Project Officer – Disaster Risk Communication (National UN Volunteer Specialist)

Context 

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of a two-year regional project on disaster risk communication and early warning systems in Southeast Asia, implemented by the UNDRR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and funded by the European Union (DG ECHO). UNDRR is the global co-lead of the United Nations Secretary-General's Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, launched in 2022. This project is part of UNDRR's efforts to enhance early warning system coverage and effectiveness under the EW4All initiative.

The project aims to improve early warning systems in Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR, ensuring that women, girls and persons with disabilities receive timely, accessible and accurate early warning messages and can act on them to protect themselves, filling critical 'last-mile' gaps in early warning delivery. The project will be implemented at the local level in five communities in Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR, and in close collaboration with universities and civil society organizations.

Result 1 of the project includes qualitative research to understand people's risk behavior, done in collaboration with local universities. Result 2 includes the establishment of tripartite crisis communications platform at the local level with local authorities, community members and media (in collaboration with civil society organizations); capacity building around risk communications; and developing risk communications strategies and plans. Result 3 looks at exchanging best practices and lessons learned from the project and wider risk communication experience between Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, as well as Malaysia and Vietnam. Main stakeholders in the project include local authorities, national and provincial disaster management authorities, women's groups, organizations of persons with disabilities, community representatives, media and the donor DG-ECHO.

The project runs until 31 May 2027. This assignment is initially for 12 months and may be extended, based on satisfactory performance and project needs, until the end of the project.

Task description 

The UN Volunteer Specialist will be the thematic lead on risk communication and community-based interventions for the regional project on disaster risk communication and early warning systems in Southeast Asia. The UN Volunteer Specialist will work closely with an International UN Volunteer (Project Coordinator - Disaster Risk Communication) on implementing the project and be supported by UNDRR's Risk Knowledge Officer for Southeast Asia, Gender Advisor and Disability Advisors, and other staff. The UN Volunteer Specialist will perform the following tasks :

Technical Support and Capacity Building : - Support the coordination of field-level activities with implementing partners and community stakeholders. - Coordinate and support qualitative social research on disaster risk behavior in selected communities, in close collaboration with local universities. - Facilitate the collection and synthesis of community insights and research findings to inform project approaches. - Facilitate community consultations, workshops and trainings. - Coordinate and support the establishment of local risk communication platforms involving communities, authorities, and media representatives, and in close collaboration with civil society organizations. - Support the organization and conduct of capacity building sessions and participatory workshops on risk communication, with attention to gender and disability inclusion and leadership. - Provide technical inputs to the development of communication strategies and plans in collaboration with partners and communities.

Stakeholder Engagement : - Build and maintain effective working relationships with national and local authorities, civil society organizations, and development partners including organizations of persons with disabilities. - Represent UNDRR in relevant meetings, workshops, and coordination forums related to this project.

Monitoring, reporting and learning :

- Facilitate cross-country exchanges and draft knowledge products and documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and innovations in inclusive risk communication. - Ensure the visibility of the project through stories, case studies, contributions to UNDRR communication platforms and social media.

Other : - Undertake regular travel to project sites in Thailand, Lao PDR and Cambodia. - Perform any other related duties as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. 

Eligibility criteria

 Required experience: 3 years

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Languages: 

English, Level: Fluent, Required Thai, Level: Fluent, Required Laotian, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable Khmer, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable 

Skills and experience

- implementing community-based or grassroots projects; - implementing risk communication projects or similar community outreach and awareness-raising initiatives. - facilitating participatory workshops and delivering training, especially with community members, local authorities, and/or media partners. - building and maintaining partnerships with government, civil society, and/or media organizations at local or national levels. - Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with grassroots communities, women's organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, media, and authorities at different levels. - Proven ability to apply gender-responsive and disability-inclusive approaches in project planning and implementation, with sensitivity to cultural and contextual differences. - Ability to work with minimum supervision. - Excellent oral and written skills; accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing. - Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. - Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable : - Experience working in the context of disaster risk reduction or disaster risk management - Experience working in the United Nations or other international development organizations - Experience working in Southeast Asia For further information and to apply, please visit the UNV website: https://app.unv.org/opportunities/1784888021262420