Request from
Human Security Unit, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
JOB DESCRIPTION
INT-011-08-P178-01-V
General Information
Title: Associate Expert in Human Security
Duration: 1 year (with possible extension for another year)
Date Required: as soon as possible
Duty Station (location, sector): New York
Supervision
Title of the supervisor: Programme Officer, Human Security Unit
Content and methodology of the supervision:
Duties, responsibilities and output expectations: (The following duties are generic and
may change depending on the needs of unit.)
Under the guidance of the Chief of the Human Security Unit, the Associate Expert in
Human Security will be responsible for the following duties:
 Contribute to the liaison and cooperation with key actors, including the donor
community, United Nations agencies, international organizations and nongovernmental organisations in order to mobilize and enhance international
support for the activities of the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS);
 Assist in identifying training needs and contribute to the development and
implementation of training programs for UN Agency staff, NGOs and other
partners on the concept of human security and its translation into project
activities, focusing on identifying the critical and pervasive threats faced by
communities and integrated responses by the UN organizations;
 Provide inputs as requested for reports for presentation to donor community on
human security issues and the UNTFHS project activities;
 Work closely with the Programme and Finance officers to improve the quality of
UNTFHS projects;
 Assist with missions to the area of responsibility;
 Any other duties as may be requested by the Chief, Programme and Finance
officers. Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications and experience
Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social
sciences, development studies, international relations, political science or other human
security related fields. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of
academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced
university degree.
UN competencies (Refer to OHRM guidelines):
Professionalism – Advanced knowledge of the concept of human security and its
application to practical situations; demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to use
sound judgment to ensure the effective and timely completion of complex tasks; ability to
work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil
strife, natural disasters and human misery); very good knowledge of institutional
mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to human security and sound knowledge of
the institutions of the UN system;
Client Orientation – Abilities to consider all those to whom services are provided to be
‘clients’ and seek to see things from clients’ point of view; possession of the sets of skills
to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and
respect, as well as to identify clients’ needs and match them to appropriate solutions;
abilities to monitor ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environments to
keep informed and anticipate problems, as well as meet timeline for delivery of products
or services to clients.
Commitment to Continuous Learning – Willingness to keep abreast of new developments
in the field.
Communications - Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the
ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and writing, in a
concise style.
Planning and Organizing - Ability to coordinate the work of others, work to tight
deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
Technological Awareness– Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software
and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases, Internet,
etc.
Teamwork – Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively across
organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and
working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and
respect for diversity.
Work experience: At least 2 years of progressively responsible professional experience in
humanitarian, development or other human security related fields. Knowledge and
experience in UNTFHS projects is an advantage. Experience working for a UN Agency,
NGO or similar is an asset.
Learning Elements
After the assignment the ASSOCIATE EXPERT will be able to
 Write assessment reports
 Assess project proposals in accordance with the Guidelines of the UNTFHS;
 Monitor and evaluate UNTFHS projects, in terms how the concept of human security is
implemented in the project activities;
 Maintain and enhance good relationships with donor community, counterpart UN
organizations, NGOs and other entities.
Background information: UN Trust Fund for Human Security and its Guidelines
In March 1999, the United Nations Secretariat launched the United Nations Trust Fund for
Human Security (UNTFHS). The UNTFHS, open to UN funds, programmes and specialized
agencies, started its activities under the management of the UN Controller. However, without
a conceptual human security framework available in the initial years, the majority of funding
was directed towards conventional developmental concerns including key thematic areas
such as health, education, agriculture and small-scale infrastructure development.
Further to the recommendations of the CHS, the ABHS held its first meeting on 16
September 2003. During this meeting, the Board agreed on new priorities for the UNTFHS,
revising its Guidelines accordingly. Based on the final report of the CHS, the revised
Guidelines have become the cornerstone for the translation of the human security concept
into practice. While the Guidelines have been revised three times since 2003 to
accommodate new circumstances, the following project selection parameters agreed in the
first ABHS meeting have remained unchanged, making the Fund a unique financial resource
in the UN:
UNTFHS Guidelines provide the selection criteria of project proposals:
- Providing concrete and sustainable benefits to people and communities threatened in their
survival, livelihood and dignity.
- Implementing the "Protection and Empowerment" framework by comprehensively
including both top-down protection and bottom-up empowerment measures.
- Promoting partnerships with civil society groups, NGOs and other local entities and
encouraging implementation by these entities.
- Advancing integrated approaches that preferably involve more than one organization in
planning and implementation.
- Addressing the broad range of interconnected issues that take into account the multisectoral
demands of human security, for example, conflict and poverty, displacement and health,
education and conflict prevention.
- Concentrating on those areas of human security that are currently neglected and avoiding
duplication with existing programmes and activities.
Under the 2003 Guidelines, the UNTFHS projects have become more and more multisectoral in nature, attracting various UN and non-UN organizations to work jointly in
planning and implementation. The introduction of the “Protection and Empowerment”
framework has made project impacts more sustainable. In addition, UNTFHS selection
policies have contributed to the promotion of multi-sectoral collaboration among UN
agencies, thereby bridging different domains of the UN works, such as security, development
and human rights. With increasing amount of resources being allocated to Africa, UNTFHS
has invested, among others, in children, community development, disaster response, food
security, gender, health, reintegration and peace-building, socio-economic security. By
financing projects which demonstrate the operational impact of the human security concept,
the UNTFHS has become a major vehicle for the acceptance and advancement of human
security within and outside the UN.
As of 31 December 2007, the total donor contributions to the UNTFHS since 1999, including
the interest, were of approximately US$350 million. The total number of projects that have
been approved as of 31 December 2007 was 170, out of which 109 had been completed, 45
were on-going and 16 had been approved and are currently in the pre- implementation stage.
In 2007, Slovenia and Thailand joined the donorship of the UNTFHS. The ABHS agreed on
the fourth revision of the Guidelines, in order to adapt the Fund to a multi-donor
environment. At the same time, the latest Guidelines have enabled the Fund to receive not
only contributions from sovereign states but also those from private entities. Any party who
agrees to the terms provided in the Guidelines for the UNTFHS is eligible to become a
donor.