Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Liaison Officer)

About the role

This temporary position is a Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Liaison Officer) in the Crisis and Response Division of OCHA Mali, based in Bamako. OCHA brings together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. The post reports to the Head of the Coordination and Operations Unit, under the overall supervision of the Deputy Head of Office OCHA Mali.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor, analyse and report on humanitarian developments, disaster relief and emergency situations in the assigned country or area.
• Prepare briefing materials for HCT meetings and monitor the implementation of HCT decisions.
• Organise HC missions, including reports, briefing materials and talking points, with the RCO and the Mission as needed.
• Organise studies on humanitarian and emergency relief issues and follow-up work, including interagency technical review meetings.
• Take part in complex projects such as disaster assessments, coordinate international assistance and draft situation reports for the international community.
• Partner with other agencies to plan and evaluate programmes, including gender-related considerations, and assist in producing appeals and managing donor contributions.
• Maintain contacts with government officials, UN agencies, NGOs, diplomatic missions and the media, and support field missions and technical reviews.
• Write reports, briefings, policy guidelines and other documents, act as focal point on specific topics and advise on policy and humanitarian principles.
• Join work groups and meetings, and guide or supervise new and junior staff.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field; a first-level degree plus two years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis relief, rehabilitation, development or a related field.
• Field experience in emergency situations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required.
• Experience in the UN common system or a comparable international organisation is desirable; experience in the Central Sahel is desirable.
• English and French are required; Arabic, Russian, Spanish or Chinese is desirable.

Required skills

• Knowledge of humanitarian and emergency relief issues, with ability to analyse problems and carry out independent research.
• Ability to work under pressure and in stressful environments, and to incorporate gender perspectives.
• Clear speaking and writing, listening and planning and organising.