The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations organization tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. Headquartered in New York City, it is the largest UN development aid agency, with offices in 170 countries.

Job Summery

OCHA Ethiopia has recognized the need for an Access Specialist who will support the Head of the Access Unit to fulfil his/her duties of facilitating and coordinating efforts to systematically collect, monitor, analyze and disseminate information on access. He/she would also help determine the access’ priorities in regard to information management, advocacy and field support.

The Access portfolio within OCHA Ethiopia office encompasses a variety of activities including monitoring, analyzing, and reporting humanitarian access constraints, undertaking humanitarian negotiations, advocacy, and some elements of humanitarian civil-military coordination (UN CMCoord) and protection analysis.

The Access Specialist reports to the Head of the Access Unit and works in close conjunction and liaison with all units within the OCHA-Ethiopia office and in particular with government counterparts, i.e. Ministry of Peace, National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC), as well as with UN, Cluster Lead agencies, and NGOs.

IV. Impact of Results

1. Coordination

• He/ she supports the office function of co-chairing the Access Working Group (AWG) and fulfills related secretariat functions.
• He/ she assists the Head of the Access Unit in building synergies and facilitating collective understanding and analysis around access impediments among humanitarian partners, especially among NGOs.
• He/ she assists the Head of the Access Unit engagement with relevant actors (e.g. government, armed groups, communities, etc.) on humanitarian access issues, bringing expertise of local culture and dynamics, including traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms.
• He/ she contributes to the development of a network of local contacts among key stakeholders, including authorities and the humanitarian community to identify, monitor and analyze key access constraints in collaboration with OCHA Ethiopia field colleagues.

2. Monitoring, Analysis & Reporting

• He/she supports analysis of access data and incidents – including bureaucratic impediments, identifying trends and providing context and stakeholders analysis.
• He/ she liaises with humanitarian partners to promote and encourage systematic reporting of access constraints.
• He/she ensures the daily reporting, classification and documentation of access incidents (data base of access incidents) through the Access and Monitoring and Reporting Framework (AMRF) in coordination with OCHA Ethiopia Information Management Unit (IMU).
• He/she ensures the active verification of access incidents together with partners and OCHA Field Coordination Unit (FCU) and Heads of Sub-Offices, following up the quality and consistency of reporting.
• He/she works closely with UNDSS Local Security Advisors in tracking and analyzing security incidents impacting operations.
• He/ she supports the Head of Access Unit in the organization of the OCHA-Ethiopia office weekly Access coordination meetings.
• He/she supports the Head of Access Unit situational analysis on access related issues, including through regular field trips.

3. Information management

• He/she supports the creation of the Access unit deliverables (data collection, entry, quality, control and analysis)
• He/she supports the preparation of Access analysis documents, talking points, presentations, etc.
• He/she works with OCHA Ethiopia Information Management Unit (IMU) to visualize access incidents and trends through regular internal coordination meetings.

4. Operations & Field support

• He/she supports the Head of Access Unit in access negotiations, including preparations, roll-out, and follow-up.
• He/she undertakes travel to field locations on a regular basis to support OCHA Sub-offices in undertaking access analysis and supporting humanitarian negotiations.
• He /she provides technical support to field offices as relevant and required.
• He/she maintains a contact list of relevant stakeholders and access influencers.

5. Policy development

• He/she supports the preparation of policy papers, lessons learned, operational good practices related to humanitarian access.
• He/she maintains a record/ institutional knowledge on access issues, past negotiations, etc.

6. Representation

• In the absence of the Head of Access Unit, and upon request, he/she represents OCHA on access issues in relevant meetings both internal and external briefing on access trends and dynamics.

V. Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Commitment
• Drive for results
• Embracing Diversity
• Integrity
• Self-awareness and self-regulation
• Teamwork

Functional Competencies:

• Political & social affairs
• Negotiation skills
• Protection & Humanitarian Civil Military Coordination
• Networking
• Strategic and Global thinking
• Planning, setting standards and Monitoring work.
• Leading vision and change

Job Requirement

Education: Advanced University Degree in political science or a related field is a requirement.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of direct relevant working experience for degree holder and five years’ experience for advanced degree with the UN, NGO or government agency required. A thorough understanding of the relief, social, economic, and political situation in Ethiopia, excellent communication, report writing & analytical skills are necessary. Necessary personal qualities should include diplomacy, tact, integrity, and the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment, under pressure and sometimes in arduous circumstances.

Language and other skills:

• Fluency in written and spoken English, and proficiency in Amharic and Oromifa is essential. Knowledge of another national language will be an asset