Humanitarian Affairs Officer / Head of Office

About the role

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is seeking a Humanitarian Affairs Officer who will also serve as Head of Office in Asmara, Eritrea. Reporting to the Deputy Director of the Eastern and Southern Africa Section, the role supports OCHA’s mission to coordinate effective humanitarian action.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as a senior policy officer, advising on overall policy direction and safeguarding humanitarian principles.
• Prepare policy position papers for review.
• Monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian developments, maintaining a watch list of countries with potential crises.
• Lead or participate in large, complex projects such as disaster assessments and coordinate international humanitarian assistance.
• Prepare situation reports for the international community, outlining unmet requirements of affected countries.
• Assist in the production of appeals for international assistance and ensure proper use of donor contributions.
• Support member states in capacity‑building for emergency response and develop country‑specific indicators.
• Initiate and coordinate technical cooperation and assistance projects in disaster response and preparedness.

Required profile

• Senior policy officer with experience in humanitarian coordination.
• Proven ability to monitor crises, develop policy papers and lead complex emergency projects.
• Experience in supporting capacity‑building for member states and managing donor‑funded appeals.

Required skills