Consultant, regional liaison officer, Barbados

Please note that this is a re-advertisement of the consultancy position “Regional Liaison Officer, Barbados” (Reference number: UNISDR-ROAM/DIP/CAR-BAR/026/2013).

United Nations Core Values: Integrity ● Professionalism ● Respect for diversity

Background:

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socioeconomic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR has around 100 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNISDR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people's lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as Prevention Web, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organisation of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

ECHO: Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission

The Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) was created in 1992 as an expression of the European solidarity with people in need all around the world. In 2004 it became the Directorate- General for Humanitarian Aid before integrating Civil Protection in 2010 for a better coordination and disaster response inside and outside Europe. In 1996, ECHO launched a specific programme, DIPECHO (Disaster Preparedness ECHO) dedicated to disaster preparedness, targeting vulnerable communities living in the main disaster prone regions of the world. ECHO's humanitarian mandate prescribes a focus on saving lives, providing relief and thus assisting the most vulnerable groups. ECHO prioritizes 'people-oriented' preparedness measures and, therefore, focuses on supporting strategies and complementing existing strategies that enable local communities and institutions to better prepare for, mitigate and respond adequately to natural hazards by enhancing their capacities to cope and respond. This increases their resilience and reduces their vulnerability.

ECHO's support is a combination of community-based projects and projects at national or regional level that strive to increase resilience in the event of natural hazards. Projects are implemented through a wide range of partners, including local organisations that provide access to the most marginalized and vulnerable people.

DIPECHO Programme

The DIPECHO Programme contributes to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005- 2015 (HFA). A key element in DIPECHO is the development of Key contributions in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) so as to identify successful models for replication elsewhere by national/sub-national authorities or other funding instruments of the European Commission, other donors.

The Caribbean region experiences multiple disasters: The region is prone to hurricanes, floods, flash floods, tsunamis, landslides and mudslides. Some islands experience earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The physical risk is combined with socioeconomic factors, such as high population density, fast demographic growth, inequality and great poverty. The combination of these factors results in highly vulnerable communities, with few coping capacities in the event of disaster. Moreover, climate change is likely to negatively affect disaster trends in the region.

DIPECHO Action Plan for the Caribbean 2013-2014

The 2013-2014 DIPECHO Action Plan for the Caribbean aims to establish greater collaboration and coordination between partners, allowing programming of common outcomes and the harmonization of practices. Furthermore, it focuses on improving communication and dissemination of DRR key contributions in the region, by capturing evidence of success on how DIPECHO projects have allowed the most at risk communities to anticipate, withstand, adapt and sometimes, recover quickly from disasters.

The forthcoming Action Plan also takes account of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters and reconfirms the commitment to regional initiatives to contribute to make schools and hospitals safer and cities resilient in disaster prone areas.

The consultancy is related to the UNISDR regional project within the framework of the DIPECHO Action Plan for the Caribbean 2013-2014. The Humanitarian Implementation Plan and the Operational Recommendations provide details to the objectives of the 2013-2014 Action Plan.

The regional project to be implemented by UNISDR includes the following elements:

(1) Improving communication and dissemination of DIPECHO DRR tools and initiatives in the region, (2) Further advancing in the development of a common strategy towards DRR, as well as (3) Contributions to the consultation process leading to the post-2015 framework for DRR. 

One component of the project is referring to political commitment on DRR at the regional level. Therefore, a close collaboration with CDEMA and the Association of Caribbean States is envisioned. CDEMA, also based in Barbados, has recently adopted its new Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy 2014-2024 while ACS has identified DRR as one of the main priority areas for the Organization and is in the process of defining concrete activities for the implementation of the Declaration of Petion-Ville and its Action Plan.

The incumbent will be placed in the United Nations Resident Coordinator´s office which is hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean States, and will work in close coordination with the disaster risk reduction focal points of UNDP and other relevant UN organizations such as PAHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women and others.

Competencies:

Professionalism: Strong background, knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles and approaches to disaster risk reduction. Familiarity with disaster risk reduction programmes and activities at regional, sub-regional levels and ability to identify and analyze regional and national priorities, needs and capacities and develop appropriate strategies and actions

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies and programmes; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.

Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment

Prior work experience with recovery related papers will be an advantage

Qualifications:

Education: Advanced University or equivalent experience in social sciences, national resource management, disaster risk management or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with a minimum of 7 years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

· Functional knowledge and professional experience in the field of disaster risk reduction, climate change, and/or sustainable development (at least 5 years);
· Project management or coordination experience with regional character;
· Knowledgeable of the work carried out by the UNISDR Americas office;
· Excellent analytical and reporting skills;
· Experience in leading and facilitating workshops and meetings;
· Knowledge of intergovernmental mechanisms, DRR Platforms, tools and mechanisms related to DRR and DIPECHO
· Functional knowledge of ECHO action plans and DIPECHO projects;
· Excellent English speaking and writing skills; working knowledge of Spanish and French is an asset.
· Availability to travel within the region.

Language: Excellent English speaking and writing skills; working knowledge of Spanish is an asset.