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UNFPA-Emergency Response Coordinator-P4-Kingston, Jamaica (40% regional travel)
Kingston, JamaicaPosition Title: Emergency Response Coordinator
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P4
Location: Kingston, Jamaica (40% regional travel)
Duration: 3 months
Language: Fluency in English required, French and Spanish are an asset.
Mission Specific Considerations
Remote-Based Deployments (if remote-based please only fill in this table)
Physical deployments (only fill out if you anticipate surge to physically deploy)
Background Description of Emergency / Justification for Request (Please provide a short paragraph outlining the prevailing humanitarian situation and context and why this justifies the role.)
Hurricane Melissa, the first Cat 5 to hit Jamaica on record, made landfall on 28 Oct and crossed into eastern Cuba on 29 Oct, with concurrent, lethal flooding in Haiti. The event has affected 4–5 million people across the subregion, with Jamaica and eastern Cuba suffering catastrophic infrastructure (including massive damage to health facility infrastructure) and power disruption and Haiti registering the highest fatalities due to flash flooding and landslides. National systems are leading, but three UNFPA presences (Jamaica SRO covering Barbados, Cuba CO, Haiti CO) are all affected at once and are requesting coordinated regional support, prepositioned stocks and short-term surge, which exceeds the capacity of any one CO to manage.
In accordance with paragraph 27 of the UNFPA Policy and Procedures for Emergency Response, which stipulates that “when an emergency impacts multiple countries within one region, the classification of an L2 emergency must be automatically applied to all affected countries; in this case the Regional Director will fill out the activation form and submit directly to the Director, HRD” this activation is being pursued as a Level 2, multi-country emergency classification for Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti (Dominican Republic under monitoring).
Regional Office (LACRO) is coordinating support for three directly affected COs (plus monitoring a fourth, Dominican Republic), which exceeds its standard capacity under normal operations. The RO is identifying the need for emergency coordination capacity to cover the whole response to the hurricane in the region. This function could be based in Jamaica considering the particularly high needs in this country but with a reporting line to LACRO.
Security Situation Summary in country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
Role Description: Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Regional Programme Coordinator (Regional Humanitarian Adviser a.i.) in Panama, the incumbent will assist the Regional Office and the Country Offices affected by the crisis in the planning, coordination and implementation of emergency response interventions, including rapid assessments, response planning and implementation; in addition, the incumbent is expected to coordinate the L2 activities for the emergency. The incumbent will provide direct support to Jamaica CO affected by the Hurricane Melissa in the acute response phase and, in consultation with the Deputy Representative, will closely work with national authorities, humanitarian agencies, civil society and local counterparts to provide humanitarian assistance to the crisis affected communities in a manner consistent with the methodology outlined in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Cluster system and Humanitarian Programme Cycle https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/programme-cycle
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: We ask Country offices to review the list of duties and responsibilities and make appropriate amendments where necessary,
Emergency Response Planning
Rapid Assessments/field visits
Orientation / Training
Coordination
Communication/ Reporting
Resource Mobilization/Humanitarian funding
Capacity Development
Any Other Duties
Qualifications and Skills Required:
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P4
Location: Kingston, Jamaica (40% regional travel)
Duration: 3 months
Language: Fluency in English required, French and Spanish are an asset.
Mission Specific Considerations
Remote-Based Deployments (if remote-based please only fill in this table)
| Considerations for remote-based deployments | |
| If the deployment is remote-based, is the country office set up to ensure ongoing communication / team integration and appropriate supervision with the deployee from afar? Please explain. | The selected candidate may be required to start the deployment remotely while pending visa & travel arrangements. The selected candidate will be required to manage and supervise a team of emergency experts in the areas of GBV, SRH and logistics. The elected candidate will be required to travel significantly in the region and support the broader regional response including in Cuba and Haiti. |
Physical deployments (only fill out if you anticipate surge to physically deploy)
| Pre-departure considerations for physical deployments | |
| Does this duty station require candidates to have undertaken SSAFE training? If so, can the office provide training upon arrival? | No. |
| Visa Are there any special/new, specific visa considerations that need to be considered? |
TBC |
| Equipment Is there any equipment that the Surge should become equipped with prior to travel, e.g. PPE such as masks, gloves, sanitizer, etc? |
TBC |
| Is there any other paperwork that the local government authorities require upon entry/re-entry into the country? | TBC |
|
On mission considerations (for physical deployments):
|
|
|
Accommodation
What type of accommodation is available for Surge deployees? |
TBC |
|
R&R
Is the duty station on an R&R cycle and if so how often? |
TBC |
| Medical Treatment Are there any government restrictions or limitations that would adversely impact in-country medical treatment plans or medical evacuation? |
TBC |
| Office arrangement for telecommuting If the Surge needs to telecommute within the country, can the country office demonstrate that the deployee is realistically able to work in terms of remote connectivity, equipment, etc.? |
Yes |
| Equipment If the Surge is required to physically deploy, can the country office provide necessary equipment, e.g. masks, gloves, sanitizer? |
Yes |
Background Description of Emergency / Justification for Request (Please provide a short paragraph outlining the prevailing humanitarian situation and context and why this justifies the role.)
