Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Coordination

UNOCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partner-ship with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. UNOCHA’s core functions are coordination, information management, policy, advocacy, and humanitarian financing.

OCHA has been operational in Ethiopia for several years and its current humanitarian operations are focused on addressing the lifesaving needs of people affected by 3 main crises: the conflict in the North, the drought in the East and South, as well as those displaced by violence in the center and South.

UNOCHA operates out of the main office in Addis Ababa and sub offices in several regions in Ethiopia, close to the affected people. This position will be based in the Planning and Coordination Unit to support all parts of the humanitarian programme cycle.

The northern Ethiopia conflict affected millions of people since onset in November 2020 until it ended with the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) in November 2022. Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned spontaneously thereafter with support from the government and partners. A significant development, however, began in April 2024 when the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) announced plans to return 689,000 IDPs to the Western, Northwestern and Southern zones, mostly to nine districts contested between Tigray and Amhara regions. An estimated 82,112 IDPs from Tigray region have returned to these woredas predominantly by government-organized convoys.

With Federal Government facilitation through the Ethiopia National Defense Forces (ENDF) aid partners conducted two assessments from 28 July – 12 August 2024. Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) conducted another assessment in September 2024. These assessments concluded that the operating environment is permissive for scaled–up and sustained aid operations and durable solutions.

After the assessments an area-based humanitarian and recovery coordination has been activated in Alamata and MaiTsebri for the contested areas. However, the bi-weekly coordination meetings are facilitated by staff missions from Amhara Region (Desie) and Tigray Region (Mekelle and Shire). The area-based coordination hubs report to the federal level Expanded Coordination Meeting on Contested areas. With needs assessed, funding available, partners present (29 NGOs) and the improved operating environment, there is an increased need for a fulltime dedicated expert to facilitate coordination and operational support to partners operating in the contested areas.

Under the direct supervision of Deputy Head of Office – Field Operations and close liaison with respective regional heads of sub-offices, the UN Volunteer will be based in Alamata town, and undertake the following tasks::

• Coordinate the humanitarian and recovery response in the contested areas to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
• Facilitate regular and adhoc humanitarian and recovery coordination meetings among humanitarian agencies (UN agencies and NGOs) including preparation of meeting minutes and follow up of action points.
• Draw out operational issues requiring senior management decision and advocacy.
• Write out background and policy inputs for senior management and EHCT attention and decisions on contested areas.
• Establish sectoral task forces/working groups in the contested areas and explore op-portunities for linkages and collaboration with local authorities and community struc-tures.
• Work closely with relevant officials, UN and NGO counterparts to monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian development, emergency or relief management in the ar- eas.
• Leadership and facilitation of Civil Military Coordination and operational access through dedicated working groups and authoritative contacts in the security and community structures for facilitation of humanitarian operations.
• Inform liaison with relevant federal and regional authorities on regular bases regarding humanitarian access, HLP issues, IDP return, etc.
• Contribute inputs to regular reports and information products on humanitarian situa-tions, access, advocacy and resources mobilization.
• Host and facilitate high-level missions (including country representatives, donors and government officials) with appropriate briefs and coordinated local travel.
• Participate and spearheaded the humanitarian and ENDF forum to channel challeng-es and opportunities for normalization of humanitarian response and response
from feasible locations.