational gaps and needs (i.e. Long-Term Agreements, prepositioning, etc..) and provide recommendations and actions to address them. Identifies availability of resources in emergency prone areas and establish logistics plans to be implemented during an emergency operation, to ensure a timely and effective emergency response. 
• Provides technical advice related to emergency preparedness and response, including on programme management related issues. Provides support to the Field Office in the implementation of emergency preparedness measures in the field to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms.
• Plans, organizes and conducts training for the office’s staff including program and support units. Assists or directly develop and conduct emergency training courses to builds up the emergency preparedness and response capability of UNICEF implementing partners (including line ministries), especially those operating within the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM).

Emergency Response:

• Immediately verifies the nature and extend of emergencies with staff, government officials, other UN agencies or local organizations and media and advice the supervisor and Management on the activation of response measures including contingency / humanitarian Program Documents with identified partners.
• Participates and assists with assessments in coordination with the Rapid Response Mechanism, UNICEF field programs and other UN agencies, I/NNGOs and Government.  Coordinates with other partners to make rapid assessments covering priority areas.  Establishes contact with community groups, government, UN agencies, media and other partners to keep abreast of emergency situations.   
• In the event of sudden crisis or for Rapid Response Mechanism partnerships, support and advice for the activation of contingency / humanitarian Program Documents and manage program partnership agreements for the timely delivery of assistance and procurement of supplies, appropriate and effective use of UNICEF resources/inputs. Identify problems and constraints in order to ensure effective project delivery. Certifies the disbursement of funds, monitors expenditures and oversee compliance of workplans including financial resources and donors’ requirements.
• Participates in the implementation of plans of action and workplans for emergency projects. Implements and manages project activities. Undertakes field visits to emergency project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor project progress. Makes technical decisions on project administration (e.g., activates, requests or reprogrammes allocation of emergency funds). Prepares inputs for appeals and updates related to emergencies. Works with the supervisor to mobilize funding, including humanitarian appeals and documents.

Humanitarian coordination and context analysis:

• Use information from various sources to contribute to the delivery of conflict mapping, early warning and trend analysis that may have an impact on UNICEF programme implementation (security, programme, partners etc.) and provide advice to field program management on possible responses and context based / risks informed program.
• Develops and maintains databases on information and ensure the flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergency preparedness and response management. Compile and submit regular reports and contextual updates based on incidents tracking and trends in humanitarian access and security contexts within UNICEF’s area of operations.
• Maintain internal and external information networks to enhance the collection/collation of information relating to access for humanitarian activities and operations as well as affected population and partners.
• Maintains continuous, effective and strategic coordination, communication, consultation and liaison with Government, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and allies to appeal for aid for children and women with special needs resulting from the emergency situation requiring an effective emergency response in all sectors.
• Ensures that the UNICEF support is effectively provided to the government with respect to sectoral coordination within the framework of the cluster approach and based on the Core Commitment for Children. Participates in humanitarian related forum and keeps the supervisor informed of all humanitarian developments in terms of policies, strategy, situation developments, potential threats and opportunities/issues.

Qualifications
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in one of the following fields: Disaster Management, Social Sciences, Public Administration, International Law, International Relations, Business Administration or other related disciplines.
• First University Degree with additional two-years of relevant field-based work experience is acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience and skills:

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience at international levels in emergency programme / project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration with UN (preferably with UNICEF) and/or INGO agencies.
• The ideal candidate would have had field-based experience in minimally 2 - 3 countries outside of country of origin, and particularly in emergency contexts for at least three years.
• Direct experience in multi-sector emergency programme implementation and partnership management and emergency system strengthening in complex conflict settings.
• Hands-on experience in the coordination of multiple partners, previous experience implementing and/or coordinating an RRM is highly desirable.
• Experience in cash and voucher assistance in emergencies is highly desirable.
• Specialized training/experience in emergency preparedness and response required.
• Analytical skills and ability to interpretate and conceptualize diverse information.
• Effective communication, networking and organizational skills and ability to work well in a team as well as other stakeholders such as local and international NGOs, UN agencies, government, etc. with sensitivity and diplomacy.
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent UNICEF at forums and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure and difficult circumstances and in response to rapidly changing needs.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Builds and maintains partnership
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others.
• [add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for supervisory role]
• During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

Benefits

• We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

Application Closing Date
21st July, 2023 (W. Central Africa Standard Time).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Non-nigerian nationals only.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable women are encouraged to apply.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).
• Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.