INTERN JOB DESCRIPTION

Job titleHumanitarian Intern (contingency planning/ humanitarian strategy)

Reports toPacific Humanitarian Manager(PHM)

HoursUp to 24 hours, 3 days per week (flexible)

Start date/durationfrom 26thAugust 2013 for 3 months

Location Oxfam New Zealand - Auckland office

BACKGROUND

Oxfam New Zealand (ONZ) is an independent humanitarian, advocacy and development agency, affiliated to Oxfam International. Oxfam takes a rights based approach to support the achievement of human rights and build capabilities that are essential for vulnerable and disadvantaged people to be able to access resources and take advantage of opportunities to improve their lives. Working through local partners, the geographical focus of Oxfam New Zealand’s programme activity is in the Pacific and South-East Asia.

This intern position sits within the Programmeteam at ONZ. The programme team is currently comprised of the Programme Director, Pacific WASH Advisor, Pacific Humanitarian Manager, Country Director for Fiji and Poly/Micro, East Asia Associate Country Director, Papua New Guinea Country Director, Institutional Fundraising Manager/Programme Support Unit Team Leader, Programme Finance Manager, Contracts Management Officer, Programme Administrator. Contractors and interns are also employed from time to time to assist with the work of team.

SCOPE OF INTERNSHIP

The Humanitarian Intern will work on theoverall contingency planning process and particularly with the PolyMicro Contingency Plan. S/he will also help tocollate and analyze information for the current Pacific Humanitarian Strategy document process being undertaken by ONZ and Oxfam Australia (OAU) this year.

The role will focus on the following areas:

  • Collating stakeholder contacts and information for the future Poly/Micro Contingency Plan (except Samoa and Tonga);this may include helping to develop an initial draft,
  • Liaising with Oxfam Pacific stakeholders to collate information, analyze and prepare outputs for Pacific Humanitarian Strategy paper,
  • Preparing a consultation process with the objective of signing off the Samoa and Tonga Contingency Plans.

The internship also offers the opportunity for a current or recent student to gain knowledge and experience of the humanitarian and development environment in the Pacific region and understand the internal workings of an International Development organisation.

PRIMARY Responsibilities
  1. Collate stakeholder contacts and information for the future Poly/Micro Contingency Plan (except Samoa and Tonga). This will involve:
  2. Integrating and analyzing first hand and secondary sources information gathered throughout the region,
  3. With the PHM’s guidance, drafting an initial version of the contingency planfollowing the guidelines/recommendations in the Oxfam International (OI) Humanitarian Dossier.
  1. Collect information from Oxfam Pacific stakeholders, collate and analyse this information with a view to including in to thePacific Humanitarian Strategy paper. Take the previously developed Humanitarian Mapping document and integrate learnings from recent emergencies and stakeholder consultations and include in an updated draft of the Pacific Humanitarian Strategy which is being developed with OAU.
  2. Prepare and implement a consultation process with the objective of achieving sign-off on the finalized Samoa and Tonga Contingency Plans. This will be done in phases with thePolyMicro Country Leadership Team, within ONZ and then with Oxfam stakeholders in the Pacific region.
  3. Perform specific housekeeping duties as directed by the PHM when he is out of the office/travelling in the field.
  1. Undertake any other duties that may be required by PHM, and are in keeping with the scope of this internship.

COMPETENCIES

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

  • Relevant qualification e.g. in sociology, international relations, social communications, Human Rights, development, etc, or commensurate experience
  • Experience of report writing and analysing information from a variety of sources
  • An active interest in social justice and international development, in particular the work that Oxfam is engaged
  • An interest in or knowledge of disaster risk reduction (DRR), humanitarian action and Civil Defense
  • Experience of using Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel & PowerPoint
  • Experience of humanitarian work is preferable
  • Knowledge of the Pacific region and Pacific cultures

Professional skills

  • Strong analytical skills and deductive capacities
  • Strong communication and report writing skills
  • Excellent skills in written English
  • Computer literate and able to learn new IT systems quickly
  • Ability to complete projects to a high standard

Personal attributes

  • Personable and enthusiastic
  • Good organisational skills
  • Able to work within a diverse team
  • Able to show initiative and work independently without close supervision
  • High level of attention to detail
  • Reliable and flexible
  • Willingness to learn and take on a range of tasks
  • Commitment to Oxfam’s mission and values

STRUCTURE OF INTERNSHIP

The Pacific Humanitarian Manager will ensure that the intern is provided with opportunities for learning about humanitarian/development work within an international development NGO, opportunities for skills development, advice on career development issuesand regular feedback on performance.

August 2013