Message from the ICVA Secretariat: 20 June 2007

Call for Candidates - Senior Adviser to the Humanitarian Coordinator in Uganda

E-mail Message to ICVA Members

*Please send proposals for candidates for the Senior Adviser to the Humanitarian Coordinator in Uganda by 17:30 (GMT+2) Friday, 22 June 2007 to information@icva.ch*

To: ICVA Members
From: ICVA Secretariat
Date: 20 June 2007
SUBJECT: PROPOSALS REQUIRED FOR SENIOR ADVISER TO THE HC IN UGANDA

Dear Members,

We have forwarded the message below from the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes, regarding his intention to appoint a Senior Adviser to the Humanitarian Coordinator in Uganda at the L6 level. If you have any proposals for candidates for this position, please let us know at information@icva.ch by 17:30 (GMT+2) FRIDAY, 22 JUNE 2007.

We apologise for the short notice,
with best regards,
ICVA Secretariat

THE FOLLOWING IS A MESSAGE FROM JOHN HOLMES, EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR

Dear Colleagues,

As you are all aware, we have faced some challenges in our efforts to appoint a Humanitarian Coordinator for Uganda. I have been seeking advice on a new arrangement for humanitarian coordination in Uganda from many of you, and gave it particular attention during my mission to Uganda last month.

After extensive consultations with senior Ugandan officials I propose confirming the current ad interim designation of the Resident Coordinator, Mr. Theophane Nikyema, in order to preserve the existence of the HC position, both for possible future purposes and for its symbolic importance.

Further, I intend to appoint a Senior Adviser to the Humanitarian Coordinator at the L6 level. The Senior Adviser position has been created for the following purposes: to support the Resident Coordinator in strengthening the humanitarian coordination system in Uganda; to ensure humanitarian aid is prioritized and provided where required; to advocate for the conflict affected population; to enhance system-wide coherence and aid effectiveness by providing strategic and operational guidance on humanitarian and early recovery programming; and to strengthen the capacity of the Country Team to coordinate and plan an integrated response to transition from relief through early recovery into development in the conflict-affected districts of northern Uganda. The Senior Adviser will work in close partnership with the head of the OCHA office, and the OCHA office will support him/her in the carrying out of his/her duties.

I believe an arrangement of this kind will give us what we need on strategic input on the humanitarian front, can add to our chances of a successful transition if current optimism about IDP returns in the event of a peace agreement is confirmed, and is a pragmatic way forward in the current difficult circumstances. I realize it can be best described in some ways as the least unsatisfactory of the available options, but I believe the Ugandan government will be ready to cooperate with it.

I plan to put this arrangement in place as soon as possible and would be grateful for any proposals for candidates for the position of Senior Adviser by 22 June, 2007.

Sincerely yours,

John Holmes