Emergency Officer (Climate Change, DRR and Emergency Preparedness), NO2, TA 364 days, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, position # 127689

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, safety

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations.
To support and expand the country office efforts in implementation of the disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures as well as to advance the survival and the well-being of children and mothers and communities, by strengthening preparedness and response in emergency situation, UNICEF Country Office in Turkmenistan is seeking an Emergency Officer with focus on Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, emergency preparedness and WASH in emergencies.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative the Emergency Officer is responsible for the technical contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and emergency preparedness interventions to support the survival and well-being of children and mothers and advance the state of preparedness in Turkmenistan.

Key End Results
1. Ensure that climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response measures are mainstreamed in the country office’s workplans.
2. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction initiatives with the Ministry of Education and other partners are planned, implemented, monitored and reported, and receive the required technical and management support.
3. Sectoral inputs are provided to office’s Emergency Preparedness and Response plans and initiatives, including the Situation Analysis and other national frameworks, strategies and related documents.
4. Professional contributions are made to the formulation of emergency plans of action, contingency plans, and monitoring of compliance with plans of action. Emergency preparedness and response plans integrates gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies.
5. Staff and partners’ capacities in emergencies preparedness and response is effectively supported for the enhancement of the emergency preparedness and response capability of the office and national partners.
6. Support UNICEF emergency preparedness initiatives, including estimation and storage of emergency supplies, stand by partnership arrangements and agreements with National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan (NRCST), Ministry of Defence and other national partners, to strengthen readiness and capacity for timely response.
7. Ensure that WASH issues are mainstreamed in the country office’s workplans and support implementation, monitoring and reporting of WASH initiatives.
8. In the event of an emergency, substantive assistance is provided in sourcing official information on the nature and scope of the emergency, implementation of emergency plans of action, workplans, emergency appeals, monitor emergency funds, and support mobilization of resources.
9. Lessons learnt from implementation of partnership agreements and the conduct of UNICEF supported emergency preparedness and used to strengthen programme and as best practices.

Specific Duties and Tasks

Climate Change

1. Facilitation and promotion of the cross-sectoral approach integrating the Climate Change Adaptation issues into the workplans of programme colleagues and office documents.
2. Provision of technical support for effective and timely planning and implementation of the climate change adaptation interventions.
3. Assistance in mainstreaming the Climate Change Adaptation curriculum into the education system at all levels.
4. Contribute to on-going update of legislation with focus on strengthening resilience for Climate Change adaptation for children.
5. Support for introduction and piloting of the disability inclusive DRR/Climate Change in the educational institutions for CwD nation-wide.

Disaster Risk Reduction

1. Ensures the DRR issues are mainstreamed into the workplans of programme components.
2. Facilitation and promotion of the cross-sectoral approach integrating the DRR issues into the plans of action and workplans.
3. Support mainstreaming of the DRR topics into the education system referring to measures to protect learners and education workers from death, injury and harm in schools, to plan for educational continuity in the event of hazards, and to strengthen climate-smart disaster resilience through education.
4. Ensure integration of the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) into the UNICEF’s DRR Program Actions in Education promoting school emergency preparedness, advocating for safe school structures, and incorporating DRR measures in the school curriculum.

Emergency Preparedness

1. Coordinates the formulation of plans of action in preparation and response to emergencies. Gathers information on best practices in emergency and integrates in the preparation of contingency plans.
2. Identifies formal and informal sources of information, collecting, interpreting and analysing all available data on the evolving emergency situation and its implications to the operation. Keeps the effective flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergencies. Identifies availability of resources in emergency prone areas.
3. Supports in organizing and conducting training for the office and partners’ staff capacity building in emergencies preparedness and response. Participates in regional emergency training workshops and contributes to enhancement of the emergency preparedness and response capacity of the office and partners.
4. Supports UNICEF emergency preparedness initiatives, including estimation, storage and monitoring of emergency supplies, stand by partnership arrangements and agreements with NRCST, Ministry of Defence and other national partners, to strengthen readiness and capacity for timely response.

Emergency Response (as applicable)

1. In the event of an emergency, promptly assists in implementing the initial operational tasks relating to emergency assistance. Immediately collects reliable information to verify the nature and extent of the emergency with staff, government officials, other UN agencies or local organizations and media.
2. In the event of an emergency, assists supervisor with assessment of local emergency and security situation. Visits locations to conduct joint assessments of the magnitude of the crisis and its implications for children, mothers and communities. Establishes contact with government, UN agencies, community groups, media and other partners to keep abreast of emergency situation.
3. In the event of an emergency, participates in implementing the emergency preparedness and response plan as necessary. Assists in identifying urgent staffing requirements and redeploying country office staff. Follows up with the timely delivery of assistance and procurement of supplies and monitors the use of UNICEF resources.

WASH

1. Effective coordination (national, regional, schools and health facilities) and strategic positioning of sanitation-hygiene across sectors such as Education, Health, Nutrition.
2. Facilitation and promotion of the cross-sectoral approach integrating WASH component into the workplans of programme colleagues and office documents.
3. Provision of technical support for effective and timely planning and implementation of the WASH interventions.
4. Support awareness raising on WASH and enhancing hygiene education by identifying suitable approaches for hygiene promotion.
5. Support integration of innovative approaches and applied best practices in WASH including the behavior change pattens, and reaching the most vulnerable girls, boys, women, and people with disabilities.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• • Education: University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, environment studies, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.
  • Work Experience: Two years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or administration.
  • Prior experience in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction or emergency preparedness related to children or other vulnerable population groups.
  • Previous experience of working with UN or other international organizations will be an asset.
  • Language Proficiency: Fluency in English. Fluency in Russian or Turkmen is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable male candidates and person living with a disability are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.