Employer: WFP Posted 2 Apr 2020
Humanitarian Military Interaction Consultant - Expression of interest - All locations
The current state of humanitarian response is characterized by more frequent natural disasters and the protracted nature of the most severe conflict-driven crises. Due to its mandate, operational presence, and size WFP is more regularly operating in contexts where military and other armed actors are present. This has resulted in an unavoidable sharing of space between military entities and the humanitarian community.
As a result, WFP is working to establish a more standard approach to, and more structured dialogue with military entities in our areas of operation to improve information-sharing, coordinate predictable and systematic access of WFP personnel and cargo and ensure appropriate logistics planning and response. Additionally, WFP seeks to establish context-specific civil-military coordination strategies and guidance where and when appropriate.
This vacancy is seeking to identify qualified candidates with relevant experience who may be deployed for short and long-term deployments in WFP operations worldwide.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operations:
· Establish and maintain effective working relationships and dialogue with humanitarian actors, UN agencies, and particularly the UN OCHA CMCoord framework.
· Establish, maintain and/or participate in reliable coordination mechanisms at the operational and tactical level with militaries regarding WFP activities. This includes implementation of any agreed mechanisms.
· Liaise with military to facilitate the movement of WFP/Cooperating Partners (CP) cargo to ensure effective operational planning and response.
· Act as a point of contact for WFP with militaries to facilitate the movement of humanitarian convoys as required; acting to ensure an integrated planning process and effective coordination on prioritization.
· Promulgate and advocate with militaries, on the range of WFP/CPs planning and operational activities, while ensuring alignment with the established international and national CMCoord standards. Ensure that Humanitarian Principles, operational priorities and response plans of the humanitarian community, as related to CMCoord, are communicated and appropriately considered.
· Provide expert assistance on civil-military coordination considerations, for developing plans to assist WFP management at all levels in the emergency response.
· Where appropriate and applicable support the humanitarian community in its interaction with militaries for the use of military and civil defence assets.
Coordination:
· Establish contact, sustain a dialogue and coordinate with military/state counterparts to ensure the appropriate and mutual exchange of information about ongoing WFP activities.
· Serve as the primary focal point for all matters, including policy, related to UN-CMCoord, in close consultation with the Country Office, namely the Programme, Supply Chain and Security focal points.
· Participate in working groups, meetings and consultations with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners; organize meetings on civil-military coordination matters with Heads of Agencies or other appropriate entities as required.
· Provide situation reports on ongoing civil-military coordination activities, and overall civil-military relations, in agreed formats and timeframe.
· Perform other related duties as required.**
Reporting:
· Regularly document major/main engagements between WFP operations and military and/or other armed actors, maintaining a record of issues, inputs, and outcomes.
· Systematically identify, document and communicate any potential/actual challenges with regard to coordination between military and other armed actors and the humanitarian community.
· Monitor, analyse and report on major accomplishments/progress.
· Education: University degree or equivalent experience and training in one or more of the following disciplines: international relations, political/social science, business administration, economics, or management. OCHA UN-CMCoord training is an advantage.
· Work Experience:
o At least five years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in international humanitarian work: civil-military coordination, logistics, security or other operational management function, or military experience.
o Substantial exposure to, or experience in, both the humanitarian and security sectors is a strong asset.
· Languages: Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Fluency in another UN Language is an advantage.
· Key Competencies: Good analytical and problem solving skills; resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement, tact, negotiating skills; familiarity with and experience in the application of Civil-Military Coordination, international policies and practices; ability to cope with situations which may threaten health or safety (own, and others); flexibility in accepting work assignments outside normal desk description; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan in line with operational requirements; willingness to travel for extended periods of time. Willingness to work in challenging environments / field locations.
Closing date 14 Apr 2020
Humanitarian Military Interaction Consultant - Expression of interest - All locations
The current state of humanitarian response is characterized by more frequent natural disasters and the protracted nature of the most severe conflict-driven crises. Due to its mandate, operational presence, and size WFP is more regularly operating in contexts where military and other armed actors are present. This has resulted in an unavoidable sharing of space between military entities and the humanitarian community.
As a result, WFP is working to establish a more standard approach to, and more structured dialogue with military entities in our areas of operation to improve information-sharing, coordinate predictable and systematic access of WFP personnel and cargo and ensure appropriate logistics planning and response. Additionally, WFP seeks to establish context-specific civil-military coordination strategies and guidance where and when appropriate.
This vacancy is seeking to identify qualified candidates with relevant experience who may be deployed for short and long-term deployments in WFP operations worldwide.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operations:
· Establish and maintain effective working relationships and dialogue with humanitarian actors, UN agencies, and particularly the UN OCHA CMCoord framework.
· Establish, maintain and/or participate in reliable coordination mechanisms at the operational and tactical level with militaries regarding WFP activities. This includes implementation of any agreed mechanisms.
· Liaise with military to facilitate the movement of WFP/Cooperating Partners (CP) cargo to ensure effective operational planning and response.
· Act as a point of contact for WFP with militaries to facilitate the movement of humanitarian convoys as required; acting to ensure an integrated planning process and effective coordination on prioritization.
· Promulgate and advocate with militaries, on the range of WFP/CPs planning and operational activities, while ensuring alignment with the established international and national CMCoord standards. Ensure that Humanitarian Principles, operational priorities and response plans of the humanitarian community, as related to CMCoord, are communicated and appropriately considered.
· Provide expert assistance on civil-military coordination considerations, for developing plans to assist WFP management at all levels in the emergency response.
· Where appropriate and applicable support the humanitarian community in its interaction with militaries for the use of military and civil defence assets.
Coordination:
· Establish contact, sustain a dialogue and coordinate with military/state counterparts to ensure the appropriate and mutual exchange of information about ongoing WFP activities.
· Serve as the primary focal point for all matters, including policy, related to UN-CMCoord, in close consultation with the Country Office, namely the Programme, Supply Chain and Security focal points.
· Participate in working groups, meetings and consultations with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners; organize meetings on civil-military coordination matters with Heads of Agencies or other appropriate entities as required.
· Provide situation reports on ongoing civil-military coordination activities, and overall civil-military relations, in agreed formats and timeframe.
· Perform other related duties as required.**
Reporting:
· Regularly document major/main engagements between WFP operations and military and/or other armed actors, maintaining a record of issues, inputs, and outcomes.
· Systematically identify, document and communicate any potential/actual challenges with regard to coordination between military and other armed actors and the humanitarian community.
· Monitor, analyse and report on major accomplishments/progress.
· Education: University degree or equivalent experience and training in one or more of the following disciplines: international relations, political/social science, business administration, economics, or management. OCHA UN-CMCoord training is an advantage.
· Work Experience:
o At least five years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in international humanitarian work: civil-military coordination, logistics, security or other operational management function, or military experience.
o Substantial exposure to, or experience in, both the humanitarian and security sectors is a strong asset.
· Languages: Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Fluency in another UN Language is an advantage.
· Key Competencies: Good analytical and problem solving skills; resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement, tact, negotiating skills; familiarity with and experience in the application of Civil-Military Coordination, international policies and practices; ability to cope with situations which may threaten health or safety (own, and others); flexibility in accepting work assignments outside normal desk description; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan in line with operational requirements; willingness to travel for extended periods of time. Willingness to work in challenging environments / field locations.