Climate Risk and Humanitarian Action Associate

Climate Risk and Humanitarian Action Associate

Host entity: UNOCHA

Advertisement end date: 2026-11-04T00:00:00

General

Description of assignment title: Climate Risk and Humanitarian Action Associate

Assignment country: Fiji

Duty stations: Suva

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 2026-12-15T00:00:00

Expected end date: 2027-06-15T00:00:00

Duration: 182 days

Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action

Modality: Onsite

Type: International

Volunteer category: International Associate Premise Fulltime LongTerm

Work schedule: -

For how many hours per week will the volunteer be required?: -

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives

About OCHA Pacific

The Pacific is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Small, vulnerable island states are isolated by vast expanses of ocean. They experience frequent and intense disasters with disproportionately high economic, social and environmental consequences.

In 1999, OCHA established an office for the Pacific (OP) to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

The first responders in any emergency are disaster-affected people and their governments. OCHA’s key objective is to support national efforts to protect the lives, livelihoods and dignity of people in need. International assistance can only be mobilized when a request is made by the affected government.

OCHA maintains a surge support capacity that allows the international humanitarian system to establish quick links with affected countries. It does this through the response capacity of its staff in the Pacific, the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system, OCHA global staff, standby partners, and through the coordination of Pacific Humanitarian Team clusters and member organizations. This flexible approach allows OCHA to find different and appropriate solutions for assistance requests across the Pacific.

OCHA OP personnel can provide support in information management, reporting, mapping, media and communications, assessments, humanitarian financing and inter-cluster coordination. OCHA can deploy UNDAC teams at short notice to assist in the coordination of incoming international relief at the earliest stages of an emergency.

Context

Climate change is intensifying humanitarian risks in Pacific Island countries, including through tropical cyclones, flooding, drought, coastal impacts, food and water insecurity and compound hazards. OCHA Pacific works with governments, UN partners and regional organizations to ensure that climate and disaster-risk information informs humanitarian preparedness and early action. The assignment will support analysis and practical knowledge products linking climate risk with humanitarian preparedness, coordination and response.

Task type

Task description

Under the direct supervision of an international OCHA staff member based in Suva, the Climate Risk and Humanitarian Action Associate will undertake the following tasks:

• Support research and analysis on climate-related humanitarian risks and their implications for preparedness and response in assigned Pacific Island countries and/or assigned portfolios.
• Contribute to country and regional risk profiles, briefing notes and presentations on climate-related hazards, vulnerability and potential humanitarian impacts.
• Assist in reviewing early-warning, seasonal and hazard information and translating relevant findings into humanitarian preparedness products.
• Support analysis of compound and cascading risks, including impacts on food, water, health, displacement and essential services, as relevant to OCHA's mandate.
• Contribute to consultations and workshops with governments and partners on climate-informed humanitarian preparedness and early action.
• Assist in documenting good practices, lessons learned and regional approaches at the intersection of climate risk and humanitarian action.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 1 month

Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Duration limit: Maximum years of service as an international UN Volunteer is 4 years.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience: No experience required

Languages: English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level: Bachelor's degree Ecology and Environmental Protection; Energy and Environment; Engineering; Sciences; Agricultural Sciences; International Relations; Political Science; or related fields

Area(s) of expertise: Energy, Climate change, environment, Humanitarian affairs, protection

Driving license: -

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Integrity
• Knowledge Sharing
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness
• Working in Teams

Skills and experience

• Demonstrated interest and/or experience (up to two years) in:
• climate risk, environmental science, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian action or related fields
• research, policy analysis, data interpretation or international cooperation
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Ability to synthesize technical information for non-technical audiences
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with climate, GIS or data-analysis tools is an asset.

Living conditions and remarks

The UN Volunteer will work in the OCHA Office of the Pacific Islands based on Level 2, Kaunikula House, Flagstaff, Suva. Fiji is a middle-income country with adequate basic services, and Suva is the capital and main administrative and commercial centre. Fiji is generally a safe and welcoming country; however, normal security precautions should be observed, including awareness of petty crime and residential security. Accommodation, shops, health services, banking and local transport are available in Suva. The local currency is the Fijian Dollar (FJD).

Additional eligibility criteria

As this assignment is funded by CYVA, specific eligibility criteria apply. Candidates must be Chinese nationals affiliated with a university participating in CYVA’s programme.