In accordance with paragraph 27 of the UNFPA Policy and Procedures for Emergency Response, which stipulates that “when an emergency impacts multiple countries within one region, the classification of an L2 emergency must be automatically applied to all affected countries; in this case the Regional Director will fill out the activation form and submit directly to the Director, HRD” this activation is being pursued as a Level 2, multi-country emergency classification for Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti (Dominican Republic under monitoring).
Regional Office (LACRO) is coordinating support for three directly affected COs (plus monitoring a fourth, Dominican Republic), which exceeds its standard capacity under normal operations. The RO is identifying the need for emergency coordination capacity to cover the whole response to the hurricane in the region. This function could be based in Jamaica considering the particularly high needs in this country but with a reporting line to LACRO.
Security Situation Summary in country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: We ask Country offices to review the list of duties and responsibilities and make appropriate amendments where necessary,
Emergency Response Planning
- Utilizing the EPP tools, the incumbent is expected to develop the UNFPA strategic and functional response plan as well monitoring and coordinating the implementation
- Ensure inclusion of SRH, GBV, and gender concerns in joint UNCT/UNDAC missions and other rapid assessments in close collaboration with SRH and GBV officers.
- Advise the UNFPA RO, COs and sub-Office Coordinator (when applicable); assist in the preparation for and participate in coordination meetings relating to emergency response, and ensure follow up.
- Support the development of CERF, Flash Appeal proposals and ensure quality review.
- Liaise with UNFPA ROs, SROs and HQ units to share information, provide necessary updates and seek guidance as necessary.
- While primarily focusing on Jamaica, under the direction of the LACRO Regional Advisor, the emergency coordinator is expected to support the regional coordination covering Haiti and Cuba.
- Participate in RO and COs’ and other cluster/ inter-agency meetings as needed.
Rapid Assessments/field visits
- If applicable, visit IDPs and host communities and conduct in-depth interviews with community leaders, and other agencies present on the ground to gather information on the immediate needs of the people and the services to be provided.
- Undertake missions and assessments as appropriate to recommend strategic approaches and to address issues, such as SRH, gender, GBV, mental health and psychosocial issues, data and young people.
Orientation / Training
- Orient Regional Office and Country Offices on Humanitarian Reform and UNFPA’s role within the reform, especially as it relates to the Cluster Approach and the contents CERF Life-Saving Criteria and provide overall orientation on UNFPA’s humanitarian mandate and EPP timeline deliverables.
- Familiarize/orient the Regional Office and Country Offices with existing rapid needs assessment tools.
- Familiarize/ Orient the Regional Office and Country Offices staff with existing UNFPA emergency procedures.
Coordination
- As requested, coordinate RO’s and CO’s various interventions and represent UNFPA at Cluster / Working Group coordination meetings to share knowledge and ensure comprehensive understanding.
- Ensure inclusion of UNFPA mandate through participation in existing Clusters, and/or, if appropriate, assist in the establishment of working groups to address SRH, GBV and gender.
- Liaise with other sectors/Clusters (such as health, protection, WASH, camp management, education, logistics, early recovery) to ensure inclusion of UNFPA’s mandate.
Communication/ Reporting
- Assist the RO and CO in preparing relevant advocacy material and updates for relevant stakeholders and partners including donors.
- Assist in providing regular updates to OCHA and/or Cluster leads on UNFPA’s humanitarian interventions to be included in situation reports (i.e.: OCHA SitRep).
- Track and regularly update supported humanitarian interventions (i.e. status of funding proposals, distribution of supplies, training).
Resource Mobilization/Humanitarian funding
- Ensure UNFPA is well positioned in resource mobilization efforts, including humanitarian funding mechanisms such as Flash Appeal/ CERF).
- As necessary, identify and organize meetings with in-country donors to discuss resource mobilization.
- Coordinate the implementation of EF/HTF funding allocated for the emergency response.
Capacity Development
- Provide coaching to newly recruited staff and consultants, where appropriate.
- Coach and build capacity of staff members and staff of implementing partners responding to emergency/humanitarian crises, as needed.
Any Other Duties
- Perform any other duties as required by the Representative and/or Head of Office, RO/SRO, and HQ.
Qualifications and Skills Required:
- Advanced technical degree preferably in medicine, public health, social sciences, humanitarian response, international relations or related field.
- At least seven years of experience in coordinating, developing and implementing humanitarian interventions in crisis settings.
- Knowledge of the humanitarian architecture and systems, and roles/responsibilities of humanitarian actors.
- Strong analytical, coordination and organizational skills.
- Proficiency in English with knowledge of Spanish and French being a strong asset.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.