Emergency Specialist (Risk Analysis and Preparedness), P-3, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) Istanbul, Türkiye, #131523, [Temporary Appointment, 364 days]

Istanbul

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Istanbul
Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Border and Customs
- Medical Practitioners
- Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
- Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
- Emergency Aid and Response
- Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: 2024-12-23

The Emergency Specialist (Risk Analysis and Preparedness) will facilitate UNICEF’s global political risk monitoring and analysis, including research and analysis of political, administrative and legislative risks potentially affecting UNICEF’s humanitarian response, focusing on fragile or otherwise high-risk settings including UNICEF’s corporate priority emergency responses. The Emergency Specialist will research and draft analytical reports, liaise with key partners, and support the development of UNICEF’s analytical systems and related analytical capacity, policies and technologies.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Protection

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

As emergencies become more frequent, the expectations of UNICEF to deliver on the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) in a timely and effective manner will continue to increase.  Emergency preparedness significantly enhances UNICEF’s ability to meet these expectations and save time and resources in the response. In 2018 EMOPS created the Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section to bring together organizational elements focused on ensuring that UNICEF is prepared and ready to respond to all forms of hazard and threats that could create humanitarian needs for children and those who care for them, and/or affect humanitarian operations. This includes developing UNICEF’s ability to anticipate hazards and their outcomes to trigger preparedness and readiness actions. This position contributes to this goal.

Job organizational Context:

The Emergency Specialist (Risk Analysis and Preparedness) is based in UNICEF Headquarters, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section (RAPS) and reports to the Emergency Specialist (Risk Analysis).

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Produce briefings for senior UNICEF managers on political risk, in varied formats and modalities.

Develop analyses and scenarios to support UNICEF CO and RO in contingency planning and emergency preparedness.

Participate in inter-agency risk analysis processes including the IASC Early Warning Early Action / Horizon Scanning and Regional Monthly Review processes.

Enhance UNICEF collection and collation of political risk information through improved use of technology.

Build partnerships with external actors in the political risk analysis space to enhance UNICEF’s access to information.

Produce briefings for senior UNICEF managers on political risk, in varied formats and modalities:

Monitor, research and analyze information related to conflict, political, legislative and administrative risk that could affect UNICEF operations.
Develop briefings about conflict and political risk in media such as written documents, briefing notes, visuals, and audio/video.
Ensure that briefing materials are integrated into other Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section products, including interagency work.
Ensure confidential management of sensitive materials.

Develop analyses and scenarios to support UNICEF CO and RO in contingency planning and emergency preparedness:

Research and draft conflict and political risk-related scenarios that include context, humanitarian impacts, and operational impacts, in collaboration with UNICEF RO and CO, and HQ sections.
Regularly communicate with other sections, and other staff in the Risk Analysis and Preparedness section, using or producing political risk or otherwise relevant information, to ensure common understandings and avoid duplication

Consult with other sections as relevant in the production of briefing materials as above

Participate in inter-agency risk analysis processes including the IASC Early Warning Early Action / Horizon Scanning and Regional Monthly Review processes:

Contribute to research, analysis, and report drafting for IASC risk analysis processes

Coordinate day to day aspects of UNICEF engagement in the Regional Monthly Review process, including liaising with other UNICEF RO, CO and HQ sections as needed, attending meetings, and research and drafting risk analyses.

Enhance UNICEF collection and collation of political risk information through improved use of technology, in collaboration with OPSCEN:

Identify and exploit opportunities to develop technological solutions related to political risk information collection, filtering, storage, and analysis

Support integration of the above into existing and new systems in the Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section

Build partnerships with external actors in the political risk analysis space to enhance UNICEF’s access to information:

As needed, work with the Humanitarian Field Support Section and EMOPS Director’s Office on political analysis for Level 3 and Level 2 crises

Identify partners that could enhance UNICEF’s political risk analysis outputs and develop and manage informal and formal partnerships as appropriate.

Impact of Results:

The efficient and effective analytical support provided by the Emergency Specialist (Political Risk Analysis) impacts on the timeliness and effectiveness of the humanitarian action for children in emergencies.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced degree in Political Science, Economics, International Relations or another relevant Science/Social Science field.

*First level university degree with relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:
1. At least five years of experience in international political risk analysis, with emphasis on fragile/high-risk environments
1. Experience producing political risk briefings for senior management
1. Experience with a humanitarian agency and an understanding of the impacts of political and conflict risk on humanitarian operations
1. Demonstrated data analysis skills
1. Experience in economic risk analysis is an asset
1. Ability to code using tools such as Python, SQL, Databricks, etc., and connect these to e.g. PowerBI is an asset
Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic required; proficiency in French is highly desirable.

Desirables:

Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency
Experience working with UNICEF and in inter-sectoral positions is sees as an advantage
Experience at regional and/or HQ level in addition to field locations is an advantage
Specialized training/experience in emergency preparedness/response management highly desirable
Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) would be a strong 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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from all underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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