Result of Service

Existing anticipatory action pilots are managed responsibly, and new frameworks are set up in a way compatible to CERF funding processes so that, when needed, CERF projects can be approved immediately and money disbursed quickly. Learning for AA frameworks is conducted in a rigorous way, yielding valuable lessons to improve CERF’s contribution to AA. Early action initiatives are piloted, ensuring adherence to CERF’s life-saving criteria. CERF’s role in the overall AA workstream is strengthened thanks to high-quality policy and other documents, presentations, research, and an updated CERF AA website. Expertise is provided to mainstream health across the AA portfolio, including for El Niño-related events.

Work Location

New York

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The specialist reports to the CERF Anticipatory Action focal point in the CERF Programme Unit. Within delegated authority, the AA specialist will be responsible for the following duties:
• Leads the anticipatory action pilot for cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leads on the development of new anticipatory action frameworks for cholera.
• Leads OCHA’s early action initiative for cholera (monitoring, stakeholder engagement, etc.)
• Leads the anticipatory action pilot for floods in Nepal.
• Advises AA teams across headquarters and country operations and facilitates the development of key components of collective AA frameworks (action plan, crisis timeline, trigger mechanism, etc.) and provides expertise through research, analysis, presentation and facilitation.
• Represents CERF in the working groups for selected frameworks.
• Monitors existing AA frameworks, including whether trigger conditions have been met and facilitates the activation of AA frameworks when agreed triggers have been reached, including the development or review of CERF applications (projects and budgets), ensuring that activities are anticipatory in nature and in line with CERF’s life-saving criteria, and ensuring that projects can be approved immediately and money disbursed quickly
• Contributes to the learning workstream for anticipatory action, including surveys, evaluations, process learning and monitoring.
• Provides expertise on the conceptualization of anticipatory action in the health sector.
• Represents the CERF secretariat in the newly created inter-agency working group on anticipatory action and health (launched in December 2022) and the Anticipatory Action in Conflict Practitioners Group.
• Contributes their AA expertise and knowledge to OCHA’s overall AA workstream, including disaster risk financing and the development of policy, standards, reports, data analysis, background papers, presentations, etc., and maintains the CERF AA website.
• Maintains awareness of current humanitarian affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender considerations or other developments in specific subject area, country or region concerned
• Performs other duties as required

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, public health, medicine or a related field. Expertise in health practice and research is desirable.
At least three years of work experience, with at least one year experience with and knowledge of humanitarian pooled funds and humanitarian anticipatory action or disaster risk financing is required.
Experience and understanding of humanitarian pooled funds is highly desirable.
Training in public health emergencies and disease outbreak dynamics is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in English is a requirement. Working-level knowledge of other official UN languages, such as French or Spanish, is desirable.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.