Ben Negus Email & Phone Number

Geneva Area, Switzerland

Managed UN rapid emergency response teams that deployed during sudden onset emergencies in Asia and the Pacific. This included: maintaining a close working relationship with regional/national governments; working closely with government/civil protection/private organizations who deployed technical capacity in support of deployed teams; supporting and/or responding in the Asia Pacific region during times of emergency (e.g. TC Haiyan [Philippines], Ebola response [Liberia], Nepal Earthquake, Pam [Vanuatu] and Winston [Fiji]) or in support of capacity development programmes with national governments as well as acting in support of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group for the Asia Pacific region. This role included a deployment to cover the Pacific situated with RedR Australia (2016).

Geneva Area, Switzerland

Support management pertaining to advocacy and communication at higher levels to promote/support OCHA operations. Ensure operational procedures, guidance and policy is fit-for-purpose for organizational emergency deployment. Develop training programmes and travel frequently to manage their delivery for internal and external audiences. Develop strategy and deliverables against organizational timeframes. Was a key driver in shaping the new strategy and fundraising approach for the Standby Partner Network and currently Chair the SBP Steering Committee in its transitional period into its new Work Planning Phase.

Geneva Area, Switzerland

Acted as the principal advisor to the Director of OCHA Geneva on issues of significant impact on humanitarian, emergency relief and disaster response/management. This included deployment on senior level missions at the request of the Secretary-General in support of the Director to Syria, Yemen and Libya. I assisted the Director and his Deputy in the administration and management of OCHA which included the design and implementation of a significant restructuring process.

Greater New York City Area

Supported OCHA’s Office in Pakistan and acted as their representative/advocate in New York (UN Headquarters). This included participating in inter-agency task forces; working closely with OCHA’s donors to highlight areas of concern and keep them informed as to ongoing operations; develop strategic response plans; work/advise senior leadership in Pakistan (in conjunction with the OCHA Office); develop briefing papers on Pakistan for senior UN leadership; attend and report on meetings in the General Assembly and UN Security Council; and, travel to Pakistan in support of ongoing operations as necessary.

Iraq

Traveling frequently between Amman, Jordan and Baghdad, Iraq I was responsible for managing OCHA’s ERF programme. This included meeting with NGOs who wished to access the fund; reviewing applications; developing and overseeing a monitoring and evaluation programme (implemented by 18 national staff); meeting with international donors; and, kept UN leadership and other agencies informed as to the progress of the ERF. I frequently acted as the Head of Office for OCHA in Iraq as required.

Greater New York City Area

As part of OCHA's efforts to improve its ability to rapidly respond to sudden onset emergencies, I developed Policy Instructions, an Emergency Response manual and Standard Operating Procedures on Emergency Response much of which still informs OCHA response structure today.

Greater New York City Area

Acted as the principal interlocutor in New York and within OCHA for the team in the Occupied Palestinian Territory [oPT] (based in Israel) and the Middle East/North Africa Regional Office located in Cairo. Additionally, it involved acting as the primary HQ support for the Lebanon Crisis. This included participating in inter-agency task forces; working closely with OCHA’s donors to highlight areas of concern and keep them informed as to ongoing operations; develop strategic response plans (under exceedingly short time lines regarding Lebanon); work/advise senior leadership in the Regional Office and in Israel; advocating to UN leadership with regard to significant protection concerns (in this case cluster munitions used by the Israeli Defence Force) develop briefing papers on oPT and Lebanon (in particular) for senior UN leadership; and attending and reporting on meetings in the General Assembly and UN Security Council.

Greater New York City Area

Acted as the interface for the OCHA Office in Sudan, to ensure close coordination and representation between HQ and the field. This included: representing the OCHA Office in meetings in New York and direct support with regards to assisting the development and adherence to strategic and operational planning for the Office and wider humanitarian community. Frequent travel to Sudan was required.

Indonesia

In response to the Indonesian Tsunami, I deployed during the initial phases of the response and was involved in many facets of the initial, live-saving response phase including: designing and managing a process to identify those displaced; conducting aerial coastal damage assessments; and, acted as the Head of Sub-Office to coordinate and support the local response.

Sudan

Managed the day-to-day operational activities of the AC/SRT Cell which included supporting the planning process and logistics for the return of tens of thousands of displaced people wishing to return from Khartoum to their homes in South Sudan. This included deploying into South Sudan to identify locations along inland river systems at which hubs could be established to support returning IDPs.

Acted as the interface for the OCHA Office in Liberia, to ensure close coordination and representation between HQ and the field. This included: representing the OCHA Office in meetings in New York and direct support with regards to assisting the development and adherence to strategic and operational planning for the Office and wider humanitarian community.

Geneva And New York

Prior to the second Iraq War escalating, I worked in close cooperation with the in-country interagency teams developing Contingency Plans prior to the conflict in Iraq across the Middle East. This included frequent travel through the Middle East to work with UN Country Teams to review and strengthen existing contingency plans

Russian Federation

Supported the field-based activities of the United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator/Area Security Coordinator and acted as OCHA's focal point in the Republic of Chechnya, Republic of Ingushetia, and the Republic of North Ossetia. This included frequent field assessments, site visits, support to donors, development of localized strategic planning to support appeal process and chairing regularly humanitarian meetings. The role also included the management of an OCHA Sub-Office and five staff members.

Albania, Kosovo, Russian Federation

Russian FederationAs a result of UN agencies not having a presence in the region given high levels of insecurity, I oversaw and managed a warehousing programme for the WFP in support of those displaced during the second Chechen War. This included managing a staff of 12Albania/KosovoAs a Logistics Officer in Albania, provided operational support to ongoing humanitarian response activities of World Vision and assisted in the planning of establishing World Vision in Kosovo at the conclusion of the war. As Communications Officer, I wrote hard and soft news stories to promote and highlight World Visions efforts for internal staff publications as well as in support of fundraising programmes that would ensure that World Vision had the resources to continue, and expand, their humanitarian operations.