Emergency officer – UNICEF Vacancy Announcement; December 7, 2024
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Organization: UNICEF
Position: Emergency officer
Location: Nekemte
Employment: Volunteerism
Date of Announcement:
Deadline: December 19, 2024
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General Details
Description of assignment title: Emergency officer
Assignment country: Ethiopia
Expected start date: 06/01/2025
Sustainable Development Goal
10. Reduced inequalities
Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity: UNICEF
Type: Onsite
Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Nekemte
Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF Ethiopia is implementing a 5-year country programme 2020-2025 which is fully aligned with the UNSDCF. UNICEF will work collaboratively within the UNSDCF on a joint strategy to strengthen national systems for data collection, analysis, monitoring and applying adjustments to promote equity. Evidence will be used to monitor the situation of children, tracking progress towards equity and scale, and to inform advocacy to adjust policies, strategies and budgets. Monitoring and corrective actions will be undertaken through UNICEF staff, partners and third-party monitoring, and through mechanisms for community feedback and accountability to affected populations.
Context
Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest region with approximately 43 million people, faces numerous challenges, including political instability, violence, and poverty. The region suffers from low socioeconomic development, evident in its Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.443, the lowest in Ethiopia. These challenges affect all sectors, particularly education, health, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), contributing to high levels of poverty, malnutrition, and child and maternal mortality. Violence and insecurity have forced thousands to flee their homes, resulting in displaced populations needing food, shelter, and medical aid. Children are particularly vulnerable, with child labor, child marriage, trafficking, and abuse common in the region. The education system is severely underdeveloped, with only 42% of children accessing primary education, and healthcare services are limited, with high maternal and child mortality rates of 412 and 67 per 1,000 live births, respectively. Access to clean water and sanitation is equally dire, with only 26% of the population having safe drinking water and 14% having improved sanitation, leading to widespread waterborne diseases. Internal conflicts exacerbated by ethnic tensions, land disputes, and political unrest have severely destabilized the region, leading to loss of lives, property destruction, and mass displacement. Displaced persons, especially women and children, are facing health, education, and hygiene challenges in makeshift camps, where food insecurity and mental health issues are rampant. Despite the government’s efforts to return displaced individuals to their homes, insecurity, lack of services, and potential retaliatory violence pose a risk of re-displacement. UNICEF plays a vital role in coordinating emergency responses in Oromia, often filling gaps in service delivery due to limited staff and partner capacity. However, the lack of a permanent presence has led to gaps in monitoring and ensuring a timely response to the needs of affected populations, particularly children and women.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Emergency manager, the UN Volunteer, Emergency officer will perform the following tasks:
* Emergency Planning and Response: The Emergency Officer will assist with the development and implementation of emergency response plans in coordination with UNICEF teams, government counterparts, and humanitarian partners.
* Strengthen Coordination: Support coordination with local authorities, humanitarian partners, and other stakeholders to ensure an integrated response. Facilitate communication to ensure timely emergency response is in place.
* Field Monitoring and Reporting: Conduct regular field visits to monitor the situation on the ground, assess the impact of interventions, and gather data to inform program adjustments. Assist in data collection and analysis to monitor the humanitarian situation based on key emergency indicators ensuring accurate and timely information is available for decision-making. Prepare situation reports, updates, and briefing notes for the UNICEF Amhara Field Office and share to country office.
* Strengthen Community Engagement during emergency: Work with local communities to build resilience and promote disaster preparedness, ensuring that interventions are community-driven and sustainable.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
3 – 15 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
3 years
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Amharic, Level: Fluent, Desirable Oromo, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Public Health, Disaster management, Project management, international relations with a work experience in Emergency management, preparedness and response, coordination in vulnerable populations, WAHS, Health, Nutrition, Child Protection and education.
Competencies and values
• Works collaboratively with others.
• Drive to achieve results for impact.
• Builds and maintains partnerships.
• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Professionalism
Skills and experience
humanitarian or emergency settings.
• Basic Computer, data analysis, visualization skill
• Basic knowledge of report preparation, monitoring and evaluation skill
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and in challenging environments.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Team-oriented with the ability to work independently.
• Willingness to travel to field locations as required.
• Familiarity with the local humanitarian context is an asset. Female applicants and persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply.
Area(s) of expertise
Crisis and emergency response, Health
Driving license
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Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Living conditions in Oromia, particularly in Nekemte, have been significantly impacted by political instability, economic challenges, and limited access to essential services. The region faces major hurdles in education, healthcare, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). In Nekemte, these issues are compounded by insecurity and displacement due to ethnic conflicts, forcing thousands into overcrowded camps with inadequate resources. Despite these challenges, there is a critical opportunity for those looking to make a tangible difference. Humanitarian efforts, particularly by organizations like UNICEF, are actively working to improve conditions in the region. By enhancing emergency preparedness and response efforts, there is potential to create real, lasting change. Joining this mission as part of the emergency response team offers an opportunity to be directly involved in meaningful work, addressing the urgent needs of vulnerable children and mothers affected by conflict, climate change, and public health emergencies. As a UNV Emergency Officer, the incumbent will have the chance to contribute to building resilience in these communities, working alongside local partners to improve healthcare, education, and access to clean water. This role not only offers personal and professional growth but also the satisfaction of making a difference in a region that desperately needs support. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web
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How to Apply
To Apply for this vacancy Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below. Please make sure that you have read the requirements section very well before you apply.
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