Humanitarian Affairs Assistant

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)‘s overall goal in Lebanon is to support the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) in his/her work to ensure a coherent and effective humanitarian response to all people in need in Lebanon, in line with the relevant humanitarian response frameworks in Lebanon.

OCHA Lebanon’s focus is to:
• Enhance coordination mechanisms at the strategic level, in support of the HC and the HCT to improve planning and monitoring of a joined-up response across all sectors;
• Under the purview of the HC and the HCT, coordinate the emergency humanitarian response to the economic crisis, COVID-19 and Cholera as per the Emergency Response Plan.
• Strengthen situational awareness in a fluid context, as well as the analysis of humanitarian needs, gaps and response;
• Mobilize flexible, predictable humanitarian funding; and,
• Advocate for improved protection and humanitarian access.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)’s overall goal in Lebanon is to support the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) in his/her function to ensure a principled, efficient and accountable collective humanitarian response to all people in need in Lebanon. OCHA Lebanon’s focus is to:

- Enhance coordination mechanisms at the strategic and operational levels, in support of the HC and the HCT, and collaboration with UNHCR and UNDP, to support planning, implementation and monitoring of a principled, efficient and accountable collective response to humanitarian needs in Lebanon.
- Support the coordination of emergency response to the compound crisis in Lebanon and facilitate an early transition out of emergency response into longer-term recovery and development activities.
- Strengthen situational awareness in a fluid context, and support a coherent collective analysis of humanitarian needs, gaps and response, with the view to facilitate the development of a coherent narrative shared across the aid community on humanitarian needs and response priorities.
- Mobilize flexible and predictable humanitarian funding for the collective response to humanitarian needs in Lebanon, including management of the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), the OCHA-managed Country-Based Pooled Fund (CBPF) in Lebanon.
- Advocate for improved protection and operational space for all humanitarian actors involved in the collective response.

The UN Volunteer will support the OCHA Country Office in delivering on its specific objective to coordinate, monitor and support humanitarian operations at sub-national level in Lebanon.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Humanitarian Financing Unit (HFU), the UNV ​Humanitarian Affairs Assistant ​will perform the following core tasks:

- Support the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) Programme team in monitoring aspects of LHF Risk Management work to validate and analyze project implementation, including preparing documentation in advance of missions, liaising with partners to arrange meetings and joining Programme Officer on field visits to project locations.
- Work closely with the LHF Programme Team to ensure the smooth running of LHF-funded grants. This includes ensuring documentation related to partner project reporting and monitoring outcomes are accurately reflected in the online systems, and all timelines for partner submission of reports are tracked and submissions are dealt with in a timely manner.
- Support the Coordination Unit to monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in an assigned country/area.
- Assist in the coordination of international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations and in ensuring the necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.).
- Support partnership management with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that the latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
- Assist in the production of appeals for international assistance; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
- Support the establishment and maintenance of contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations, etc.
- Undertake and provide support to technical assistance and other field missions, including inter-agency convoys, in support of needs assessment, monitoring missions or accompanying humanitarian activities or engaging with key interlocutors.
- Prepare or contribute to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. situation reports, background papers, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc.
- Serve as the focal point on specific topics or cross-cutting issues; keep abreast of the latest developments, liaise with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc. and ensure appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms on the assigned topics.
- Support work related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
- Organize and participate in working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
- Performs other duties as required.