Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) based in Geneva. 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 in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies, advocate the rights of people in need, promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
The Director of the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division will work under the overall strategic guidance of the Under-Secretary General / Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) and the direct supervision of the Assistant Secretary General / Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator (ASG/DERC).
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Director will drive OCHA’s resource mobilization strategy and activities and supervise the mechanisms for humanitarian funds (e.g., Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF, and Country-Based Pooled Funds, CBPF), ensuring that all standards and requirements for operation of these entities are met. The Director will also oversee OCHA’s wider work on humanitarian finance issues, including providing thought leadership and building effective partnerships. Specifically, the Director will be responsible for the following:
•Directs and manages the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division of OCHA. Provides strategic leadership to ensure: consolidated data, analysis, and coordinated inter-agency strategy and advocacy to address financing needs; effective and accountable pooled funds to support humanitarian leadership, coordination, and response; and transformative and innovative initiatives for an efficient and transparent global humanitarian financing system.
•Contributes to the formulation of OCHA’s overall strategies and policies by participating in various committees, preparing documents on policy issues, and acting, as required, in an
advisory capacity to the USG/ASG; contributes to the overall management of the Division’s activities and operations.
•Develops and implements global resource mobilization strategies and conducts outreach for priority crises, including carrying out pledging conferences. On behalf of the USG/ERC and ASG/DERC, provides strategic direction and engagement with OCHA’s Donor Support Group and to the broader humanitarian financing community; Advises the USG/ERC and / or ASG/DERC, represents OCHA at governmental and institutional meetings concerned to humanitarian aid.
•Provides leadership to the development of innovative financing approaches and initiatives that support a transparent and joined-up global humanitarian financing system, including stronger partnerships with international financial institutions.
•Formulates and implements the substantive work programme of the Division under his/her supervision, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and
their timely delivery. Ensures the Division’s work programme meets objectives laid out in OCHA Strategic Plan and results Framework.
•Leads OCHA’s engagement in the global governance of pooled funds, including through the CERF Advisory Group, the CBPF-NGO Platform, and engagement with Member States and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). Oversees the development of pooled fund policies, strategies, guidance, and tools; Manages resource mobilization and communication for pooled funds, inter alia, to reach 15% of Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) funding requirements through CBPF and a $1 billion CERF.
•Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Division, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion. Coordinates the Division’s work within OCHA, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate. Provides results and performance communications, including through the CERF Grants Management Systems, websites, and business intelligence platforms.
•Develops corporate strategies to coordinate and ensure complementarity of diverse funding mechanisms, and their linkages to the broader humanitarian financing system. Leads efforts for improved humanitarian financing practice and management standards of pooled funds.
•Coordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee
for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.
•Reports to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by the Division maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the office/division under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates. Oversees a team to provide accurate and timely data and analysis on humanitarian funding, both within OCHA and within the broader humanitarian landscape.
•Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Division, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance
parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates. Develops and implements accountability, risk management, and oversight frameworks to ensure transparency and efficiency in the use and management of pooled funds.
•Oversees the recruitment of staff for Division taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
•Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision; foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Division and across organizational boundaries. Works closely with other OCHA divisions to align priorities and needs.
•Chairs meetings, seminars, etc., on substantive-related issues; represents the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conference; provides
programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions. Forms strategic partnerships with key actors and processes in international financing such as International Finance Institutions, the insurance industry, and other financial institutions. Represents OCHA at strategic engagements with international financing partners. Engages in a broad range of aid financing forums, including development financing, peacebuilding, domestic resources, and public-private partnerships.
•Performs other related duties as requested by the senior management of the Organization.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Shows ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Shows ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
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.
LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
JUDGMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, social sciences or related area is required. A first- level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
Over fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian assistance, disaster or crisis management, international affairs, resource mobilization, or a related field is required.
At least five years of senior managerial experience is required.
At least five years of experience at the international level with the United Nations Organization, or comparable international organization is desirable.
Experience in Resource Mobilization is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is available for an initial period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2021, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. In line with Secretary-General’s UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.